Criminal Investigator (Operations Officer)
About This Position
This position is a GS-1811-14, Criminal Investigator who serves as the Operations Officer for the Office of Investigations in the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Qualifications
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify at the GS-14 level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service. For this announcement, specialized experience is defined as identifying indicators of fraud by developing proactive analytical methodologies; referring indicators of fraud for further investigation; tracking proactive investigative activity to identify and analyze emerging fraud trends; uncovering information to analyze reported complaints by conducting investigative interviews; drafting changes to organizational policies and procedures to address new legislation, higher-level policy changes, and/or emerging issues. Experience refers to paid/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, skills and can provide valuable training/experience that translates directly to paid work.
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. TIME-IN-GRADE: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-14 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13.
The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year of time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.
In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year of time-in-grade.
Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Do not submit an award SF-50. It is highly recommended that multiple SF-50s be submitted to verify that time-in-grade requirements are met.
Applicants are subject to the maximum entry age into federal law enforcement positions, which is the date immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday, unless they are eligible for veterans' preference. Those who have served or are serving in positions covered by the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (FLEO) retirement provision may also be considered eligible. Documentation/proof of this eligibility is required.
The duties of positions in the 1811 job series require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, the use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. The applicant must successfully complete a pre-employment physical examination. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, and knees is required.
Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning so that the applicants can perform their 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. Because 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 pose a hazard to applicants or others is disqualifying.
This position requires medical health screening for pre-employment, and biannually thereafter. In addition, this position requires successful completion of physical qualifications testing for positions that may require travel to Antarctica. The completion of the Basic Criminal Investigator Training Program at a Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) or other equivalent law enforcement training such as U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID), U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), or Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is required.
You MUST submit the proper documentation showing completion of the requisite training in order to be considered.
Major Duties
As the GS-1811-14 Criminal Investigator (Operations Officer), you will be responsible for the following: Identifies indicators of fraud by developing proactive analytical methodologies Drafts referrals to program integrity investigators based on uncovered indicators of fraud that warrant further investigation Tracks activity in all proactive investigative initiatives for review to identify and analyze emerging fraud trends Reviews OI policies and procedures to identify any necessary changes to address new legislation, policy changes and/or emerging issues Drafts changes to existing procedures or new policies to address new legislation, policy changes and/or emerging issues Uncovers information in support of the analysis of complaints received through the OIG hotline by conducting investigative interviews Determines NSF program areas susceptible to fraudulent activity by researching and analyzing NSF funding programs Addresses uncovered indicators of fraud in NSF programs by designing proactive investigation initiatives Determines whether further investigation into indicators of fraud uncovered in NSF programs by analyzing alert information and performing any additional research Leads OI's efforts in conducting peer reviews, ensuring that those efforts comply with policies and guidelines of OI, OIG and the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE)
Conditions of Employment
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be subject to a background/security investigation This position is subject to Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) This position requires regular qualification with an issued firearm Position is subject to random drug testing ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID-compliant cannot be used as acceptable forms of identification for employment.
You must meet all eligibility requirements within thirty days of the date the announcement closes and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.
You will not need a clearance to accept this position, but you must be able to obtain a clearance if needed. If you are a current federal employee holding a General Schedule (GS) position, you must meet the time-in-grade requirements. All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Education
Education may enhance skills required for this position; however, no substitution of education for specialized experience may be made at this level.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be rated on the following competencies for this position: Criminal Investigation Attention to Detail Program Management Problem Solving Creativity & Innovation Compliance Grants Management Laws, Regulations & Guidelines Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and include the job title, duties, grade/salary, and dates worked. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited based on the time actually spent in appropriate activities.
Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
If your resume is missing the job title, duties, grade, or salary, or dates worked, you might not be referred for consideration to the hiring manager.
Additional Information
Relocation Expenses will not be paid. This is a non-bargaining unit position. This announcement may be used to fill similar positions in other organizations within the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies, including OIG offices.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM-approved qualifying conditions for the position; be physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receive a rating of at least "Very Good" on the questionnaire.
You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources. Veteran's Preference: If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume.
Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the VA letter or other required documentation as specified on the SF-15.
How to Apply
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established on the OPM website following the instructions provided to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be redirected to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position may do so until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
If the announcement has an application cap, the announcement may close sooner than the date listed. If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS.
It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS. As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that the information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate.
Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields. Need Help? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc.
Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Required Documents
It is your responsibility to carefully review the list of required documents below and submit the necessary documentation based on your eligibility. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position.
Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume-building tools can be found at: Page Limit and OPM guidance on 2 page limit Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two-page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history: Official position title Employer name and contact information If the work was performed as a contractor, please clearly indicate that on the resume Start and end dates (at least month and year) Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time Grade or salary of position If you are a current or former Federal employee: You must submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent agency form. Do not submit an award SF-50; these do not contain sufficient information about your appointment.
Your SF-50 should list the full position title, series, grade, and step, organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status. Applicants are encouraged to submit multiple SF-50s to meet eligibility requirements.
You must submit a copy of your most recent performance evaluation or appraisal, signed, showing your final rating. If a performance appraisal is not available, submit a statement explaining why one is not available. If you are a Veteran or a qualifying parent or spouse: When claiming a Veteran's Preference, you must submit your last DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) form, specifically the Member #4 Copy, indicating dates and character of service and discharge type.
If you are a Veteran with a service-connected disability rating, you will need to additionally submit the SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veterans Preference) and a copy of your VA Letter stating your disability rating. If you are the qualifying parent or spouse of a disabled, deceased, or deployed Veteran, and are seeking a derived preference eligibility, you must submit appropriate supporting documentation, such as the Veteran's DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter, and/or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. See Veteran Family Preference for more information.
For more information on each type of Veterans Preference, and the documentation required for each, see FedsHireVets. If you are applying for consideration under the Military Spouse Appointing Authority: Military spouses of the armed forces on active duty should visit the following site for information on required documentation: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spousesIf you are a person with a disability, claiming eligibility under Schedule A: You must submit "proof of a disability" documentation ("Proof of a disability" is a letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability).
You must get this letter from your doctor, a licensed medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal, state, or local agency that issues or provides disability benefits. During the application process, you may have an option to opt in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency (or elsewhere) who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
The NSF OIG provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Individuals with disabilities may [email protected] for assistance with the application or hiring process.Individuals who are eligible for a non-competitive appointment under an Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) special appointing authority may apply for consideration under a comparable non-competitive appointing authority. Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment" (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.
False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from federal service.