Criminal Investigator, Polygraph Examiner - Investigations Operations Division (IOD)
About This Position
The USPS OIG is seeking a highly qualified applicant to fill our Criminal Investigator, Polygraph Examiner, Journey Band position in the Office of Investigations, Investigative Operations Division (IOD) located in one of the Nationwide USPS OIG Area Field Office locations, actual location to be determined based upon selectee. Selected candidate will report to IOD. Bring your skills and voice to our team!
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS You must meet ALL of the minimum qualifications listed below. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university Completed Basic Criminal Investigative Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) or its equivalent Currently serve as a federal law enforcement officer classified as an 1811 series Criminal Investigator or Military equivalent At least 4 years of professional federal law enforcement experience Must be a graduate of the basic polygraph course offered by the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA) or by its prior official designations as the Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment (DACA) or Department of Defense Polygraph Institute (DoDPI) Within the last 10 years, been certified as an active Federal polygraph examiner by an authorized Federal polygraph or credibility assessment program per respective agency and Federal standards and requirements. Must not have been previously decertified, due to substandard proficiency or as a punitive remedy of suspected or confirmed violations of ethical standards.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work both independently and in a team environment. Must have received at least a met expectations performance rating on fiscal year 2024 and 2025 performance appraisal to include coaching and review phase comments.
If a performance appraisal is not available, you must submit a written statement stating the reason it is not available (You must submit a copy of your latest two performance appraisals). In accordance with applicable laws, the applicant selected for this position must: Maintain eligibility to operate motor vehicles Must be at least 21 years of age and not have reached 37th birthday at the time of initial appointment to law enforcement position Qualify and maintain authorization to carry firearms, including no current or previous domestic violence convictions Maintain physical, mental and emotional standards and requirements necessary to perform law enforcement assignments Work unscheduled irregular hours with the possibility of personal risk Must be willing to relocate at the direction of management DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS Advanced Academic degree Knowledge of the U.S. Postal Service Experience conducting mail theft, narcotics, financial fraud, and/or healthcare criminal investigations Applicants that do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be considered.
EVALUATION FACTORS You must have the experience, knowledge and skills as listed in EACH of the evaluation factors. Failure to demonstrate that you meet all of the evaluation factor requirements as listed below will result in a score of zero (0); an ineligible status, and you will not be referred for further consideration. Include your major accomplishments relevant to the position requirements in your resume.
Demonstrate ability to routinely gather key information from interviews/interrogations and effectively communicate findings, both orally and in writing Proven ability to maintain a high level of attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and compliance with established standards. Demonstrate ability to properly utilize major polygraph systems, to include Lafayette and/or Limestone polygraph systems. Demonstrate the ability to accurately interpret and score polygraph charts utilizing any NCCA approved scoring method.
Demonstrate ability to properly formulate valid polygraph questions (Test Question Construction) in accordance with federal guidelines.
You will no longer be considered for this position if you: fail to respond to all of the questions in the self-assessment questionnaire; fail to address a factor in the narrative section (no response or "See resume" or similar language will be scored a zero (0)); or receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor. Failure to demonstrate that you meet all evaluation factor requirements will result in a score of zero (0). Upon receipt of a zero score, you will be deemed "not minimally qualified," and you will not be referred for further consideration.
Major Duties
Candidates will be evaluated on the skills that they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and the experience, education and training that indicate the applicant's ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Only those candidates who meet all qualification and eligibility requirements, and who submit the required information by 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, June 4, 2026 will be considered. The USPS OIG uses a Pay Banding system, which is equivalent to the Federal GS scale.
Grade and salary determinations will be made based upon a candidate's education and professional experience. The position is advertised at the Journey Band level equivalent to a GS-13 grade level. The salary range for this position is $106,436 - $197,200 includes locality pay.
Compensation will include Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) under the 1811 Series. The job also provides coverage as a primary position under law enforcement retirement. Relocation expenses will not be paid.
Please note that the duties and responsibilities associated with this position may vary based upon the agency's needs at the time of hire. The following description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations. The successful candidate must be highly motivated and exhibit a high degree of leadership and demonstrate experience planning and conducting complex federal criminal investigations.
Conducts complex and sensitive criminal, and administrative polygraph examinations on personnel at all levels. Coordinate, conduct, and evaluate polygraph investigative methods utilized during examinations. Prepare complete and concise investigative reports of all exams conducted.
Conducts OI-wide training through in-person and online presentations during In-Service training, townhalls and brown bag meetings. Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Education
Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation here: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation. Special Instructions for Candidates with Foreign Education: Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in U.S. education programs.
You must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. credential evaluation service to interpret equivalency of your education against courses given in U.S. accredited colleges and universities. For further information visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications.
How You Will Be Evaluated
The Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications required for this position.
You will no longer be considered for this position if you: Receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor Fail to attach all required documentation Submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit If your application materials indicate that you are not minimally-qualified for this position If you fail to qualify on the interview Only the top-rated candidates will be referred to a review official or the selecting official for further consideration. Top-rated applicants may be required to participate in an interview.
Your rating may be further adjusted or rated as ineligible by the review official or the selecting official based on your interview performance. Once all applicant scores are finalized, the selecting official will make a final decision.
NOTE: If you receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor or on the interview, you will be considered NOT MINIMALLY QUALIFIED for the position and rated ineligible. Applicants for this position may be interviewed one or more times as part of the hiring process. During interviews, applicants may not use any AI tool or virtual assistant (such as ChatGPT) to help them answer questions, except for accessibility tools used as part of a reasonable accommodation. Applicants who fail to follow these rules will be disqualified from the hiring process.
Additional Information
Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the USPS OIG. We offer a broad array of benefits programs: As a result of the passage of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 (PSRA), USPS employees (including USPS OIG) and retirees will transition from the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program to the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program effective January 1, 2025. Detailed information about eligibility and enrollment will be provided upon hiring.
For more information, visit the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program website at https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/pshb/. We offer Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Long-Term Care Insurances with Flexible Spending options as well. For more information about these programs visit: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/Guide-Me/Federal-Employees/ Visit the 'Guide to PSHB Plans' for a comprehensive PSHB plan comparison tool and an educational tool that explains how Medicare B works: https://www.checkbook.org/pshb/ Retirement and Thrift Savings.
For more information about these programs see https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/ and tsp.gov/. Flexible Work Schedules. USPS OIG offers a range of family-friendly flexibilities including flexible work schedules, telework and employee assistance programs.
Leave and Holidays.
In addition to eleven (11) paid holidays each year, you will earn thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave and thirteen (13) to twenty-six (26) paid vacation days each year depending on your years of service. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Status: Exempt (Nonexempt employees are entitled to overtime pay; Exempt employees are not). This agency provides Reasonable Accommodations to applicants with disabilities.
If you require accommodations during any part of the application and/or hiring process, please contact us by sending an email to [email protected]. The decision on granting an accommodation request will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to our website at: https://www.uspsoig.gov/frequently-asked-questions
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages.
You will no longer be considered for this announcement if your resume exceeds the two-page limit.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date, Thursday, June 4, 2026, to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application.
Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents.
You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application.
Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application.
Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. You are strongly urged to read and print the entire vacancy announcement.
Required Documents
You must submit all required documents by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date of this announcement, Vacancy Announcement EX 26-99B-12966284-DR, by closing date Thursday, June 4, 2026.
- RESUME - IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages.
You will no longer be considered for this announcement if your resume exceeds the two-page limit.
Your resume MUST reflect that you have experience, knowledge and/or skills in each of the following Evaluation Factors listed below. It is essential that your resume and supporting documentation provide sufficient information to substantiate your qualifications for the announced position (categorize as "Resume"). Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
Make sure your page margins are 0.5 inches. The recommended font styles are Sans-Serif, Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noto Sans. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume.
Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
2.
COMPLETE OCCUPATIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE.
Click the "Apply Online" button and follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire. (Required: You must click on "Submit My Answers" button at the end of the Questionnaire to complete this process) 3. PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL (FY 2024 and 2025) - Required, dated within the last 15 months with Coaching and Review Phase comments and must have received at least a met expectations rating. This is required from all applicants including Federal, USPS, OIG, and private sector employees.
If a PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL is not available, you must submit a separate statement with the reason a performance appraisal is not available. (Required: Upload and save as "Performance Appraisal" document.)
NOTE: An SF50 IS NOT acceptable as a performance appraisal.
- BASIC POLYGRAPH COURSE COMPLETION CERTIFICATE - Required. Upload and save as "Certification" document.
- AGENCY CERTIFICATION - Letter or Documentation. Supporting certification from current or prior agency federal agency.
- SF-50 - Required, if you are or have been a federal employee to demonstrate tenure and competitive/excepted service for eligibility purposes. (If applicable to you, you are Required to upload each applicable SF-50 and categorize as a "SF-50" document.) 6. UPLOAD SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS which may include: Certificates or Licenses, if applicable. Upload and save as "Certificate" or "License" document. Veterans Preference Documentation. If you are claiming veterans' preference.
You must submit the Member 4 copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and/or other proof of veterans' preference eligibility, including your VA letter, SF-15 (https://www.opm.gov/forms/standard-forms/), and all required documents related to your SF15 claim. Veterans can request the Member 4 copy of their DD-214 at archives.gov/veterans/military-service- records and can download a copy of their VA letter from Download VA Benefit Letters | Veterans Affairs. If applicable, you are required to submit each veterans' preference document in the application packages.
Please name these files as "DD-214" or "SF-15" or "Other Veterans Document." Reasonable Accommodation Documentation. If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found at http://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire .