Criminal Investigator (Senior Special Agent)
About This Position
OIG is organized into six operational units: the Immediate Office of the Inspector General, Office of the Counselor, Office of Audits and Evaluations, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Office of Investigations, and Office of Management and Administration.
In addition to the Washington, DC, headquarters, OIG has offices located in more than 60 locations throughout the country.
Qualifications
You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Age Restriction: The date immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday is the maximum entry age for original appointment to a law enforcement officer position. This requirement does not apply to a) Preference-eligible veterans; OR b) Individuals who are 37 years of age or older and have previously served in law enforcement officer positions that were covered by a special law enforcement retirement plan.
AND Medical Requirements: The selectee must pass a pre-appointment physical examination and meet the physical requirements for this position as required by this agency. The duties of this position require 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 and hearing are required to perform the duties satisfactorily. Because the duties of this position are exacting, responsible, and sometimes performed under trying conditions, the selectee must possess emotional and mental stability.
Any physical condition that would cause the selectee to be a hazard to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying. AND Specialized Experience: Specialized Experience for the GS-14, you must have one year (full 52 weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: - Working on criminal and administrative investigations; AND - Leading a team of investigators, investigative analysts, or investigative specialists.
In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement, if applicable: For the GS-14, you must have been at the GS-13 level for 52 weeks. Time After Competitive Appointment: Candidates who are current Federal employees serving on a nontemporary competitive appointment must have served at least three months in that appointment.
Major Duties
Duty locations are limited to the following for this position: Montgomery, AL, Fayetteville, AR, North Little Rock, AR, Phoenix, AZ, Long Beach, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Oakland, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, Aurora, CO, Bay Pines, FL, Orlando, FL, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Decatur, GA, Smyrna, GA, Hines, IL, New Orleans, LA, Bedford, MA, Baltimore, MD, Frederick, MD, Detroit, MI, Saint Paul, MN, Columbia, MO, Kansas City, MO, Jackson, MS, Asheville, NC, Manchester, NH, Newark, NJ, Trenton, NJ, Buffalo, NY, New York, NY, Cleveland, OH, Portland, OR, Pittsburgh, PA, Nashville, TN, Dallas, TX, El Paso, TX, Houston, TX, San Antonio, TX, Salt Lake City, UT, Seattle, WZ, Spokane, WA. Current OIG Employees will remain at their current duty location. IG's Office of Investigations (OI) investigates potential crimes and civil violations of law involving VA programs and operations committed by VA employees, contractors, beneficiaries, and other individuals.
These investigations focus on a wide range of matters including health care, procurement, benefits, education, construction, and other fraud; cybercrime and identity theft; bribery, embezzlement, and conflicts of interest; drug offenses; and violent crimes. OI is staffed by special agents, forensic accountants, analysts, and other professional staff in headquarters divisions and regional field offices that use data analytics, cyber-tools, covert operations, and other strategies to detect and address conduct that poses a threat to or has harmed VA personnel, operations, and the veterans or other beneficiaries they service. Through criminal prosecutions and civil monetary recoveries, OI's investigations promote integrity, patient safety, efficiency, and accountability within VA.
As a Criminal Investigator (Senior Special Agent), you will: Serve as principal advisor to the IOD SAC, and VA OIG senior leadership, routinely assisting and conducting analyses of the various critical support programs managed by IOD to identify more efficient operational methods and procedures and proposes policy and/or procedure recommendations for change in the program areas for which the division is responsible to ensure OI goals and objectives are achieved. Participate in planning, developing, and implementing investigative policies, programs, standards, requirements, methods, procedures, and techniques that govern nationwide OIG investigations. Review, coordinate, and monitor the work by field elements.
Assist in the resolution of problems related to investigations and provides guidance on resource requirements and avenues for accomplishing mission tasks. Perform as a team member in conducting OI inspections when needed and qualitative assessment reviews. The SSA routinely provides the necessary oversight, guidance, and overall management to IOD's areas of responsibility.
Conditions of Employment
The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.
Key Requirements: Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying. Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. - We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
Applicants who apply for this position may be considered for other positions within the Office of Inspector General that require the same knowledge, skills, and abilities. - This is a non-bargaining unit position. - We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules. - Office assignment may be at one of the locations listed on the announcement subject to availability and OIG management discretion.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., résumé, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. Please be sure that your résumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your résumé may result in a "not qualified" determination. In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Influencing/Negotiating, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration.
You may be required to participate in a selection interview and/or a writing assessment. Applicants who are selected for an interview may ask questions about the evaluation process at the time they are contacted for an interview. If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan(CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority. To be found well-qualified, and
in addition to meeting specialized experience, the applicant must have documented the following experience: - Having a solid and comprehensive understanding of the position. Can perform the required tasks efficiently and is proficient in applying the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the job.
Additional Information
Conditions of Employment (CONTINUED): - A probationary or trial period may be required. Continued employment is contingent upon supervisory certification that continued employment will benefit the Federal Service; the certification will occur no less than 30 days before the end of the probationary/trial period. - Within 30 days prior to the end of a probationary (or trial) period, it must be certified by your first and second level supervisor that your continued employment would benefit the Federal service, or your appointment will be terminated. - A one year supervisory or managerial probationary period may be required. - Must successfully complete a background investigation. - Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required. - Travel nationwide under tight deadlines. The incumbent should anticipate frequent walking and standing as a component of this travel. - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. - Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9.
Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. - Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency. - Obtain and use a Government-issued purchase card for business-related travel. - File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on. - Carry and use a firearm. Maintaining firearm proficiency is also mandatory.
You will be ineligible to occupy this position if at any time you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, unless you received a pardon or your conviction was expunged or set aside. - Complete a pre-employment medical examination (including vision, hearing, cardiovascular and mobility of extremities) by an authorized Government physician and be determined physically fit to perform strenuous physically demanding duties.
You may be required to provide medical or related documentation to Federal Occupation of Health at the time of the pre-employment physical.
You will be required to undergo regular physical examinations and to maintain a level of physical fitness in accordance with the standards and policies of this agency. - Complete or have previously completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA OR its equivalent. - Agree to work an average of two extra hours per day. Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) has been approved to compensate for unscheduled duty in excess of the 40-hour workweek. - Possess and maintain a valid driver's license from one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. - Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
How to Apply
The following instructions outline our application process. Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. 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.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email.
The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link.
Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments.
You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 2 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.
To verify the status of your application: -Log into your USAJOBS account (USAJOBS Login) -Under "application status," click "Track this application" and you will be taken to the agency website where you can check your application status. To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application.
This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. For more information regarding the job and applicant status, please refer to USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
For additional information on how to apply, please visit the Partnership for Public Service's Go Government website. To preview the application questionnaire:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12994265
Required Documents
A complete application includes
- A résumé, 2. Vacancy question responses, and
- Submission of any required documents and
- Completion of your USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if applicable. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
All applicants are required to submit a résumé either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.)USA Jobs restricts resume uploads to a maximum of 2 pages. Resumes attached in other sections (such as "Documents" or "Other") will not be considered in the determination of specialized experience. To ensure readability, resumes must be formatted using an easy-to-read font (such as Lato, Calibri, or Arial) with a minimum font size of 10-points and margins no smaller than 0.5 inches.
Failure to follow these formatting guidelines may result in disqualification from further consideration. To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your résumé. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your résumé to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.
For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? CURRENT AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES -- Documentation Relating to Your Federal Employment: Submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status. (The "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2".) If you are currently on a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), submit a copy of an SF-50 showing that. Also, you must submit a copy of your DD214 or other documentation showing dates of service and type of discharge and any other applicable documents such as SF-15, VA letters, etc.
Indicate on your application the highest permanent grade you have held; if this grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing this grade. PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: Submit a copy of your most recent completed annual performance appraisal which includes the final rating. If you have not received a performance appraisal, please explain why in your application.
CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents. REINSTATEMENT: If you are a former federal employee and wish to be non-competitively reinstated for a higher grade or full performance level than which you left federal employment, you MUST provide a copy of your separation SF50 (the "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2") AND the last performance appraisal you received from your federal employment which shows at least a fully successful rating. VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: If you are claiming veterans preference, please see applicant guide for required documentation.
In order to be considered for veterans preference, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide. Recommended Documents: In addition, we recommend that you submit copies of the following: A list of awards received while employed with the Federal Government, if applicable. DO NOT send copies of the awards.