Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Investigations (INV). INV has broad jurisdiction over criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of alleged violations of Federal laws, regulations, and policies relating to Department of State (Department)/U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) programs and operations, such as: procurement fraud, grant fraud, including misuse or theft of Department/USAGM property or services; payment or solicitation of bribes, illegal gratuities, or kickbacks.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

For GS-11:

The incumbent will plan, organize, and conduct difficult criminal investigations of alleged violations of Title 18, U.S. Code, such as fraud against the Government, bribery, conflict of interest, false claims, collusion, misuse of funds, conversion of Government property, embezzlement, kickbacks, and other Federal statutes governing fraudulent activities, and the effects on the programs and operations of the Department/USAGM.

Serves under the direction of a Supervisory Criminal Investigator, to plan and conduct criminal investigations, which often concern senior career and appointed officials of the United States Government, as well as contractors and grantees and foreign citizens both here and abroad. Plans and conduct investigations with tact and discretion in hostile environments under the direction of a supervisor. These investigations are frequently difficult to do and are often without precedent.

Evaluates information reported through developed or reported leads to identify the issues involved and the types of evidence that are needed to prove or disprove the allegation. Perform record searches, review and analyze contracts and other records, interview witnesses, develop informants, and conduct surveillance and other investigative techniques or operations to establish the facts and facilitate the detection, identification, and prosecution of persons who violated or are attempting to violate the law. Coordinate investigative and prosecutorial activities with Federal, state and local agencies as necessary. Writes detailed reports of findings and assist authorities in the development and execution of judicial and/or administrative plans.

For GS-12:

Plans, organizes, and conducts difficult and complex criminal investigations of alleged violations of Title 18, U.S. Code, such as fraud against the Government, bribery, conflict of interest, false claims, conspiracy, misuse of funds, conversion of Government property, embezzlement, kickbacks, and other Federal statutes covering fraudulent activities, and the effects on the programs and operations of the Department/USAGM.

Acts independently, under the general direction of a Supervisory Criminal Investigator, to plan, organize, and conduct criminal investigations which often concern senior career and appointed officials of the United States Government, as well as contractors and grantees and foreign citizens, both domestically and abroad. Plans, organizes, and conducts investigations with tact and discretion in hostile environments. These investigations are frequently challenging and without precedent. Coordinates, instructs, or technically leads one or more lower-grade criminal investigators or other persons with various occupational disciplines who are assigned on collaborative investigations.

Evaluates information reported through developed or reported leads to identify the issues involved and the types of evidence that are needed to prove or disprove the allegation(s). Performs record searches, reviews and analyzes contracts and other records (business, financial, etc.), interviews witnesses and subjects, develops informants, and conducts surveillances and other investigative techniques or operations to establish the facts of the case and facilitate the detection, identification, and prosecution of persons who violated or are attempting to violate the law. Coordinates investigative and prosecutorial activities with Federal, state and local agencies, as necessary. Serves and executes search warrants. Writes affidavits and detailed reports of findings to be used in criminal, administrative or civil proceedings. Testifies to investigative findings, as necessary, and assists authorities in the development and execution of judicial and/or administrative plans.

Travel Required

50% or less - Position requires domestic as well as overseas travel to accomplish assignments.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret
  security clearance.
• Must pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• One year probationary period, unless excepted by
  regulation.
• Must be available for overtime.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants applying for the GS-11 grade level must meet one of the following requirements:

A. Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience planning, organizing, and conducting routine criminal investigations.

• Experience interviewing witnesses, developing informants, and conducting surveillance.

• Experience testifying in court and/or administrative hearings.

• Experience writing detailed reports of findings.

• Experience evaluating information.

OR

B. Have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M. from an accredited college or university.

OR

C. Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (as described above), which is equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal Service. This experience and education together meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

Combination of Experience and Education: When an applicant has less than one year of specialized experience as described in the announcement, he or she may combine successfully completed graduate-level education with experience to meet the total qualification requirements. Generally, 18 graduate semester hours is equivalent to 1 full-time year of graduate study (your school and department determine what constitutes 1 full time year of graduate study). The percentage of specialized work experience and the percentage of graduate study must total at least 100%.

Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you may lose consideration for this position.

Applicants applying for the GS-12: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience planning, organizing, and conducting difficult and complex criminal investigations of criminal financial fraud.
• Experience evaluating information reported through developed or reported leads.
• Experience coordinating investigative and prosecutive activities with Federal, state and local agencies.
• Experience conducting arrest/search warrants
• Experience writing detailed reports of findings to be used in criminal administrative or civil proceedings.
• Experience testifying to investigative findings.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

AGE REQUIREMENT: All applicants, except preference-eligible veterans, MUST be no more than 37 years of age upon entry into this position. If you are 37 or older, or will reach your 37th birthday, but have previously served in a Federal civilian law enforcement position which may exempt you from this age restriction, you must submit a copy of the SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that you received in that position. If you are a preference-eligible veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or eligibility letter verifying your veterans preference eligibility.

Candidate must possess a valid U.S. driver's license.

This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency and successfully pass periodic firearm qualifications. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition. Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(9).

This position requires the incumbent to work an average of two or more Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) hours per scheduled workday, which may include evenings, nights and weekends. The hours worked will vary depending on the nature of the assignment.

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 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. Average loss of no more than 30 dB in each ear at 500, 1000, and 2000 HZ. Loss of no more than 40 dB at 2000 HZ. Test performed without hearing aids. 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. The incumbent must pass periodic physical examinations, meet physical standards set by the Agency for the position, and otherwise fulfill the requirements for law enforcement positions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c).

Prior to appointment, the person selected for this position must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and pass a medical examination reviewed by an authorized government physician.

TRAINING: Must have successfully completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA; or equivalent training AND have completed or be able to complete the Inspector General Investigator Training Program (IG-ITP) at the Inspector General Criminal Investigator Academy.

Education

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements, if applicable.

Additional information

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER - Your Social Security Number is requested under the authority of Executive Order 9397 to uniquely identify your records from those of other applicants who may have the same name. As allowed by law or Presidential directive, your Social Security Number is used to seek information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who may know you.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION - This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Office of Employee Relations, Disability/Reasonable Accommodations Division, at (202) 261-8163 or reasonableaccommodations@state.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

• Knowledge of investigative techniques.
• Ability to analyze complex problems to implement solutions.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas verbally and in writing.
• Ability to perform analysis.
• Ability to form relationships with people in and outside of the organization.

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. 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). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week. For assistance with creating a resume, please click here .

Qualified candidates are assigned a score between 70 and 100. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) candidates must be rated "Well Qualified" for the position and earn a score of at least 85 (when applicants are rated in a range of 70 to 100) to receive consideration for special priority.

If, after reviewing your resume and self-assessment questionnaire responses and a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, a score will be manually determined that reflects your documented experience. This may result in a lower score, which may also eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements and submit any required supporting documentation by the closing date of this job opportunity. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system "Gateway to State" by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

1. Resume - your resume or any other written format you choose should contain the required information as specified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section. Insufficient information will result in an ineligible rating.

2. A completed online job specific self-assessment questionnaire through the Department's automated system "Gateway to State".

3. Transcripts - if you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript(s) with your application. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.

4. Performance Appraisal - All current Federal employees and reinstatement eligible applicants must submit a copy of your most recent completed annual performance appraisal that includes the final rating. If a performance appraisal does not exist, is incomplete or unavailable, a Form DS-1812 (Applicant Appraisal) or equivalent form from another agency signed by the current supervisor is acceptable. Mid-year progress reviews will not be accepted.

5. All current Federal employees and reinstatement eligible applicants must submit an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, position, grade level and step.

6. All non-competitive eligible applicants must submit proof of eligibility (i.e., SF-50 documenting the full performance level of a position held on a permanent basis).

7. Veterans who are preference eligibles OR who have been separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions (honorable or general discharge) after 3 or more years of continuous active service may apply under the Veterans Employment Opportunities act (VEOA). You must submit a DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 is preferable) showing the dates you served as well as your type of discharge and qualifying service campaign medals OR if you are still on active duty, you MUST submit a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service dates, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration for this job announcement.

For Sole Survivorship preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4 is preferable) or another form of official documentation which shows your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008 and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.

If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214 or certification, you must also submit a current version of the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference), dated October 2013, and the required supporting documents listed on that form. Previous editions of the SF-15 will not be accepted. For more information on veterans' preference, click here .

If the appropriate information is not submitted to confirm the current or expected discharge status, dates of service, etc., you will not be considered for this job opportunity as a preference eligible. To gain access to your DD-214 online, please visit: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html

Current Federal employees applying under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) must submit a qualifying SF-50 to show you meet time-in-grade requirements.

For more information on Veteran Authorities, consult the Vet Guide .

8. If you are qualifying based on other criteria listed under the Qualification Section of this announcement, you must submit the required supporting documentation (certificates, certifications, etc.) with your application by the closing date.

9. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation with their application. See links below:

ICTAP Considerations
CTAP Considerations

10. If you are applying under a special hiring authority you MUST submit proof of eligibility with your application. For information related to special hiring authorities for veterans, click here . For information related to special hiring authorities for severely disabled persons visit: http://www.opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp

All documentation, applicable to you, must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. If the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility or you fail to submit any of the required documents, it will disqualify you from being considered for this job opportunity.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.