Criminal Investigator (Special Agent)

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• You must be able to operate a government-owned or leased vehicle and have, and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Required to qualify to carry and use firearms and other weapons as part of assigned duties and maintain such qualification.
• Position has a Confidential Financial Disclosure (Form OGE-450) requirement. If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter.
• Selected applicants are subject to initial and random drug testing. Failure to pass a Drug Test or maintain a clearance is grounds for removal.
• Successful passing completion of the Basic Criminal Investigative Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, or its equivalent.
• Applicants must hold a Top Secret clearance or successfully pass a background investigation to obtain a Top Secret clearance. You must meet initial and periodic suitability determinations based on favorable background investigations and updates.
• Significant travel up to 75% of the time is expected. Selected applicants must be able to acquire and maintain a government-issued travel charge card and potentially a government-issued purchase card.
• Selectees for such positions must meet the initial agency suitability determination before a final job offer can be made.
• Relocation expenses are NOT authorized.
  
  

Qualifications

This position is a primary law enforcement position under 5 U.S.C. 8336 (C) (CSRS and 5 U.S. C 8412 (d) (FERS). You must be no more than 37 years of age upon entry into the GS-1811 series, unless the applicant has previous service creditable under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) law enforcement provisions sufficient to enable you to retire at age 57 with 20 years of creditable service. Persons already in covered secondary positions or persons with previous approved service who apply for a primary position cannot be considered if their age at reentry into the primary position exceeds 37 years after subtracting their years of service in covered positions. Applicant must provide evidence of current or previous coverage that would qualify. This age restriction does not apply to those entitled to Veteran's Preference.

THIS POSITION HAS A BASIC 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.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC MEDICAL REQUIREMENT ABOVE, APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS BELOW.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying.

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level or equivalent in the Federal service. This experience includes performing such duties as independently conducting a full range of criminal and administrative investigative functions on assigned investigations, from planning and conducting fact-finding, to reporting the results of investigations; independently performing or leading undercover and surveillance work; conducting investigative interviews; and analyzing investigative facts to arrive at sound conclusions. This experience includes the preparation of comprehensive administrative and technical reports in order to present complex and conflicting findings in a clear, logical, impartial, comprehensive, and concise manner. In addition, the incumbent must have experience conducting liaison activities with other investigative agencies, including Federal, State, and local agencies, representing the interests of the employing agency, and developing new approaches to performing investigative functions, including responses to identified weaknesses and vulnerabilities in on-going operations.

Your Resume Must CLEARLY Demonstrate This Experience

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time in grade: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. (Must submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No award SF-50 will be accepted. We encourage you to provide more than 1 SF-50 so that we can adjudicate Time in Grade, highest grade held, and current status. SF-52s are not acceptable.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

EDUCATION MAY NOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR SPECIALZIED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-13 LEVEL.

Additional information

USDA OIG Statement

At the Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, we are dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and aim to build a workforce that mirrors the diversity of our nation. We invite applications from individuals of all backgrounds who are dedicated to public service and share our commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment. Explore our Office of Equal Opportunity, Diversity, and Inclusion page to delve deeper into our commitment to DEIA at OIG.

• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
• This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.
• CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to Financial Disclosure Requirements in 5 CFR 2635 (e) regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have, or who are seeking, business with USDA.
  
  

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• Help Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.