Criminal Investigator (Special Agent)

Summary

View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement. These positions are non-bargaining unit positions.

Duties

• As a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent), you will perform the following duties: Serve as a Special Agent for interagency, multi-jurisdictional, international, and/or inter-organizational inquiries and investigations. Conduct investigations of marked difficulty and responsibility associated with trade, travel, finance, and immigration for combatting illicit activities associated with individuals, businesses, employers, criminal organizations or criminal conspiracies, and cyber systems and networks. Utilize a combined methodology of intelligence, investigative techniques, and legal authorities to conduct investigations and associated activities. Apply knowledge of the trends, laws, and investigative case development, independently or in coordination with other law enforcement officers (LEOs) or agencies to accomplish work. Prepare written documentation utilizing expert knowledge in support of investigations. Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration at 242 duty locations and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations within various offices throughout the country. You have the opportunity to identify two location preferences within the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) office area of responsibility. Note that multiple duty locations fall within the area of responsibility (AOR) of each SAC office. Please view the duty locations within each SAC AOR here. Your location preferences are NOT guaranteed. The duty locations offered will be based on the needs of the agency. If you decline the duty locations offered during the official job offer, you will be removed from further consideration.

Qualifications

Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GL-09 grade level or equivalent performing these duties: Assisting in conducting investigations such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, alien smuggling, production of, and distribution of child pornography, and/or child sex tourism and high technology crimes Assisting in conducting investigations such as those involving computers, networks, and servers to identify potential transnational criminal activities, commercial fraud, intellectual property theft, illegal trade practices, transnational criminal gangs, VISA security programs, identity and benefit fraud, human rights violations and war crimes, cultural property/arts and antiquities, and worksite enforcement Developing and enhancing inter-agency cooperation with other governmental and private sector entities; and Conducting interviews and interrogations of suspects, witnesses, and informants with guidance OR Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a LL.M., if related. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and activities necessary to do the work. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed graduate education beyond the first full two years and experience as described above that when combined meets 100% of the requirement. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess the following: Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing these duties: Conducting investigations such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, alien smuggling, production of, and distribution of child pornography, and/or child sex tourism high technology crimes Conducting investigations such as those involving computers, networks, and servers to identify potential transnational criminal activities, commercial fraud, intellectual property theft, illegal trade practices, transnational criminal gangs, VISA security programs, identity and benefit fraud, human rights violations and war crimes, cultural property/arts and antiquities, and worksite enforcement Increasing and enhancing inter-agency cooperation with other governmental and private sector entities; And Conducting interviews and interrogations of suspects, witnesses, and informants. In addition to the above requirements, your resume will be reviewed to determine possession of the following competencies. Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. Criminal Investigation: Knowledge of the guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with criminal investigation, including evidence detection and handling and drawing appropriate factual inferences and conclusions. Manages and Organizes Information: Identifies a need; gathers, organizes, and maintains information; determines its importance and accuracy, and communicates it by a variety of methods. Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. AND Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. Current or Former Political Appointees: 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. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required. View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Education

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, quarter and semester hours earned, the institution's full name, and your full name. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/search.aspx. 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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating of your application. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in loss of consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications ***Prior to the final job offer, an official transcript will be required.********* OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Current Federal Employees: Current federal employees who apply to this announcement may be required to accept a change to lower grade which will reduce their current salary based on Federal pay regulations. Pay retention will not apply. HSI Special Agent Basic Training: A mandatory component of continued employment is the successful completion of Basic Training, which consists of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) and the HSI Special Agent Training Program (HSISAT). The training is approximately 22 weeks in total. You may be temporarily reassigned to a non-law enforcement position if you fail to complete basic training. Physical Fitness Testing (PFT): A Physical Fitness Test (PFT) will be administered. A passing score is required prior to entry on duty (EOD). Two PFT failures will result in your removal from the hiring process, and you will no longer be eligible for consideration under this announcement. Additionally, a PFT will also be administered at FLETC during Basic Training. Every trainee must pass the PFT during training. Polygraph: ICE has designated this position for polygraph testing which you may be required to submit to and successfully complete as a pre-employment requirement. If referred for polygraph testing, you will be required to travel to a testing location at your own expense. If you previously had an unsuccessful polygraph examination administered by ICE within the last two (2) years, ICE will use those results which will remove you from continuing in the hiring process. Medical Requirements: Click here for information about the medical process. You must complete a pre-employment medical examination and be found to meet the medical standards for this position. Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 21 years of age by the closing date of this announcement. Provisions of Public Law 93-950 and 100-238 allow the imposition of a maximum age for initial appointment to a Criminal Investigator position with the Department of Homeland Security. The date immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday is the last day an applicant nay submit an application. However, the age restriction may not apply to individuals who are qualified preference-eligible veterans or who are currently or have previously served in a federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered by 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. Applicants currently serving in the ICE Criminal Investigator position cannot use this announcement for reassignment, promotion, or transfer purposes.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13018025, and submit all the required documentation as specified in he HOW TO APPLY and the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section. The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/09/2026. The vacancy questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions. This provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. We encourage you to apply online. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on 09/09/2026. It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application. One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.