Criminal Investigator (WRO)

Summary

Are you interested in a rewarding and challenging career? Join the Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), where professionals strengthen the integrity and effectiveness of SBA programs. Through audits, investigations, and oversight, our team promotes accountability, transparency, and mission success while fostering a collaborative environment committed to serving small businesses and the American public.

Duties

• As a Criminal Investigator, you will: Plan and conduct criminal, civil, and administrative investigations involving allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct, bribery, conflicts of interest, and other violations affecting SBA programs and operations. Develop and pursue investigative leads by analyzing allegations, financial records, documents, databases, and other information to determine potential violations and appropriate investigative actions. Conduct investigative interviews and record searches; obtain sworn statements; and collect, analyze, and preserve evidence from witnesses, subjects, informants, and other sources. Use a variety of investigative techniques, including surveillance, subpoenas, search and arrest warrants, consensual monitoring, confidential informants, and other authorized law enforcement methods. Prepare investigative plans, reports of investigation, case summaries, affidavits, and other investigative documentation that clearly and accurately present evidence, findings, and investigative activity. Coordinate with Assistant U.S. Attorneys, other Federal OIGs, and Federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies, and provide presentations or testimony in grand jury, judicial, or administrative proceedings, as required.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities, as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE STATEMENTS: GS-09: One year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service that is directly in, or related to, the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: investigating and arresting individuals suspected of crimes; participating in surveillance; collecting evidence; and preparing case reports; OR Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree or a LL.B., or J.D., in a related field of study; ORA combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement above. GS-11: One year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service that is directly in, or related to, the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: carrying out investigative duties related to criminal matters including production of reports; testifying in federal, state, tribal and/or local courts; securing search and arrest warrants; gathering information on individuals or organizations suspected of criminal activity; and performing undercover assignments; OR Three full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or a LL.M. in a related field of study; ORA combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement above. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. MEDICAL REQUIREMENT: The duties of positions in this series require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform the duties satisfactorily. Near vision, corrective lenses permitted, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz levels. Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible, and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying. This position is covered under the special retirement provision for Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter. Therefore, the maximum age for initial appointment to the 1811 series is the date immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday. The age restriction does not apply if you served in a Federal civilian (not military) law enforcement officer (FLEO) position covered by special CSRS or FERS retirement provisions, including early retirement. If you have reached the mandatory retirement age of 57, you are not eligible to apply to this vacancy. Firearms: This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency and successfully pass periodic firearm qualifications. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition in accordance with 18 USC 922 (Lautenberg Amendment). Applicants for the Criminal Investigator position who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not eligible for employment. Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, USC Section 992(g)). A felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is generally defined under the statute as any offense involving the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent, or guardian. The term convicted, as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set aside, or pardoned, or any person whose civil rights have been restored, so long as such restoration does not restrict the shipping, transport, possession or receipt of firearms or ammunition. Candidates convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statutes are not eligible for the position. All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 09/14/2026.

Education

For this position you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone -- no substitution of education for experience is permitted; FLETC CITP or an equivalent and Bachelor's Degree are preferred. APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Verify School accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

How to apply

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions will affect your rating. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience your rating may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: 1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button. 2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. 3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. 4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification. 5. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements 6. Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account. To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at https://www.usajobs.gov/ All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/