Criminal Investigator (Direct Hire)
About This Position
As a Criminal Investigator with the NASA Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, you will independently conduct complex criminal investigations of fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in NASA programs impacting national security, persons, and property.
You will analyze evidence, prepare investigative reports, collaborate with prosecutors, testify in legal proceedings, and apply specialized investigative techniques to provide independent oversight and protect Agency resources.
Qualifications
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Conducting one or more of the following types of investigations: fraud investigations, administrative investigations, and criminal investigations; Preparing detailed investigative reports to aid in supporting possible prosecution and/or administrative or civil action; Supporting investigative activities by recognizing and developing evidence to assist with investigations and prosecutions involving personnel, programs, and contracts. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Conducting fraud investigations in one or more of the following areas: grant, procurement, cost/labor mischarging, defective pricing, defective parts, false certifications, price fixing, bid rigging, and product substitution; Applying laws, regulations, theories, principles and/or practices of fraud investigations and investigative procedures and techniques; Collecting and assembling facts to assist with investigative findings in preparation for a trial and/or hearing.
Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses.
Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process. Medical Requirements: The duties of this position requires 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 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 too himself/herself, or others is disqualifying.
Training Requirements: Satisfactorily complete (or have previously completed) the Criminal Investigation Training Program at Glynco, Georgia, or equivalent federal law enforcement training.
Major Duties
Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
Lead investigations into fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in NASA programs impacting national security, persons, property, and investigating violations of NASA Standards of Conduct and government regulations involving NASA employees.
Direct and conduct advanced law enforcement operations in support of investigative objectives and legally authorized techniques to obtain critical evidence, property, and documentation.
Perform in-depth analysis and evaluation of complex evidentiary material; corroborate and synthesize facts across multiple sources; develop comprehensive investigative reports and executive-level summaries.
Present investigative findings and evidentiary analyses to Assistant U.S. Attorneys to support federal grand jury proceedings; serve as an expert witness before grand juries, trial courts, or administrative hearings.
Serve as a senior liaison and subject-matter expert, cultivating and sustaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.
Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents).
For more information please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website.
You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or assessment questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
You will be assessed on the following competencies: Arrest Attention to Detail Criminal Investigation Interpersonal Skills Seizure NASA OIG considers 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. NASA OIG will not ask you to disclose criminal history record information during the application process or before we make a conditional/tentative offer of employment. If you apply for this position and are selected, NASA will conduct a suitability/security background investigation after you accept a tentative job offer. If you feel you are asked to disclose your criminal history before you accept a tentative offer and wish to file a complaint within 30 days, please contact: [email protected].
Additional Information
Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): LEAP in the amount of 25% has been approved for this position. However, the biweekly maximum earnings limitation for LEO's in 5 U.S.C. 5547(c) applies. Law Enforcement Retirement Coverage: This is a primary/rigorous law enforcement position under the provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 USC 8412(d) (FERS). Thirty-seven (37) years is the maximum entry age for covered primary law enforcement positions to meet the requirement of 20 years of service by the mandatory retirement age of
- Persons not appointed by the last day of the month in which the individual reaches their 37th birthday shall not be originally appointed or assigned to these positions. Applicants who are age 37 or over may subtract any of their prior federal service that is in approved primary/rigorous positions and that is creditable for retirement from their current age to meet this age requirement.
Applicants must provide proof of this creditable service prior to appointment. The maximum entry age may be waived for applicants eligible for veterans' preference.
Note: Multiple selections may be made from this announcement. Salaries listed above are an approximation and are subject to duty station locality adjustment. If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must: - Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position.
The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility. - Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position - Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents' For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap. Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit. Probationary/Trial Period You may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part
- In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application and have all required information available. We encourage you to provide a complete description of your educational achievements and include both paid and non-paid work in the experience portion of your resume. If you submit a resume that does not contain the required information, you may lose consideration.
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: To begin the application process, you will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application process. Once logged in to your account, click on the "Apply" link.
Follow the prompts to select your resume (2 pages or fewer) and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. Resumes longer than 2 pages will be rejected by the system. Resumes submitted via other document types will not be forwarded to the hiring manager, nor will they be used in the review of your qualifications.
We strongly encourage you to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder when creating your resume. Using the resume builder will help you ensure your resume includes important information related to your qualifications and eligibility for this position. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
During the application process you can review, edit, delete and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes.
Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the 'Include Personal Information' section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the vacancy questionnaire which you must complete in order to apply for the position.
Complete the online application, verify all required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. NASA OIG's online application process provides step by step guidance to ensure you provide all needed information. If you are unable to apply online, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Be advised - application materials faxed, emailed, and/or mailed to NASA Office of Inspector General will not be accepted for this announcement. NASA OIG provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you are an applicant with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact center listed on the job vacancy announcement.
The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be on a case-by-case basis.
Required Documents
All submitted resumes must not exceed two (2) pages in length. Resumes longer than two pages will be rejected by USAJOBS. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize including experience and relevant qualifications that directly align with the position advertised. All work experience and accomplishments must be associated with dates (month/year) to allow for accurate qualification assessment. A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume.
Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please
note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, your application package will be disqualified: Classified or government sensitive information. Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents.
If your resume contains any of the above information, you must redact that information prior to the submission of your application. The following documents are required: Resume To be found qualified on the basis of education, you must provide a copy of your college transcript that fully demonstrates you meet the requirements listed in the Qualifications section.
You may provide either an unofficial transcript or a copy of an official transcript. Failure to provide a complete copy of your college transcript that shows you have completed degree program or coursework may result in you being found not qualified for the job and you may lose consideration. There may be other supporting documents (licenses, certification, veterans preference, etc.), depending on your answers to the questionnaire and job announcement description, that you may have to submit, please verify your application.
Do not submit an OF-306 with your application. If you are a surplus or displaced employee (CTAP and ICTAP), submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP. This includes copies of your agency notice, most recent Performance Rating and most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting current position, grade level, and duty location.
Official documents are required at the time of appointment for verification of eligibility and qualifications.