Criminal Investigator (SSA)

Summary

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent office whose mission is to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability throughout the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In our dynamic environment, the OIG conducts investigations, audits, evaluations, and inspections to enhance program effectiveness and efficiency and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and mismanagement in DHS programs and operations.

Duties

• The Office of Investigations is responsible for investigating the appropriate criminal and civil justice system those individuals and organizations involved in financial, professional, civil, or criminal misconduct relating to Department of Homeland Security programs and operations. The incumbent serves as the Senior Special Agent (SSA) in the Office of Investigations with the responsibility of planning and coordinating a comprehensive oversight program to ensure the efficiency and economy in the Department's law enforcement bureaus. Allegations may include criminal activities perpetuated by providers of services, contractors, grantees, employees, private individuals and others involving funding by the Department. The incumbent represents the INV in assigned jurisdictional areas. Typical assignments include: Directs and coordinates in-depth reviews and evaluations of criminal investigations program operations. Identifies areas requiring additional or decreased OIG investigative and/or oversight attention. Reviews final investigative reports and memoranda to ensure compliance with established quality assurance standards. Serves as the technical and programmatic OIG liaison with the Department's law enforcement bureaus for complex and sensitive oversight reviews. Coordinates with Special Agents in Charge regarding the initiation, planning, conducting and reporting of a full range of criminal investigations, including those of an extremely sensitive and complex nature. Presents new and novel issues requiring an extraordinarily high degree of ingenuity and initiative. Provides direction in conducting criminal investigative functions and oversight of the law enforcement bureaus. Manages INV's reporting of investigative cases and other technical activities and operations to maximize the effective use of reported information in the development of new techniques. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

You will qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level. Specialized experience at this level includes: 1. Presenting evidence that reconstructs events, sequences, and time element to establish relationships, responsibilities, legal liabilities, and conflict. 2. Utilizing techniques, methods, and equipment in conducting a full life cycle criminal investigation to include drafting and preparing concise, logical reports of investigations and summaries. 3. Collaborating with other law enforcement agencies for purpose of obtaining their cooperation in furnishing information concerning illegal activities involving violations of criminal law. Additional Requirements: Training Requirement: This position requires that you have completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA or an approved comparable course: 1) Federal Bureau of Investigation, Basic Special Agent Academy; 2) Drug Enforcement Administration, Basic Special Agent Academy; 3) U.S. Postal Inspector Basic Inspection Training Program; 4) United States Army Military Police School, CID Special Agent Course; and 5) U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Special Investigators Course). Note: Please list it on your resume and a copy of your certificate and/or transcripts is required upon selection. Firearm Requirement: This position requires you to be authorized to carry a firearm and maintain firearm proficiency. Therefore, it is subject to the Lautenberg Amendment, 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g) (9) and you will be required to verify that you have not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Age Requirement: This position is covered by the law enforcement officer retirement provisions, 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) or 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d), and as such is covered by a mandatory age requirement. There is a maximum entry age of the day before your 37th birthday for original appointment into law enforcement officer positions as defined in 5 U.S.C. 8331(21) or 5 U.S.C. 8401(17). This age restriction does not apply to those who have prior Federal service in a covered primary law enforcement position, or to qualified Veterans' preference eligible regardless of whether they meet the maximum age requirements identified at 5 U.S.C. 3307. Medical Requirement: This position requires you to maintain physical fitness standards set by the agency. The duties of Criminal Investigators 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. 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. Additionally, the duties of this position involve activities under trying conditions, as such, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. This position may require the completion of a Medical Examination that will include testing of your vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities by an authorized Government physician. If a medical examination is required, you must be cleared by the authorized Government physician in order to be determined physically fit to perform the arduous physical exertion required of this position. This position has been identified as a Testing Designated Position (TDP); therefore, you are subject to drug testing under OIG's Drug-Free Workplace policy. Refusal to be randomly tested may result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. 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. The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date 09/18/2026 of this announcement. Current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade level or equivalent grade band in the federal service. The time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date 09/18/2026 of this announcement. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

How to apply

Locations Clarification: One vacancy will be filled in Tucson, AZ; one vacancy will be filled in Miami, FL: one vacancy will be filled in either Chicago, IL or Dearborn, MI; and one vacancy will be filled in Alexandria, VA. 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. To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login). 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: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. 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/.