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Criminal Investigator

Department of Labor
Office of Inspector General
This job announcement has closed

Summary

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve.

DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

This position is located in the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations - Labor Racketeering and Fraud (OI). The Office of Investigations-Labor Racketeering and Fraud’s (OI) mission is twofold: (1) to conduct criminal investigations relating to programs and operations of the Department of Labor (DOL), in order to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in such programs and operations; and (2) to identify and reduce labor racketeering and corruption in employee benefit plans, labor-management relations, and internal union affairs, and to investigate activity by traditional and nontraditional organized crime groups that adversely affect the American worker.

This position has promotion potential to GS-13. There is no obligation to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and supervisory approval.

Local commuting area is considered to be within a 50-mile radius of duty location.

The vacancy is limited to 200 applications and may close before the closing date listed if that limit is reached.

More than one selection may be made.

Permanent Change of Station funds (PCS) will not be offered.

Relocation incentive will not be offered.

Higher grade level 1811s may receive biweekly and annual premium pay caps (refer to OPM website).

This position is outside the bargaining unit.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/27/2017 to 10/30/2017
Salary
$56,693 to - $86,290 per year
Pay scale & grade
GL 09 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Chicago, IL
1 vacancy
Travel Required
50% or less - May require frequent travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Full-Time
Work schedule
Full-time - Permanent
Service
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Announcement number
MS-18-OIG-OI-04
Control number
483059900

This job is open to

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Duties

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The incumbent conducts investigations concerning alleged or suspected violations of the criminal statutes of the United States that relate to the above areas. Based on general instruction, develops and follows leads and evaluates evidence. Initiates contacts with Federal, State, and local officials, officials of lending institutions, medical facilities, unions, and other organizations and individuals related to matters under investigation for the purpose of obtaining facts, signed statements, explanation of actions, etc. This is accomplished in order to learn sequence of events and background or related information that the special agent determines is required, and to determine the sequence of interviews and the extent/scope of investigations. Examines records, books, payrolls, reports, correspondence and other data of consequence to the transactions, actions or allegations under investigations. Verifies, corroborates and establishes relationships of all facts and evidence obtained, presented or alleged in order to establish its accuracy and authenticity. Establishment of relationships is often remote and difficult. When necessary, utilizes services of forensic laboratories to identify handwriting and fingerprints

Prepares investigative reports, with responsibility for presenting necessary aspects of investigations in sufficient detail and with the highest degree of accuracy to aid in supporting possible prosecution and/or administrative or civil action. Assists the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorneys in the preparation of cases for presentation to Federal Grand Juries. May testify as a witness before Grand Juries and in trial courts in matters involving violations of Federal criminal statutes

The incumbent is also responsible for reporting all flagrant and highly significant administrative and program weaknesses discovered during an investigation whether or not they bear directly on matters under investigation. The incumbent will coordinate and effect the necessary liaison, through his supervisor, with the Office of Audit

Through his/her supervisor, the incumbent confers with and advises responsible administrative officials on investigations and/or reports. Such discussions may relate to the urgency or priority of requests for investigative service, the progress of investigations, significant findings and developments, problems or questions of evidence, testimony or law, actions to be taken, and other related matters

Interviews witnesses to develop evidence substantiating criminal violations or to resolve allegations. Conducts necessary third party investigations to resolve issues. Elicits information from individuals of diverse backgrounds and develops sources of information under adverse and sensitive conditions.




Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship. Requires a valid drivers license.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Subject to frequent OT and travel. Complete Fed Law Enforcement Training.
  • Subject to drug and medical test prior to appointment.
  • Appointment to this position will require a background investigation.

Applicants must meet time-in-grade, time-after-competitive-appointment and qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the vacancy to be eligible for consideration for selection. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Minimum AGE Requirements: An applicant must enter a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) law enforcement covered position or a Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) law enforcement covered position not one day later than his/her 37th birthday. Please note: Applicants appointed to Criminal Investigator positions in the Federal service must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to the position unless they previously served in a Federal civilian law enforcement position covered by special civil service retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement. This requirement may be waived only for veterans. However, the primary duties of these positions are classified as "rigorous," and a waiver may be authorized by the head of the agency only in unusual situations. An age requirement waiver is not automatic. An individual who has passed the maximum entry age limit but previously served in a covered position, may be eligible for consideration and reinstatement of coverage if he/she will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered law enforcement service by the time he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 57. See OPM Retirement Handbook for further details. The Maximum Entry Age requirement (See Maximum Entry may be waived for applicants eligible for veterans' preference.)

POSITION REQUIREMENTS FOR OIG CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS: Incumbents are required to be able to perform the following duties: A. Firearm Use. All OIG criminal investigators are required to qualify with the U.S. DOL-issued firearms and to accept assignments where firearms are required. In the exercise of OIG's statutory law enforcement authority, there is the potential that the use of the firearm may be justified and necessary. B. Arrests. OIG criminal investigators make arrests, with or without a warrant, according to the circumstances. C. Search and Seizure. OIG criminal investigators execute warrants for search of premises or seizure of evidence. D. Surveillances. In conducting investigations, criminal investigators may establish and maintain surveillances of suspected criminal acts. This calls for stamina.

Continues under other infomation:

Qualifications

GS-09 - Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-07, in the Federal Service.

Examples of specialized experience include but is not limited to the incumbent carrying out the full range of investigative functions on assigned cases or portions of cases, from planning through fact-finding to reporting results of investigations, which involve subjects on which information is readily available, straight forward issues, or non-controversial persons. These investigations are limited in scope, involve moderately difficult technical problems relating to legal matters, and require obtaining necessary facts and evidence.

GS-11-Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-09, in the Federal Service.

Example of specialized experience includes but is not limited to the incumbent analyzing case-related information including subpoenaed records, transcripts, court records, financial statements and other intelligence information to identify potential labor racketeering or program fraud violations.

This position will not be filled until the Department's Placement Assistance Programs have been fully utilized.

Education

GL-09: 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related

GS-11: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.

If you wish to use your education as a basis for meeting the eligibility and/or minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the eligibility and/or minimum qualification requirements, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit for that course work. See the 'Qualifications and Evaluations' section of this announcement for more details.

If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.

College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education - The Department of Labor does not recognize academic degrees from unauthorized secondary schools or post-secondary institutions that are not accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

Position Requirements Cont...

Surveillances may be arduous and may require agility. A surveillance at times requires the investigator to stand or sit for as long as 8 to 10 hours without relief in a surveillance position. This may be in the back of a van in a sitting or stooping posture; in a stationary automobile without benefits of heat or air conditioning because the engine cannot be operated; in an outdoor area in severe cold or heat; on a makeshift platform; in an open window behind a screen; or in positions which require climbing or crawling behind heating pipes, machinery, etc. E. Undercover Assignments. From time to time, criminal investigators assume undercover roles. F. Review of Records and Other Evidence. Many cases under investigation involve the review of a tremendous amount of records which the agent takes control of and transports for copying. Boxes of records may weigh up to 100 pounds each, which the investigator must lift and move to the automobile and to the office. Considerable stamina is required for reviewing such voluminous records and physical strength for lifting and transporting them. In exercising the search and seizure authority, criminal investigators must also lift heavy boxes, packages, and heavy objects containing other types of evidence. G. Travel. Many criminal investigators travel frequently -- up to 50 percent of the time. Much of the travel is performed by automobile driven by the agent from 8 to 14 hours at a time to reach the destination. Travel is sometimes performed in severe weather conditions and traffic on hazardous roads. Upon reaching the destination, there is no time for rest and recovery from such arduous driving except at the end of the work day. Investigators frequently spend two or more weeks in travel status before returning home. They work long hours conducting interviews, often at odd hours, and work on reports in the evening in the hotel room after interviewing witnesses, subjects, reviewing records, and performing other aspects of the investigation. H. Basic Law Enforcement Training. As a condition of employment, newly-hired OIG criminal investigators must have completed sucessfully the basic criminal investigator training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), unless waived by OIG because of proof of comparable special agent or law enforcement officer training.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. The Department of Labor does not make unfavorable hiring decisions on the basis of an applicant's previous or current unemployment, or the fact that an applicant has experienced financial difficulty through no fault of his/her own and has undertaken good faith efforts to meet his/her financial obligations. Consideration is given to financial status in relation to appointments only where required by law, regulation, or Executive Order.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, SELECTIVE SERVICE REGISTRATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

How you will be evaluated

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

Click here for Evaluation details. For Displaced Employees ONLY: if you meet the eligibility requirements for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #23 and #26 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP/CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

Knowledge and Conduct of Investigations: Appropriately prepares and organizes investigation files of an increasingly complex nature: applies increased independence, initiates and conducts more complex criminal, civil, and administrative investigations, with the goal of achieving measurable outcomes in a timely and efficient manner; integrates and analyzes information and data from various sources to identify violations and develop findings; and follows appropriate DOJ and/or IG procedures.
Legal, Government and Jurisprudence: Assists in training other employees on applicable Federal rules of criminal and civil procedures; agency and government laws, regulations, and policies; and executive orders.
Technology Application: Uses agency computer hardware and software applications and other related technical investigative equipment to develop and support investigative findings.
External Awareness: To improve investigative planning and enhance the impact of investigative reports, reads and understands the applicability of OIG and DOL strategic plans; OIG's semi-annual report to Congress; DOL-Funded programs FY Regional Investigative work plan; and/or other related investigative materials. Presents recommendations that result in case opening and/or regional initiatives.
Interpersonal Skills: Works cooperatively and effectively with others on task forces and joint investigative assignments. Exercises caution and consideration in resolving differences of opinion when confronted with disagreements.
Oral Communication: Presents ideas, facts, and investigative information in an understandable, concise, and well organized manner, especially during judicial proceedings.
Self Management: Proactively assumes initiative and seeks new or additional responsibilities and challenges. Establishes realistic personal goals, rapidly adapting to sudden changes in work assignments and deadlines as necessary to achieve office goals.
Writing: Prepares investigative materials that are accurate, clear, logical, well organized, and understandable and include proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.
To preview questions please click here.

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