Clarification from the agency

Current DHS HQ employees serving under a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service (Internal Employees Only). You Must submit an SF-50 that shows you currently work for DHS HQ. Please note this does not include the following organizations: CISA, TSA, CBP, USCIS, ICE, FEMA, U.S. Secret Service, or U.S. Coast Guard.

The primary purpose of this position is to assist with the Federal Protective Service mission to prevent, protect, respond to and recover from terrorism, criminal acts, and other hazards threatening the U.S. Government's critical infrastructure.

Duties performed:

• Perform criminal investigative functions; investigate alleged violations to Title 18, U.S.C. involving homicide, rape, arson, aggravated assault, larceny, embezzlement, sex offenses, gambling, narcotics, weapons violations, and threats.
• Utilize formal feedback from security and law enforcement personnel to determine the level of actual or potential threat to persons or facilities.
• Present investigative results both orally and in report form to U.S. attorney/local District Attorneys for determination of prosecutive merit.
• Plan, organize, and conduct covert and overt surveillance
• Serve search and arrest warrants and make arrests when required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• Must meet Time-In-Grade requirements.
• A pre-employment drug test may be required.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• License required: Incumbent must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license.
• Pre-employment physical required: Yes
• Bargaining Unit Position?
  • This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). For more information visit: https://www.afge.org/about-us/afge-at-a-glance/
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
• Promotion Potential: When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
• This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of unscheduled leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. § 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).
• The incumbent of this position is subject to random drug testing.

Qualifications

Medical Requirements for the GS-1811 Series:

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.

Minimum Qualifications:

GS-7: You must meet one of the following requirements:

A. You must have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-5 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:
1) assisting in conducting criminal investigations;
2) taking affidavits from suspects or witnesses; and
3) assisting in preparing reports of routine investigations. OR

B. Successful completion of a bachelor's degree AND meet one of the following superior academic achievement provisions:
1) a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for all completed undergraduate coursework or for all courses completed in the last two full years of undergraduate work;
2) a GPA of 3.5 or higher for all courses in the major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two full years of undergraduate work;
3) ranking in the upper one-third of your college, university, or major subdivision; or 4) membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. (YOU MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS) OR

C. Successful completion of one full year (18 semester hours or equivalent) of graduate level study, or possess a master's or higher degree, e.g., Ph.D., in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (YOU MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS) OR

D. A combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (YOU MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS).

GS-9: You must meet one of the following requirements:

A. You must have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-7 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:
1) participating in or conducting criminal investigations;
2) taking affidavits from suspects or witnesses;
3) conducting routine surveillance; and
4) preparing reports of routine investigations. OR

B. Have successfully completed a Master's degree or two (2) full years of graduate level study (36 semester units or the number of units your school uses to describe two graduate years of academic study) leading to a Master's degree or LL.B., J.D., if related, in a field related to this position. (YOU MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS)

C. Possess a combination of specialized experience and graduate education beyond the first year which equals 100% of the requirement when computed as percentages and combined. To combine education and experience, convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages. Convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying by 2/3rds. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree, in excess of 18 semester hours, and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Then take number the number of months experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (YOU MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS)

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Only the first five pages of your resume will be used to make an eligibility/qualifications determination.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

NOTE: 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.

Drug Test: Must submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result before you can be appointed into this position. After appointment, you may be subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
Medical Examination: The person selected for this position must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties. This position may be subject to periodic incumbent examinations in the future.
Training Requirement: Incumbent must successfully complete the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator Training Program, or its equivalent.
Firearms Requirement: The incumbent must carry firearms and maintain proficiency in their care and use in accordance with FPS policy and standards.
Motor Vehicle Operation: Incumbent must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license. Motor vehicles must be driven and managed in accordance with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Federal Protective Services (FPS) policies and guidance.
Mobility Agreement: This position may required the incumbent to be reassigned to a different geographic location. Accordingly, the incumbent will be required to sign a mobility agreement, which will remain in effect while assigned to this position as a criminal investigator.
Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. Person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position.
Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): Incumbent is subject to work unscheduled duty hours and must be available for unscheduled duty based upon the needs of the agency. Therefore, the incumbent is eligible for Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) of an additional 25% and is subject to the provisions of the LEAP Act of 1994.
Age Requirement: There is a maximum entry age of the day before your 37th birthday (except for veterans preference eligible) for entry into law enforcement officer positions. Applicants who have previously been employed in a Federal law enforcement officer position covered by 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) are not restricted from applying.
Primary/Rigorous Requirement: Experience in primary/rigorous law enforcement position(s), or equivalent experience outside the Federal government, is a mandatory prerequisite (5 CFR 831.902 & 5 CFR 842.802).

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire. The questions are related to the following fundamental competencies (or Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) needed to perform the duties of this job:

• Criminal Investigation
• Oral Communication
• Technical Competence
• Writing

Based on your responses, you will receive a score from the Assessment Questionnaire. Those applicants who score the highest will be referred to the hiring manager and may be called for an interview. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience; no points will be assigned.

For Competitive Merit Promotion Applicants: The highest rated candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

For Noncompetitive Appointment Eligibles: All qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring agency.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12158974