About This Position
This position will be filled with the USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations: The incumbent of this position serves as Developmental Assistant Director (Special Assistant to the Director and Deputy Director). For additional information about the duties of these positions, please contact. [email protected]
Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Medical Requirements - The duties of positions in this series 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 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. 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 to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying. Due to the requirements of this position, applicants must have prior law enforcement experience that included the following activities: enforcement of criminal laws of the United States through investigation, apprehension, or detection of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against these criminal laws. This experience must be reflected in the resume. Selective Placement Factor: Must have at least three years of service in positions that have been approved for Rigorous or Primary Law Enforcement retirement coverage. NOTE: To be eligible for Secondary Law Enforcement Coverage, you must 1) move directly from a federal Primary/Rigorous position; 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary/rigorous position, and; 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary/rigorous position. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-14: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level. Specialized experience is defined as all of the following: providing direction and oversight for large-scale and complex criminal investigations of national scope; conducting law enforcement program reviews in support of the organization's mission; coordinating, leading and directing law enforcement policy, planning, managerial and operational activities; and conducting and managing large federal criminal investigations such as fraud and mismanagement of programs and operations. 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, 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. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Major Duties
Duties listed are at the full performance level.
The primary purpose of this position is to provide full performance investigative, training management, liaison, homeland security and/or physical security oversight assistance to the Director of LEI.
The incumbent is responsible for developing national policies and guidance for national investigations, training and enforcement programs affecting National Forest System Lands, and the arrest of persons responsible for criminal offenses.
Performs analyses and conducts investigations regarding a wide range of allegations received by the U. S. Forest Service (USFS) and crimes affecting National Forest System Lands or their administration.
Serves as a mastery-level troubleshooter on controversial issues or problems related to program activities with significant impact on policies and activities.
Provides regions with mastery technical advice and direction on investigation, enforcement and training related matters.
Establish and maintain effective communication through personal interaction and effective coordination of investigative matters with elected and appointed officials of the United States government and its states.
Serves as a liaison with the USDA Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination with investigating and assessing LEI employees’ security clearance violations.
Provides comprehensive leadership, allocates resources, and implements activities to accomplish USFS multicultural organization direction, and Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights requirements, goals, policies, and objectives.
Provides mastery level administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit.
Provides leadership, allocates resources, and implements activities to accomplish USFS multicultural organization direction, and Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights requirements, goals, policies, and objectives.
The incumbent oversees and reviews the priorities of investigative, training and enforcement assignments and the efficiency and effectiveness of these program areas conducted by agents within the USFS.
The primary purpose of this position is to provide full performance investigative, training management, liaison, homeland security and/or physical security oversight assistance to the Director of LEI.
The incumbent is responsible for developing national policies and guidance for national investigations, training and enforcement programs affecting National Forest System Lands, and the arrest of persons responsible for criminal offenses.
Performs analyses and conducts investigations regarding a wide range of allegations received by the U. S. Forest Service (USFS) and crimes affecting National Forest System Lands or their administration.
Serves as a mastery-level troubleshooter on controversial issues or problems related to program activities with significant impact on policies and activities.
Provides regions with mastery technical advice and direction on investigation, enforcement and training related matters.
Establish and maintain effective communication through personal interaction and effective coordination of investigative matters with elected and appointed officials of the United States government and its states.
Serves as a liaison with the USDA Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination with investigating and assessing LEI employees’ security clearance violations.
Provides comprehensive leadership, allocates resources, and implements activities to accomplish USFS multicultural organization direction, and Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights requirements, goals, policies, and objectives.
Provides mastery level administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit.
Provides leadership, allocates resources, and implements activities to accomplish USFS multicultural organization direction, and Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights requirements, goals, policies, and objectives.
The incumbent oversees and reviews the priorities of investigative, training and enforcement assignments and the efficiency and effectiveness of these program areas conducted by agents within the USFS.
Education
No Education required for this position.
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 competencies listed below: Criminal Investigation Influencing/Negotiating Planning and Evaluating Problem Solving Supervision Workforce Environment 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. If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. 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. To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12883790
Additional Information
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP 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 applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary and term employees the opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years and the last temporary or term appointment must have been with the Forest Service. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met. 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 not guaranteed. The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website. This is a non-bargaining unit position. Forest Service Regions Map Forest Service Regions (usda.gov) OPM Pay Tables: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/law-enforcement-officer/
How to Apply
Please view Tips for Applicants - a guide to the Forest Service application process. 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 (7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Mountain Time Zone, 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. To begin, click "Apply Online" 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. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration. 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. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your 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 Forest Service 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. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act: Copies of Notification of Personnel Action(s) (SF-50) showing the employee served in eligible appointment(s) for a period(s) of more than 24 mos w/o a break between appointments of two+ years. Include initial hire actions, extensions, conversions and separation Sf-50s for each period. Submit performance rating(s) showing acceptable performance for each period counted towards eligibility signed by supervisor(s). If documentation does not exist for one or more periods, submit a statement from supervisor(s) indicating acceptable performance. Applicants who do not have performance documentation for any period shall provide a reason why the documentation is not available and statement that performance for all periods was at an acceptable level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Supervisory Criminal Investigator position at Forest Service?
The salary range for this position is $125,776 - $160,040/yr. This is a GS-14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Criminal Investigator job located?
This position is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you poss...
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 20, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance is required.
What does GS-14 mean?
GS-14 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.