Duties

Summary

The positions are located in the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Division of Marketing Practices, Division of Advertising Practices, and Division of Financial Practices. The Bureau of Consumer Protection investigates and litigates civil actions to enforce federal consumer protection laws, including unfair and deceptive acts and practices related to COVID-19.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

At the full performance level of the Federal Trade Investigator position, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Conduct and direct the full range of functions for investigations and projects of the greatest scope and complexity concerning enforcement of consumer protection statutes and rules under FTC jurisdiction, and make recommendations whether investigations should be initiated.
• Gather and objectively review and evaluate evidence and information from various sources, including consumers, businesses and financial institutions, to identify potential targets for law enforcement action and support litigation.
• Conduct undercover investigations and purchases online, via telephone or in-person. Utilize and master a variety of software and hardware tools to capture and preserve evidence from a variety of internet-connected or other devices for use in litigation.
• Interview consumers and draft declarations summarizing consumer experiences to use in litigation.
• Analyze and synthesize bank records, balance sheets, income statements, regulatory filings, annual reports, tax returns, ledgers, statements of cash flow and other financial documents and reports. Utilize financial documents and reports to assist in identifying the extent of ill-gotten gains and consumer harm, and location of assets. Draft reports and memoranda summarizing complex financial information from multiple sources.
• Be deposed and testify in court regarding all aspects of an investigation.
• Analyze voluminous business records and other documentary evidence.
• Identify software and hardware tools as well as new techniques to assist with the research and investigation of deceptive and unfair practices that involve all facets of the FTC's consumer protection mission. Train and offer assistance to attorneys and other staff on the use of these tools and techniques.
• Plan, arrange and execute all aspects of highly complex investigate actions, including locating witnesses, interviewing witnesses, and coordinating with appropriate officials from multiple jurisdictions.
• Provide investigative support to plan, coordinate, and participate in hearings and trials. Draft and assist in drafting questions to ask during the hearing/trial. Testify at hearings, trials and depositions. Provide substantive ideas for material or evidence to subpoena.
• Conduct discreet, confidential, formal and informal fact-finding examinations. Provide expert technical advice and recommendations to agency officials.
• Analyze investigative reports for the presence of critical and sensitive issues that may warrant special handling and provide advice to agency officials for subsequent action needed. Present conclusions and recommendations in writing in investigative declarations; prepare case summaries and brief appropriate persons.
• Analyze and synthesize voluminous consumer complaint data. Utilize databases to locate potential law enforcement targets and complaint trends.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
• This position is subject to a background investigation.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
• You may serve a one-year probationary period under this appointment.
• You must meet time in grade requirement within 30 days of the vacancy closing.
• You must submit a copy of your performance appraisal with your application.
• This is a bargaining unit position.

Qualifications

To qualify for a Federal Trade Investigator at the GS-12 level, you must meet the following requirements:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: conducting complex consumer protection investigations with limited supervision, including interviewing witnesses; reviewing financial records, company records and documents, and consumer complaint data; drafting investigative affidavits or declarations; implementing investigative steps based on the nature of the investigation and following leads developed from the information obtained; and testifying at depositions, trials, hearings, or before grand juries.

To qualify for a Federal Trade Investigator at the GS-13 level, you must meet the following requirements:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: conducting and directing the full range of functions for highly complex consumer protection investigations, including, but not limited to, planning, arranging and executing investigations with minimal supervision, including interviewing witnesses; obtaining and analyzing financial, company records and documents, and consumer complaint data; drafting investigative affidavits or declarations; and planning and implementing investigative steps based on the nature of the investigation and following leads developed from the information obtained; testifying at depositions, trials, hearings, or before grand juries; and generating case leads and developing new investigations.

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.

Education

This position does have an education requirement.

Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
For more information visit: ICTAP/CTAP

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities:

For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
- Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
- Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
- Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
- Other Special Appointment Authorities

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, your résumé and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are found qualified, your résumé and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Ability to apply laws and regulations to investigational work.
Knowledge of basic legal principles and concepts.
Knowledge of wide variety of business that interact with consumers.
Skill in oral and written communication.
Skill with analytical and investigative tools used for capturing and preserving electronically stored information, including evidence-capturing software and open-source tools.
Ability to monitor and manage electronic administration of investigative and legal records.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your résumé showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:
- Cover Letter, optional
- College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education
- Most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service)
- Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
- DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
- Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

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.