This position serves as a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) assigned to the USDA Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Midwest Region, under the direction of the Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge (ASAC) and/or the Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC) for the office.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AVAILABILITY PAY (LEAP) OF 25% WILL BE INCLUDED IN FINAL SALARY CALCULATIONS.
Summary
This position serves as a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) assigned to the USDA Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Midwest Region, under the direction of the Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge (ASAC) and/or the Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC) for the office.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AVAILABILITY PAY (LEAP) OF 25% WILL BE INCLUDED IN FINAL SALARY CALCULATIONS.
Current permanent Federal employees with competitive status; Current permanent Federal employees in the Excepted Service; Reinstatement eligibles; Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP eligibles; VEOA and VRA eligibles; 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans; Military Spouses; Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities; People with Disabilities; Peace Corps and VISTA.
Investigate allegations of embezzlement and fraud involving USDA-funded programs.
Establish and maintaining liaison with USDA agency personnel.
Analyze allegations, complaints and investigations to identify issues involved and the types of evidence needed to properly address each matter.
Maintain liaison with other Federal (non-USDA agencies) and State and local government organizations.
Advise and/or assist U.S. Attorneys and/or State/local prosecutors and/or their staff members in the preparation of investigations for presentation to Federal and/or State/local Grand Juries.
Appear as a witness before grand juries and trial courts, or participate and assist in other legal proceedings, lead and coordinate collateral administrative functions in a unit, such as custodial officer for all investigative equipment.
Personally handles exceptionally complex, technical investigative problems or controversial, novel, or exploratory questions and issues, and advises on potential investigations areas and new investigative approaches.
Report critical information to other concerned law enforcement jurisdictions. Collaborate with other INV team members as required in establishing objectives of the OIG investigative program.
Perform, or may lead and coordinate the conduct of, undercover and/or surveillance work; provide technical subject matter expertise support for training, internal inspection and/or quality control as required.
Serve, as required, as a Task Force member or outside agency liaison, working from an alternate duty location, relaying information and accessing outside agency resources to support OIG investigations.
Perform full criminal, civil or administrative investigations and conduct investigative interviews.
Develop new approaches to performing investigative functions, including responses to identified weaknesses and vulnerabilities in on-going operations. Analyze investigative facts to arrive at sound conclusions
Plan and conduct fact-finding and prepare comprehensive administrative and technical reports in order to present complex and conflicting findings in a clear, logical, impartial, comprehensive, and concise manner.
Lead and coordinate collateral administrative functions in a unit, such as custodial officer for all investigative equipment.
Collaborate with other Office of Investigations team members as required in establishing objectives of the OIG investigative program.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
Selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for a Top Secret (TS) clearance. You must meet initial and periodic suitability determinations based on favorable background investigations and updates.
Direct Deposit Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
You will be required to complete an OGE-450, Confidential Statement of Employment and Financial Interests.
Relocation expenses are NOT authorized.
Designated or Random Drug Testing required. Failure to pass a Drug Test or maintain a clearance is grounds for removal.
Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid State issued motor vehicle operator's license.
Significant travel is expected. Selected applicants must be able to acquire and maintain a government-issued travel charge card.
You must pass initial and periodic medical examinations. Failure to meet medical requirements may result in reassignment from the position of Supervisory Criminal Investigator or other appropriate action.
Successful completion of the Basic Criminal Investigative Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
You must be able to operate a government-owned or leased vehicle and have and maintain a valid driver’s license.
Required to qualify to carry and use firearms and other weapons as part of assigned duties and maintain such qualification.
Qualifications
This position is a primary law enforcement position under 5 U.S.C. 8336 (C) (CSRS and 5 U.S. C 8412 (d) (FERS). You must be no more than 37 years of age upon entry into the GS-1811 series, unless the applicant has previous service creditable under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) law enforcement provisions sufficient to enable you to retire at age 57 with 20 years of creditable service. Persons already in covered secondary positions or persons with previous approved service who apply for a primary position cannot be considered if their age at reentry into the primary position exceeds 37 years after subtracting their years of service in covered positions. Applicant must provide evidence of current or previous coverage that would qualify. This age restriction does not apply to those entitled to Veteran's Preference.
THIS POSITION HAS A BASIC MEDICAL REQUIREMENT.
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.
IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC MEDICAL REQUIREMENT ABOVE, APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS BELOW.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT FOR GS-11: To qualify at the GS-11 level: Applicants must meet the qualification requirements described below, the education requirements described in the Education portion of this announcement, or a combination of specialized experience and education as shown in the Education portion of this announcement.
Specialized Experience for GS-11: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade of GS-09 level or equivalent in the Federal service. This experience includes performing such duties as conducting, with an appropriate level of supervision, a full range of criminal and administrative investigative functions on assigned investigations, from planning and conducting fact-finding, to reporting the results of investigations; performing undercover and surveillance work; conducting investigative interviews; and analyzing investigative facts to arrive at sound conclusions. This experience includes the preparation of comprehensive administrative and technical reports in order to present complex and conflicting findings in a clear, logical, impartial, comprehensive, and concise manner. In addition, the incumbent must have experience conducting liaison activities with other investigative agencies, including Federal, State, and local agencies, representing the interests of the employing agency, and developing new approaches to performing investigative functions, including responses to identified weaknesses and vulnerabilities in on-going operations.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT FOR GS-12:
Specialized Experience for GS-12: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade of GS-11 level or equivalent in the Federal service. This experience includes performing such duties as independently, at times as a team leader, or as a team member, conducting a full range of criminal and administrative investigative functions on assigned investigations, from planning and conducting fact-finding, to reporting the results of investigations; independently performing undercover and surveillance work; conducting investigative interviews; and analyzing investigative facts to arrive at sound conclusions. This experience includes the preparation of comprehensive administrative and technical reports in order to present complex and conflicting findings in a clear, logical, impartial, comprehensive, and concise manner. In addition, the incumbent must have experience conducting liaison activities with other investigative agencies, including Federal, State, and local agencies, representing the interests of the employing agency, and developing new approaches to performing investigative functions, including responses to identified weaknesses and vulnerabilities in on-going operations.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-12 LEVEL.
Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate experience.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Time in grade: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at GS-09 is required to meet time-in-grade requirements for GS-11 and one year at GS-11 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for GS-12 level.
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 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
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (GS-11 ONLY): Possession of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or at least three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M, if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement, OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of education and experience which together qualifies for the GS-11. To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-11. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-12 LEVEL.
Additional information
USDA OIG Statement At the Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, we are dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and aim to build a workforce that mirrors the diversity of our nation. We invite applications from individuals of all backgrounds who are dedicated to public service and share our commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment. Explore our Office of Equal Opportunity, Diversity, and Inclusion page to delve deeper into our commitment to DEIA at OIG.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP 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/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.
Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).
Veterans' Recruitment Appointment allows agencies to make noncompetitive appointment of eligible veterans up to the GS-11 or equivalent grade level. Veterans' Recruitment Appointment
Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.
For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies 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. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
THE INITIAL APPLICATION REVIEW CUT-OFF FOR THIS JOB OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT IS 50 APPLICATIONS.
The first 50 applications received will be reviewed and considered. Applications received after the initial cut-off of 50 applications will not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by agency management. If management requests a review of additional applicants, applicants will continue to be reviewed in group of 50 in the order they applied.
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 knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:
Partnering
Teamwork
Oral Communication
Written Communication
Criminal Investigation
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. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred.
Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. 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 up to including removal from the Federal service.
Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form and the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
CONTINUED FROM ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
30% or More Disabled Veterans:Submit a copy of latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service). Must submit the most recent disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the current version of the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
Military Spouse: Must submit documentation verifying marriage and a copy of spouse's active duty military orders.
VEOA and VRA: Include DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, that shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty, must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.
Persons with Disabilities/Schedule A:Documentation of the disability is required. Documentation of Schedule A eligibility can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine), a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. The letter must be printed on the official letterhead of the certifying professional and must include a signature or it is invalid. Please visit OPM's website for sample letters. Learn more about Schedule A eligibility.
Current and former Federal Competitive and Excepted employees and Current permanent FSA County employees:
Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade. If necessary, please submit more than 1 SF-50. Note: Not all award SF-50s reflect current pay plan, grade level, step, and/or pay. We suggest providing a WGI and or promotion SF-50 that will reflect 1 year time in grade. General Adjustments, Award, and QSI SF-50s do not reflect meeting Time in 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.
If separated from federal service, include separation SF-50 that reflects separation such as retirement, removal, resignation, or termination. Provide more than 1 SF-50 to adjudicate Time in Grade, highest grade held, and current status. SF-52s are not acceptable.
Reinstatement Competitive & Noncompetitive: Submit a copy of SEPARATION (removal, resignation, retirement, etc.) Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting permanent, Competitive Service status. SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional tenure (Tenure field is 1 or 2) and status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). Reflect promotion potential or highest grade held. Submit more than 1 SF-50 if necessary.
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act: Copies of Notification of Personnel Action(s) (SF-50) showing service in eligible appointment(s) for a period(s) of more than 24 months without a break between appointments of more than 2 years. Include initial hire actions, extensions, conversions and separation SF-50s for each period. Submit performance rating(s) signed by supervisor(s) showing acceptable performance for each period counted towards eligibility. If documentation does not exist for any period, submit a statement from supervisor(s) indicating acceptable performance for that period. If supervisor is unavailable for statement, provide a reason why the documentation is not available and statement that performance for all periods was at an acceptable level.
Certain Former Overseas Employees:USAJOBS Help Center | Former overseas employees Include a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50s (more than 1/multiple) that prove 52 weeks of creditable service overseas, and performance appraisal.
Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP: proof of eligibility such as RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination, SF-50 documenting separation if applicable, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
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.
We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., 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.
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 agency at 202-260-8128. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.
NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. You must verify that uploaded documents 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. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g. SF-50s or veteran docs) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.
Office of the Inspector General
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US
Next steps
Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.
You must choose to turn on email notifications in your USAJOBS profile if you want to receive important email notifications that may impact your applicant experience (e.g. If you start an application and do not submit it prior to the closing date, USAJOBS will send an email reminder that the closing date is approaching and your application is in an incomplete status).
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to flor.barker@oig.usda.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
CONTINUED FROM ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
30% or More Disabled Veterans:Submit a copy of latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service). Must submit the most recent disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the current version of the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
Military Spouse: Must submit documentation verifying marriage and a copy of spouse's active duty military orders.
VEOA and VRA: Include DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, that shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty, must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.
Persons with Disabilities/Schedule A:Documentation of the disability is required. Documentation of Schedule A eligibility can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine), a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. The letter must be printed on the official letterhead of the certifying professional and must include a signature or it is invalid. Please visit OPM's website for sample letters. Learn more about Schedule A eligibility.
Current and former Federal Competitive and Excepted employees and Current permanent FSA County employees:
Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade. If necessary, please submit more than 1 SF-50. Note: Not all award SF-50s reflect current pay plan, grade level, step, and/or pay. We suggest providing a WGI and or promotion SF-50 that will reflect 1 year time in grade. General Adjustments, Award, and QSI SF-50s do not reflect meeting Time in 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.
If separated from federal service, include separation SF-50 that reflects separation such as retirement, removal, resignation, or termination. Provide more than 1 SF-50 to adjudicate Time in Grade, highest grade held, and current status. SF-52s are not acceptable.
Reinstatement Competitive & Noncompetitive: Submit a copy of SEPARATION (removal, resignation, retirement, etc.) Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting permanent, Competitive Service status. SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional tenure (Tenure field is 1 or 2) and status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). Reflect promotion potential or highest grade held. Submit more than 1 SF-50 if necessary.
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act: Copies of Notification of Personnel Action(s) (SF-50) showing service in eligible appointment(s) for a period(s) of more than 24 months without a break between appointments of more than 2 years. Include initial hire actions, extensions, conversions and separation SF-50s for each period. Submit performance rating(s) signed by supervisor(s) showing acceptable performance for each period counted towards eligibility. If documentation does not exist for any period, submit a statement from supervisor(s) indicating acceptable performance for that period. If supervisor is unavailable for statement, provide a reason why the documentation is not available and statement that performance for all periods was at an acceptable level.
Certain Former Overseas Employees:USAJOBS Help Center | Former overseas employees Include a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50s (more than 1/multiple) that prove 52 weeks of creditable service overseas, and performance appraisal.
Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP: proof of eligibility such as RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination, SF-50 documenting separation if applicable, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
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.
We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., 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.
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 agency at 202-260-8128. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.
NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. You must verify that uploaded documents 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. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g. SF-50s or veteran docs) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.
Office of the Inspector General
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US
Next steps
Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.
You must choose to turn on email notifications in your USAJOBS profile if you want to receive important email notifications that may impact your applicant experience (e.g. If you start an application and do not submit it prior to the closing date, USAJOBS will send an email reminder that the closing date is approaching and your application is in an incomplete status).
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to flor.barker@oig.usda.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
