Clarification from the agency

You may apply if you are a Status Candidate (Current or Former Federal employee and VEOA) and/or a Non-Competitive Hiring Authority Eligible (Military Spouse and Individuals with Disabilities).

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Investigations (INV) promotes the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of TSA's people, programs, and resources through objective criminal and administrative investigations. This criminal investigator position is located in INV Field Operations (FO). Duties include but are not limited to:

• Conducting, monitoring, and coordinating complex criminal and administrative investigations and inspections which may lead to potential civil, administrative, or criminal actions. Types of investigations include those involving theft of government property, theft of personal property, fraudulent worker's compensation claims, and mismanagement of government property. Cases might involve conflicting reports, discussions, or testimonies.
• Perform the full range of investigative functions on assigned cases or portions of cases, from planning through fact-finding to reporting the results of investigations.
• Planning and participating in searches, seizures, and arrests; performing undercover work involving contact with criminal elements or suspects in order to apprehend persons suspected of posing a threat to passenger security or of violating federal criminal statutes.
• Interviewing and examining victims, witnesses and suspects, including Miranda and Garrity warning as appropriate.
• Liaising and establishing working relationships with other federal, state, and local law enforcement and intelligence agencies, as well as federally regulated transportation entities for the purpose of securing information and pursuing investigations with multiple interests and responsibilities.
• Analyzing results of investigations and reporting fraud or administrative violations by agency personnel contractors, suppliers, recipients and grantees in violation of U.S, criminal and civil laws, or agency regulations.

The major duties described reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (H Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.

Conditions of employment

1. You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
2. You must have reached the minimum age (21) at the time of application.
3. Selective Service registration is required.
4. You must complete a favorable Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI).
5. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI Clearance.
6. Must pass pre-employment drug screening AND random drug/alcohol testing.
7. This is an Emergency Essential Position.
8. See additional "Conditions of Employment" and "Other Information" section
9. Applicants cannot have reached age 37 by the time of their appointment unless they provide proof of current or previous service in a Federal civilian law enforcement position covered by Federal civilian law enforcement retirement provisions, or they will be disqualified. (NOTE: Preference eligible veterans are permitted a waiver allowing for entry on duty prior to their 40th birthday).

This position is covered under the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers. Applicants that have no prior series federal law enforcement experience must meet the maximum age for entry into a "covered position" which is the date immediately preceding the applicant's 37th birthday and must be able to retire at the mandatory age of 57 years with 20 years of service as a federal law enforcement officer.

If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-12), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-G pay band or GS-11 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience conducting, coordinating, and monitoring routine criminal and administrative investigations; AND
• Experience performing investigative functions to include fact finding, and reporting the results of the investigations.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-H pay band or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience planning, conducting, coordinating, and monitoring criminal and administrative investigations; AND
• Experience performing investigative functions to include fact finding, interrogations of witnesses and making arrests and reporting the results of the investigation.

Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Condition of Employment:

• Law Enforcement Polygraph Examination Testing is required. See Next Steps for additional information.
• Incumbent is required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08). Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with TSA Directive 1100.73-5 Employee Responsibilities and Code of Conduct.
• LAUTENBERG AMENDMENT: This position requires the incumbent to qualify and carry a firearm. 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)). A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is generally defined under the statute as any offense involving the use of attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent, or guardian. The term "convicted", as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set-aside, or pardoned or any person whose civil rights have been restored unless the pardon, expungement or restoration of civil rights expressly prohibits the possession of firearms or ammunition. Candidates who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statue are not qualified for this position. Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001).
• Appointment to this position is contingent upon successful completion of a full field background investigation and issuance of a top-secret (SCI) clearance. Prior to appointment, the applicant may be asked to complete a "Declaration for Federal Employment" (OF-306). The information collected on this form is used to determine applicant's suitability for federal employment. The applicant may also be asked to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in the application/resume. The applicant must answer all questions truthfully and completely. A false statement on any part of the declaration or attached forms may be grounds for not hiring the applicant, or for termination after being hired.
• Applicants must agree to work an average of two hours extra per day to meet the requirements of law enforcement availability pay (LEAP) as described in Title 5 U.S.C. §5545a (d) (1).
• Applicants for this position are required to qualify with and use firearms and other weapons as part of assigned duties and to maintain such qualifications. Because of an amendment to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9), which became effective September 30, 1996, and is referred to as the Lautenberg Amendment, applicants are ineligible for this position if at ANY time they have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence, unless such conviction was expunged, set aside or the applicant received a pardon.
• Applicants must have successfully completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) or other equivalent training (e.g., FBI, DEA, US Postal Inspection Service, NCIS and DCIS).
• Required to maintain the ability to be called as a law enforcement witness in administrative and judicial proceedings without the existence of any impeachable evidence that "casts a substantial doubt upon the accuracy" of the testimony.
• This position is covered under the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers. Applicants that have no prior series 1811 criminal investigator experience must meet the maximum age for entry into a "covered position" which is the date immediately preceding the applicant's 37th birthday and must be able to retire at the mandatory age of 57 years with 20 years of service as an 1811 criminal investigator.
• In order to receive consideration, you must include your date of birth in your application package.
• Position is subject to drug testing.
• May be required to sign a mobility statement.
• Position requires domestic and overseas travel as necessary.
• This is an emergency essential position. The position may require the employee to be subject to 24-hour on call duty as well as irregular working hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the position description. The selectee must be able to relocate to emergency sites with little advance notice and function under intense physical and mental stress.
• Must meet and maintain medical requirements as stated in the TSA Medical Guidelines for Criminal Investigators.
• Physical Demands: Must be able to perform the essential job functions described in the TSA Medical Guidelines for Criminal Investigators.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the competencies required for this position. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your category placement may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Grouping procedures. Under Category Grouping, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

• Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.
• Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.
• Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis. If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

• Investigative Skills
• Law Enforcement Proficiency
• Operations Management
• Reading

You may preview the questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12741745

NOTE: If you have previous law enforcement (LE) Federal experience, you must enter the number of MONTHS when you respond to the questionnaire. For example, if you have 5 years of Federal LE experience, you must enter 60 months, 4 years would be 48 months, etc. Otherwise, the system may screen you out.