Criminal Investigator

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. In addition to meeting the basic requirement see education section below, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For GS 11 - Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-9. Specialized experience is defined as 3 or more of the following: Assisting in conducting criminal investigations by gathering preliminary facts, reviewing available records, and identifying basic evidentiary relationships to support senior investigators in developing case strategies, resolving factual discrepancies, and reconstructing events relevant to violations of Federal or state law. Performing surveillance and limited undercover assignments under close supervision, observing suspects' movements, documenting behavioral patterns, and reporting findings to senior investigators to support broader investigative operations involving multiple subjects or locations. Supporting intelligence and counterintelligence-related activities by collecting information from law enforcement databases, assisting in the analysis of potential threats to critical infrastructure, and sharing vetted intelligence with supervisors or partner agencies in accordance with established protocols and security requirements. Assisting in preparing investigative reports, affidavits, case summaries, and documentation for administrative or prosecutorial review by organizing evidence, verifying accuracy of supporting records, and presenting factual information clearly and concisely for consideration by senior agents, prosecutors, or agency officials. Participating in joint operations and jurisdictional coordination activities by assisting in executing subpoenas or warrants, supporting interagency investigative tasks, attending briefings with Department of Justice (DOJ) or U.S. Attorney personnel, and providing testimony on straightforward investigative matters under the direction of senior law enforcement officers. OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position such as Law Enforcement Land Management or Natural Resource Protection. OR Combination of Education and Experience: An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For GS 12 - Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11. Specialized experience is defined as 3 or more of the following: Assisting in planning and conducting complex and sensitive criminal investigations by gathering and analyzing evidence, verifying conflicting records, following obscure leads, coordinating with senior investigators, and contributing to the development of investigative strategies consistent with established legal and procedural standards. Participating in undercover operations and surveillance assignments by maintaining cover identities, documenting activities of multiple suspects across varied locations, relaying real-time observations to the investigative team, and providing accurate situational updates to support operational decision-making. Supporting intelligence and counterintelligence activities by collecting, assessing, and sharing information related to threats against critical infrastructure; reviewing case-related intelligence from partner agencies; and ensuring compliance with classification, dissemination, and national security protocols. Preparing investigative reports, affidavits, case summaries, and evidentiary documentation that accurately reflected investigative findings; supported requests for warrants; and contributed to prosecutorial case packages, grand jury preparations, and administrative enforcement actions. Coordinating with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners by assisting with execution of subpoenas and warrants, participating in multi-agency case operations, conducting interviews, and providing testimony on assigned investigative matters under the direction of senior investigators or prosecutors. For GS 13 - Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12. Specialized experience is defined as 3 or more of the following: Conducting complex, sensitive criminal and administrative investigations-including those involving multi-jurisdictional violations, classified intelligence, internal misconduct, and fraud-by analyzing conflicting evidence, evaluating obscure leads, coordinating investigative resources, and implementing investigative strategies in collaboration with supervisors and partner agencies. Planning and executing undercover operations and multi-subject surveillance activities by developing cover stories, operating in high-risk environments, directing surveillance personnel, and coordinating investigative actions across multiple locations to collect evidence and identify additional criminal participants. Participating in joint investigative operations with federal, state, and local agencies by assisting in defining investigative objectives, coordinating execution of search and arrest warrants, conducting simultaneous suspect interviews, and supporting large-scale enforcement actions involving multiple entities and judicial districts. Preparing detailed investigative reports, affidavits, and case documentation for prosecutorial review by accurately presenting evidence, timelines, surveillance findings, intelligence assessments, and subject actions in support of grand jury presentations, administrative actions, and criminal prosecution. Providing investigative support to prosecutors and management officials by offering technical advice on evidence development, assisting with preparation of witnesses and exhibits for trial, sharing investigative findings relevant to legal strategy, and ensuring investigative activities adhered to applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies. 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. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Duties listed are at the full performance level.
Review affidavits, search warrants, seizure documentation, undercover operational materials, and investigative reports for legal sufficiency, factual accuracy, and adherence to policy.
Prepare written case strategies, surveillance plans, operational briefings, and interagency coordination documents that outline investigative objectives, resource needs, evidentiary priorities, and security considerations multi agency operations.
Deliver clear verbal briefings to supervisors, prosecutors, Joint Terrorism Task Forces, and multi agency investigative teams, conveying complex intelligence assessments, investigative findings operational risks, and high stakes criminal cases.
Conduct interviews, debriefings, and coordination meetings with witnesses, informants, cooperating defendants, and law enforcement partners, ensure credibility, cooperation, and accurate information in high risk investigative environments.
Demonstrate investigative challenges, identifying resource needs, resolving operational conflicts, initiating multi agency coordination, and investigative strategies in response to evolving leads, threats, or prosecutorial requirements.