The Industry Operations Investigator (IOI) positions are mission critical positions of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and require the ability to pay close attention to detail(s). Positions are located in the Office of Field Operations (FO) at various locations. IOIs conduct inspections/investigations of the firearms/ explosives industries including dealers, importers, manufactures, wholesalers, users of explosives and other persons to ensure compliance with the Gun Control Act (GCA), National Firearms Act (NFA), Arms Export Control Act (AECA) Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 (OCCA), Safe Explosives Act (SEA) and other Federal firearms/explosives laws and regulations and provide support to Criminal Investigators (ATF Special Agents (SA)) on criminal investigations. The work is primarily investigative and routinely involves contact and interviews of individuals from all walks of life and all levels of industry and Government. IOIs are not armed Law Enforcement Officers (LEO), but possess administrative authority to enforce the Federal laws and regulations relating to firearms/explosives.
~Referred Candidates:(1) Will participate in paneled interview, (2) *will be required to write short essay & (3) *will be required to complete math test (*requirements of interview).
~Multiple Selections:May be made from this job opportunity announcement (joa). Selections may not be made from all duty locations and the number of selections made for a particular duty station may differ from the number of vacancies noted for that location.
~MobilityStatement: This position will be filled based on the needs of the agency. All candidates will be required to perform a minimum of three (3) years at their duty station.
~Training Requirement:If hired, successful completion of the IOI Basic Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA is a condition of continued employment.
~Promotion: Promotion to the next grade level in the career ladder is not automatic, but is based on meeting qualification & time-in-grade requirements along with a recommendation by the Supervisor.
Note: The salary amounts reflected in this joa does not include locality pay & will differ based on the locations candidates are selected for.
Summary
The Industry Operations Investigator (IOI) positions are mission critical positions of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and require the ability to pay close attention to detail(s). Positions are located in the Office of Field Operations (FO) at various locations. IOIs conduct inspections/investigations of the firearms/ explosives industries including dealers, importers, manufactures, wholesalers, users of explosives and other persons to ensure compliance with the Gun Control Act (GCA), National Firearms Act (NFA), Arms Export Control Act (AECA) Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 (OCCA), Safe Explosives Act (SEA) and other Federal firearms/explosives laws and regulations and provide support to Criminal Investigators (ATF Special Agents (SA)) on criminal investigations. The work is primarily investigative and routinely involves contact and interviews of individuals from all walks of life and all levels of industry and Government. IOIs are not armed Law Enforcement Officers (LEO), but possess administrative authority to enforce the Federal laws and regulations relating to firearms/explosives.
~Referred Candidates:(1) Will participate in paneled interview, (2) *will be required to write short essay & (3) *will be required to complete math test (*requirements of interview).
~Multiple Selections:May be made from this job opportunity announcement (joa). Selections may not be made from all duty locations and the number of selections made for a particular duty station may differ from the number of vacancies noted for that location.
~MobilityStatement: This position will be filled based on the needs of the agency. All candidates will be required to perform a minimum of three (3) years at their duty station.
~Training Requirement:If hired, successful completion of the IOI Basic Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA is a condition of continued employment.
~Promotion: Promotion to the next grade level in the career ladder is not automatic, but is based on meeting qualification & time-in-grade requirements along with a recommendation by the Supervisor.
Note: The salary amounts reflected in this joa does not include locality pay & will differ based on the locations candidates are selected for.
IOI conduct inspections/investigations of the firearms/explosives industries, including dealers, importers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and users of explosives. Major duties are:
~Conducting investigations/inspections designed to carry-out the Federal Government's regulatory compliance responsibilities pertaining to the firearms/explosives industries; investigations/inspections are under the jurisdiction of the NFA, GCA, AECA, OCCA, SEA and other Federal firearms & explosives laws/regulations.
~Conducting investigations of firearms licensees & explosives licensees/permittees; investigations/inspections involve analyzing records, documents and reports; looks for evidence of falsification of records & inventories; documents discrepancies revealed by examining records, documents & reports; refers leads identified involving firearms/ explosives thefts to ATF SA for further investigation.
~Preparing reports detailing the facts found and whether or not the firearms licensee or explosives licensee/permittee is operating in accordance with the laws/regulations; makes recommendations for further action necessary.
~Utilizing knowledge of Federal and state laws; provides assistance to journeyman IOIs working with ATF Agents on investigations dealing with diversion of firearms/ explosives; as directed verifies inventories also utilizes intelligence data to analyze records and examine business operations.
~Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progresses.
Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. see www.sss.gov
Pass drug screening/subject to random drug test.
Must possess current/valid automobile operator's license.
Must sign a mobility statement. May require a one year probationary period.
~Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements for consideration for higher grade level. ~You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Qualifications
To qualify for the GS-07 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Education: one full year of graduate level education in a field of study related to the position such as business administration, business law, public administration, public policy, criminal justice, communications, physical or social sciences, political science, or other fields of study that provided you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. (Must include official or unofficial transcripts to verify eligibility). **SEE NOTE
OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): at the baccalaureate level is fully qualifying for the GS-07 grade level. To qualify for SAA, you must have completed all requirements for a bachelor's degree in business administration, business law, public administration, public policy, criminal justice, communications, physical or social sciences, political science, or other fields of study related to this position, and meet one of the following (must include official or unofficial transcripts to verify eligibility): (1) A grade point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. (2) A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in the applicant's major field of study, or those courses in the applicant's major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. (3) Rank in the upper one-third of the applicant's class in the college, university or major subdivision. (4) Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor societies. **SEE NOTE
OR Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least 52 weeks/1 year of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience in or related to investigations or inspections of violations that provided the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience is: Participating in/or conducting basic investigations/ inspections related to firearms and explosives regulatory compliance/directives; experience conducting record searches; experience gathering and analyzing information and records information to determine discrepancies; previous experience using basic interview techniques to obtain information and prepare narrative reports.
OR Combination of Education and Experience: Education can be combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements. Experience and education should be computed as percentages of the overall requirements and must equal 100% when combined. (Must include official or unofficial transcripts to verify eligibility). **SEE NOTE
To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, you must meet one of the following: Education: Applicants must have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D. in a field of study related to this position such as business administration, business law, public administration, public policy, criminal justice, communications, physical or social sciences, political science, or other fields of study that provided you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. (Must include official or unofficial transcripts to verify eligibility). **SEE NOTE
OR Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least52 weeks/1 year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is: Experience in or related to investigations or inspections of violations that provided the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experienceis: Experience conducting investigations/onsite inspections of applicants, licensees and permittees related to firearms and explosives industries; gathering and analyzing information and records to determine patterns or discrepancies; using interview techniques to obtain information; conducting background investigations to determine applicant suitability writing and preparing reports detailing facts found during investigations/inspections.
OR Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must possess a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience totaling 100% of the stated minimum qualifications for the position. Only graduate education in excess of one year (i.e., 18 semester hours) may be combined with experience under this standard. (Must include official or unofficial transcripts to verify eligibility). **SEE NOTE
**NOTE: Current Federal employees who are eligible and meet the requirements for one of the special hiring authorities, ie., VEOA, VRA, 30% (or more) Disabled Veterans and Schedule "A" may be considered based on education for a higher grade level..
Education
~All academic degrees and course work must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria see www.ed.gov.
Additional information
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
EEO Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability (physical and mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, retaliation, or other non-merit based factors.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information, see http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): Provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information, see http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): Allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under the VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy #4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.
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.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the Selecting Office for employment consideration. The assessment questionnaire is designed to measure your ability in the following competencies:
~Knowledge of Federal laws/regulations administered and enforced by ATF (especially those pertaining to firearms & explosives) in order to conduct investigation/inspections.
~Ability to learn and apply knowledge of judicial processes, laws of evidence and the interrelationship between the Federal, State and local laws that pertain to firearms/explosives.
~Oral communication skills that provide the ability to deal with a diverse group of individuals; ability to acquire and use effective interviewing skills/techniques in order to interview industry personnel and others to obtain information necessary to conduct investigations/inspections.
~Ability to analyze intelligence data, weigh alternatives and reach decisions that involve interpreting facts in light of regulatory requirements; ability to develop skill in recognizing when information needs to be referred to ATF SA and/or Federal, state and local authorities for possible criminal investigations. To preview questions please click here.
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.
Resume showing relevant experience (cover letter optional).
Most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your grade, career or career-conditional tenure and a separate award SF-50 (required to verify award was received) dated within the last 3 years , if applicable.
Veterans' preference documentation (Member #4 copy of DD-214), Revised October 2013 SF-15 https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf and VA letter, if applicable.NOTE: The revised October 2013 SF-15 is the latest copy, all other copies are unusable (SF-15 is required when claiming 10 pt. Vet. preference). For service Members documents see:
CTAP/ICTAP (surplus/displaced Federal employees) documentation, if applicable.
An official college transcript (Note: If you’re selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.) (use if education is being credited for the purpose of meeting minimum qualification requirements or if grade point average is being used to determine superior academic achievement.)
Schedule A documentation, if applicable. Note: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities. Qualified applicants with disabilities may be eligible for special hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A eligibility. Please visit http://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities or contact the Selective Placement Program Coordinator at 202-648-9356.
It is your responsibility to ensure all documents are received on time and the materials are legible. If applying on-line poses a hardship to any applicant, please contact us at the telephone number listed on this announcement. Applicants MUST CONTACT US PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE to speak to someone who can provide assistance for on-line submission. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Paper applications submitted without prior approval from the agency point of contact may be handled as incomplete. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If your contact information changes after the closing date of this vacancy announcement, update your profile information in MYUSAJOBS as well as contact the Human Resources Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement to ensure you can be contacted throughout the selection process.
Prior to selection, the candidate may be required to provide an original copy of any supporting/ validating documentation as well as other documentation to verify eligibility. All required materials must be uploaded using the supporting documentation instructions described in the announcement.
Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in elimination of further consideration for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
This job is filled through a 3-step on-line application process: STEP ONE - (Online Resume- USAJOBS): You must create a user account and at least one Federal resume at USAJOBS. Information you provide in USAJOBS is general information completed by all applicants. The information you provide and your Federal resume will become part of your application and will automatically be transferred to CareerConnector when you apply online. If you have an existing USAJOBS account, simply login and select the resume you wish to include with your application package for this announcement.
STEP TWO - (Vacancy Specific Questions USAJobs): In USAJobs, you will answer vacancy specific questions necessary to evaluate your qualifications for the job to which you are applying. When completed, the information you provided at USAJOBS and the answers to the USAJob questions will become your application package.
STEP THREE - (Supporting Documentation): You may upload supporting documentation in one of two ways: (l) Once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement, you will be prompted to upload your document(s) to your application package. You will be given the choice to either upload the document as part of the application process, or you can select a document that you've already loaded on USAJOBS, or simply fax supporting documentation, which will provide you the necessary cover sheets for each of your documents so that they will be correctly submitted to the appropriate vacancy announcement. The fax number will be available on the cover sheet. (2) You can upload a document to an existing application by logging into your USAJOBS account profile. Click on "My Applications" and search for the vacancy. Once you have located the vacancy, click on the vacancy and select "Apply Online". Move through your existing application to the Documents page and select "Upload" in order to add a document to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation that the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g. SF-50, ICTAP/CTAP, DD-214, Revised October 2013 SF-15, VA letter, transcripts, Schedule A documentation, Award SF-50 within last 3 years, etc) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
Please apply online
99 New York Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20226
US
Next steps
You can check the status of your application anytime by accessing the USAJOBS online application system at http://www.usajobs.gov. You will need to provide your USAJOBS User ID and Password to access the Track your Online Job Application feature. You may also click on the link provided to access additional information on Career Connector. All applicants will be notified at four (4) stages in the hiring process:
(1) Upon receipt of your application; (2) After your qualifications have been assessed; (3) Whether or not you've been referred to the Selecting Official; and (4) Whether or not you've been selected for the position.
~If your name is sent to the Selecting Official, you may be invited for an interview.
~After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer to selectee(s) upon favorable completion of the background.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Resume showing relevant experience (cover letter optional).
Most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your grade, career or career-conditional tenure and a separate award SF-50 (required to verify award was received) dated within the last 3 years , if applicable.
Veterans' preference documentation (Member #4 copy of DD-214), Revised October 2013 SF-15 https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf and VA letter, if applicable.NOTE: The revised October 2013 SF-15 is the latest copy, all other copies are unusable (SF-15 is required when claiming 10 pt. Vet. preference). For service Members documents see:
CTAP/ICTAP (surplus/displaced Federal employees) documentation, if applicable.
An official college transcript (Note: If you’re selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.) (use if education is being credited for the purpose of meeting minimum qualification requirements or if grade point average is being used to determine superior academic achievement.)
Schedule A documentation, if applicable. Note: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities. Qualified applicants with disabilities may be eligible for special hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A eligibility. Please visit http://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities or contact the Selective Placement Program Coordinator at 202-648-9356.
It is your responsibility to ensure all documents are received on time and the materials are legible. If applying on-line poses a hardship to any applicant, please contact us at the telephone number listed on this announcement. Applicants MUST CONTACT US PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE to speak to someone who can provide assistance for on-line submission. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Paper applications submitted without prior approval from the agency point of contact may be handled as incomplete. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If your contact information changes after the closing date of this vacancy announcement, update your profile information in MYUSAJOBS as well as contact the Human Resources Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement to ensure you can be contacted throughout the selection process.
Prior to selection, the candidate may be required to provide an original copy of any supporting/ validating documentation as well as other documentation to verify eligibility. All required materials must be uploaded using the supporting documentation instructions described in the announcement.
Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in elimination of further consideration for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
This job is filled through a 3-step on-line application process: STEP ONE - (Online Resume- USAJOBS): You must create a user account and at least one Federal resume at USAJOBS. Information you provide in USAJOBS is general information completed by all applicants. The information you provide and your Federal resume will become part of your application and will automatically be transferred to CareerConnector when you apply online. If you have an existing USAJOBS account, simply login and select the resume you wish to include with your application package for this announcement.
STEP TWO - (Vacancy Specific Questions USAJobs): In USAJobs, you will answer vacancy specific questions necessary to evaluate your qualifications for the job to which you are applying. When completed, the information you provided at USAJOBS and the answers to the USAJob questions will become your application package.
STEP THREE - (Supporting Documentation): You may upload supporting documentation in one of two ways: (l) Once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement, you will be prompted to upload your document(s) to your application package. You will be given the choice to either upload the document as part of the application process, or you can select a document that you've already loaded on USAJOBS, or simply fax supporting documentation, which will provide you the necessary cover sheets for each of your documents so that they will be correctly submitted to the appropriate vacancy announcement. The fax number will be available on the cover sheet. (2) You can upload a document to an existing application by logging into your USAJOBS account profile. Click on "My Applications" and search for the vacancy. Once you have located the vacancy, click on the vacancy and select "Apply Online". Move through your existing application to the Documents page and select "Upload" in order to add a document to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation that the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g. SF-50, ICTAP/CTAP, DD-214, Revised October 2013 SF-15, VA letter, transcripts, Schedule A documentation, Award SF-50 within last 3 years, etc) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
Please apply online
99 New York Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20226
US
Next steps
You can check the status of your application anytime by accessing the USAJOBS online application system at http://www.usajobs.gov. You will need to provide your USAJOBS User ID and Password to access the Track your Online Job Application feature. You may also click on the link provided to access additional information on Career Connector. All applicants will be notified at four (4) stages in the hiring process:
(1) Upon receipt of your application; (2) After your qualifications have been assessed; (3) Whether or not you've been referred to the Selecting Official; and (4) Whether or not you've been selected for the position.
~If your name is sent to the Selecting Official, you may be invited for an interview.
~After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer to selectee(s) upon favorable completion of the background.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
