About This Position
This position is located in the Compliance and Investigations Division (CID), Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit (OIEA). CID implements a nationwide compliance and investigations program in support of the FSIS public health mission. Investigations are often a collaborative effort conducted by individuals or teams across the United States. Regular Work Schedule: Mon-Fri. Occasional weekends and holidays may be required.
Qualifications
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: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade For the GS-11 - Applicants will need to have completed 52 weeks of time-in-grade equivalent to the next lower GS grade level (e.g. one year at the GS-9 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level.). For the GS-12 - Applicants must have at least 52 weeks of time-in-grade equivalent to the next lower GS grade level (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level.). Specialized Experience: In order to meet the specialized experience requirement, you will need to have completed 52 weeks of progressively responsible specialized experience at the next lower band/grade level. For the GS-1801-11 level: Specialized experience at the GS-11 level is defined as having a knowledge of meat, poultry and egg inspection laws and regulations; the ability to monitor and verify compliance with inspection laws and regulations; ability to analyze official records to assure they are in compliance, appear to be true, correct, and unaltered; ability to recognize, resolve, or determine if further investigation is needed when there is a violation of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Poultry Products Inspection Act, and/or Egg Products Inspection Act. The ability to gather facts, analyze data, identify trends; and document findings. For the GS-1801-12 level: Specialized experience for the GS-12 level is defined as enforcement and investigative work rather than inspection activities. It includes working with enforcement actions, applying investigative methodology, documenting case files, administrative enforcement recall activities, preparing case investigation files, and working with and understanding the enforcement process. This experience must demonstrate knowledge in the following areas: meat and poultry inspection laws and regulations; the ability to monitor food product and maintain chain of custody, collect and evaluate evidence, recognize and resolve violations of the Meat Inspection Act, Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, and/or Egg Products Inspection Act; and the ability to gather facts, analyze data and develop written reports. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, and Compliance Series 1801 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.
Major Duties
Conducting surveillance of in-commerce facilities focused on food safety, food defense, court order verification, and other consumer protection activities;
Investigating violations of law to support criminal, civil, and administrative actions, including prosecutions;
Sampling product for pathogens, species, economic adulteration, and foreign ingredients;
Educating businesses and officials about food safety and food defense;
Serving as a liaison with other federal, state, and local public health agencies and law enforcement officials;
CID Investigator initiates enforcement through referrals to the USDA Office of General Counsel and/or OIG for prosecution, injunction, or product seizure actions by DOJ;
CID Investigator verifies compliance with settlement agreements and other case outcomes on behalf of FSIS and assists with coordination of legal actions;
Plays a crucial role in FSIS homeland security activities, including detecting, preventing, and responding to food tampering incidents, food smuggling, national disasters, and other threats to the food supply;
CID Investigator has a substantive role in foodborne illness outbreaks by performing investigations in cooperation with other federal, state, and local public health partners;
Investigators identify the vehicles of the outbreak and determine the location of suspect product. These activities may result in recalls, detentions, and/or seizures which provide for the removal of suspected product from the market place.
Investigating violations of law to support criminal, civil, and administrative actions, including prosecutions;
Sampling product for pathogens, species, economic adulteration, and foreign ingredients;
Educating businesses and officials about food safety and food defense;
Serving as a liaison with other federal, state, and local public health agencies and law enforcement officials;
CID Investigator initiates enforcement through referrals to the USDA Office of General Counsel and/or OIG for prosecution, injunction, or product seizure actions by DOJ;
CID Investigator verifies compliance with settlement agreements and other case outcomes on behalf of FSIS and assists with coordination of legal actions;
Plays a crucial role in FSIS homeland security activities, including detecting, preventing, and responding to food tampering incidents, food smuggling, national disasters, and other threats to the food supply;
CID Investigator has a substantive role in foodborne illness outbreaks by performing investigations in cooperation with other federal, state, and local public health partners;
Investigators identify the vehicles of the outbreak and determine the location of suspect product. These activities may result in recalls, detentions, and/or seizures which provide for the removal of suspected product from the market place.
Education
Candidates may qualify at the GS-11 level based on the completion of three full years of progressively higher level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in lieu of specialized experience. There is no educational substitution for specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below: Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred. Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.
Additional Information
Investigators may be exposed to prolonged adverse environmental conditions such as extreme cold temperature in walk-in freezers, uneven/slippery/wet/floors, and traversing stairs/fences, and other obstacles while conducting surveillance and/or investigation activities. Some duties are performed in an office setting. 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. DRUG TESTING: This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use. PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to its closing. Resumes must not exceed two pages. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this. Alternative Methods for Applying: If you are unable to apply using the internet, please fax your request for an application package along with your name and mailing address to HR: 1-833-840-9220. To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX). Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable. Please ensure your resume does not exceed two pages. Applicants who submit a resume that exceeds two pages will be removed from consideration. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc.
Required Documents
The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration. Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages. Your application may be disqualified if you include any of the information listed here: What should I leave out of my resume? If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of all relevant college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation. Current and former Federal employees: Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute. Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330. If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement with another merit system not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation. Go to USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities or Special Hiring Authority for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Compliance Investigator position at Food Safety and Inspection Service?
The salary range for this position is $74,678 - $97,087/yr. This is a GS-11/12 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Compliance Investigator job located?
This position is located in Phoenix, Arizona. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
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: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade For...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Feb 24, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Secret clearance is required.
What does GS-11/12 mean?
GS-11/12 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.