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Criminal Investigator

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Affairs, Inspector General
This job announcement has closed

Summary

OIG is organized into three line elements: the Offices of Investigations, Audits and Evaluations, and Healthcare Inspections; along with the Office of Contract Review, the Office of Management and Administration and the Office of Special Reviews. In addition to the Washington, DC, headquarters, OIG has offices located in more than 30 cities throughout the country.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/07/2018 to 12/07/2018
This job will close when we have received 200 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$49,834 to - $71,716 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 07 - 09
Location
Miami, FL
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - Travel nationwide under tight deadlines. The incumbent should anticipate frequent walking and standing as a component of this travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Full-time
Work schedule
Full-time - Career/Career Conditional
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
19-VAOIG-42
Control number
518822300

Duties

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The Criminal Investigator (Special Agent), located in the Office of Investigations, investigates fraud having a nexus to the VA committed by beneficiaries, their survivors, fiduciaries, contractors, and VA employees; fraud related to pharmaceutical firms’ illegal defective pricing or off-label marketing activities; acts of embezzlement, extortion, conflict of interest, and bribery committed by VA employees; theft and diversion of legal drugs by VA staff and others; sale of contraband drugs and pharmaceuticals by and to VA staff and patients; theft of VA resources and data; identity theft; stolen valor; assaults involving VA employees and patients, including homicide, manslaughter, and rape; threats against VA employees, patients, facilities, and computer systems; procurement fraud; mortgage fraud; workers compensation fraud; Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, and other criminal activities directed at VA programs and operations. 

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

  • Collect and analyze operational and strategic intelligence from wide-ranging sources including Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
  • Conduct investigations in compliance with OIG policies and procedures, investigative standards promulgated by the Council of the Inspectors General (CIGIE), and the provisions of the Attorney General Guidelines for Offices of Inspector General with Statutory Law Enforcement Authority.
  • Interview suspects, complainants, witnesses, and informants to gather and evaluate information and evidence. Obtain written and oral statements during interviews and employs the services of the OIG Polygraph Program as an investigative tool to ascertain the veracity of such statements; controls registered informants and sources in compliance with OIG policies and procedures.
  • Plan and engage in undercover operations to identify principals, witnesses, and evidence in Federal crimes.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."
  • Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
  • Must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals.

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.

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.

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.

Specialized experience: For the GL-09, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GL-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: 

  • Researching laws, regulations, guidelines, and approved procedures to provide findings; AND
  • Analysis of technical documents from different/multiple sources and summarizing review in a written product; AND
  • Verbal communications that include interviews, briefings and presentations; AND
  • Writing reports or products that presented facts, findings, logical conclusions, and persuasive arguments; AND
  • Applying investigative techniques to conduct and assist in investigations.

OR Education: Master's degree or equivalent or 2 years progressively higher education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D. if related. (Attach copy of transcript or list of college courses designating semester or quarter hours earned to ensure proper credit.
OR
You may qualify by a combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours may be combined with experience.

Specialized experience: For the GL-07, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GL-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: 

  • Researching laws, regulations, guidelines, and approved procedures to provide findings; AND
  • Analysis of technical documents from different/multiple sources and summarizing review in a written product; AND
  • Verbal communications that include interviews, briefings and presentations; AND
  • Writing reports or products that presented facts, findings, logical conclusions, and persuasive arguments.


OR
Education: One full year of graduate level education in a related field; or Superior Academic Achievement based on a bachelor's degree that is demonstrated through class standing (upper 1/3 of class); or grade point average (2.95/4.0 overall or 3.5/4.0 in major), or election to membership in a qualifying national scholastic honor society. (Attach copy of transcript or list of college courses designating semester or quarter hours earned to ensure proper credit.
OR
A combination of education and experience. Combining education and experience may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement, if applicable:
For the GL-09, you must have been at the GL-07 level for 52 weeks.

For the GL-07, you must have been at the GL-05 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.

Additional information

- We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. 
- This is a non-bargaining unit position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- A one year probationary period may be required.
- Must successfully complete a background investigation.
- 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, unless already working in a position covered under 5 USC 8336(c) with another Federal law enforcement agency and have passed a physical exam within the previous 6 months. Prior to appointment, the selectee must be determined to be physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties such as making arrests, conducting surveillances, using firearms, etc., and also pass a medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, mobility of extremities, and other factors) given by an authorized government physician. Any physical condition that would cause the selectee to be a hazard to herself/himself or others is disqualifying. 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 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 you will be evaluated

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

Your application includes your résumé, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. 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.

Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Self-Management, Technical, and Communication. Your application will be rated and ranked among others, based on your responses to the online questions, regarding your experience, education, training, performance appraisals and awards relevant to the duties of this position.  Your rating may be lowered if your responses to the online questions are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your application.

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. 

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 receive a score of 92 or better to be rated as “well qualified" to receive special selection priority.


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