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Criminal Investigator - Computer Crimes Unit

Office of the Inspector General, USPS
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The USPS OIG is seeking a highly qualified applicant to fill our Criminal Investigator position in the OI - Computer Crimes Unit located in Arlington, Virginia, Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colorado, and Miami, Florida. The successful candidates must have demonstrated proficiency in digital forensics technology, principles, and procedures. The successful candidate must also have experience in planning and conducting complex federal criminal and cyber investigations.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/28/2019 to 09/11/2019
Salary
$76,687 to - $99,691 per year

Additional Locality and LEAP pay available.

Pay scale & grade
GG 13
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Denver, CO
Miami, FL
Atlanta, GA
Dallas, TX
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel up to 50% for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
2019-XX-10573866-DR
Control number
544068400

Duties

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Candidates will be evaluated on the skills that they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and the experience, education and training that indicate the applicant's ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Only those candidates who meet all qualification and eligibility requirements and who submit the required information by 11:59 PM EST on09/11/2019 will be considered.

The USPS OIG uses a Pay Banding system, which is equivalent to the Federal GS scale.This position is being advertised at the Journey Band level, equivalent to a GS-13. The base salary range for this position is $76,687 - $99,691. Locality and Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) is authorized. Compensation includes 1811 LEAP coverage in primary position under law enforcement retirement.

Please note that the duties and responsibilities associated with this position may vary based upon the agency's needs at the time of hire. The following description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations.

  • Plans, conducts, and/or coordinates criminal, civil, and administrative investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of Federal laws committed by or against Postal Service personnel or Postal Service contractors.
  • Conducts complex investigations involving digital storage media, and independently collects, processes, and preserves digital evidence from electronic devices such as computers, hand held digital devices, mobile devices, network servers, and other automated/data storage devices and digital media.
  • Follows industry standard forensic best practices while imaging, preserving, transporting and handling electronic data and associated physical devices as evidence.
  • Assists Government attorneys in the preparation of grand jury presentations and court cases. Serves as a witness in grand juries, criminal and civil courts, and administrative forums providing expert testimony in court as to the procedures and methods used to obtain and analyze digital evidence.
  • Provides expert advice regarding the application of computer forensics techniques and practices for criminal investigations. Initiates and/or edits a variety of digital forensic reports and correspondence ensuring a quality product.
  • Develops substantial technical knowledge of digital forensics; shares expertise with coworkers and assists with in-service training in support of agency goals and objectives.
  • Plans and conducts investigations of alleged or suspected major violations of Title 18 of the U.S. Code. Establishes and/or maintains liaison with counterpart United States and foreign government agencies to ensure information of investigative and operational significance is obtained by USPSOIG.
  • Participates in investigations requiring coordination of the investigative efforts. Initiates and maintains contacts with key personnel in law enforcement, intelligence and security agencies and counterparts in various US investigative agencies such as FBI, DCIS, IRS, CIA, etc.
  • Finds best practices used in the digital forensics community using a variety of technical resources and contacts. Develops, recommends, and writes digital forensic policies, procedures, and guidelines that are in accordance with federal laws and regulations.
  • Conducts followup reviews of management actions taken to correct identified deficiencies.
  • Applies for and serves warrants for arrests, searches and seizures as appropriate and provided by law.
  • Prepares, requests and/or reviews/approves requests for subpoenas, consensual monitoring, and other requests requiring higher authority.
  • Maintains current indepth knowledge of and expertise in the organizational, personnel, capabilities, plans and intentions of criminal groups whose activities impact upon or threaten the safety and security of the Postal Service, personnel installations, and other interests on a worldwide basis. Prepares and issues reports of investigations and summaries of recommendations or findings.
In accordance with applicable laws, the applicant selected for this position must:
  • Maintain eligibility to operate motor vehicles
  • Qualify and maintain authorization to carry firearms, including no current or previous domestic violence convictions
  • Maintain physical, mental and emotional standards and requirements necessary to perform law enforcement assignments
  • Work unscheduled irregular hours with the possibility of personal risk
  • Must be willing to relocate at the direction of management

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Must be able to pass a drug screening and physical examination
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a government-issued credit card
  • May be required to successfully complete a 12-month probationary period

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

You must meet ALL of the minimum qualifications listed below.

  • Currently serve as a federal law enforcement officer classified as an 1811 series criminal investigator (You must submit a current SF-50 or equivalent that demonstrates your federal law enforcement status)
  • Completed Basic Criminal Investigative Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) or its equivalent (You must submit a copy of the certification)
  • 5 years of professional law enforcement experience
  • 1 year full-time experience conducting digital forensic examinations
  • Current certifications for Seized Computer Evidence Recovery Technician (SCERS) or equivalent, and Cellebrite Mobile Device Forensics (CCO, CCPA, CASA) or equivalent
  • Must have received a met expectations performance rating on your 2 most recent performance appraisals (fiscal years 2017 and 2018). If a performance appraisal is not available, you must submit a written statement stating the reason (You must submit a copy of your latest performance appraisal)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
  • Advanced academic degree(s), particularly in computer science, digital forensics, or an information technology related field
  • At least 1 year of full-time experience conducting cyber-related criminal investigations
  • Knowledge of U.S. Postal Service structure, processes, networks, databases, etc.
  • Digital forensics certifications to include vehicle forensics, chip-off/J-Tag, digital forensic tools, memory forensics, packet capture / protocol analysis, etc.
  • Experience with multiple computer operating systems, applications, databases, networks and network security

EVALUATION FACTORS
You must have the experience, knowledge and skills as listed in EACH of the evaluation factors. Failure to demonstrate that you meet all of the evaluation factor requirements as listed below will result in a score of zero (0); an ineligible status, and you will not be referred for further consideration. Include your major accomplishments relevant to the position requirements in your resume.
  1. Demonstrated experience leading investigations applying modern criminal investigative principles; planning, conducting, and/or managing complex criminal investigations, especially those involving cyber-crime investigations, digital evidence, and digital forensics
  2. Demonstrated experience in planning and conducting the acquisition and analysis of digital evidence in a forensically sound manner
  3. Demonstrated experience and ability to define problems, conduct research, analyze alternatives, and recommend technical solutions to support criminal, civil or administrative investigations
  4. Demonstrated experience working as part of an operational investigative unit to identify and solve technical problems and challenges, particularly when operating in field environments outside of established CCU forensic laboratories.
  5. Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, all facts and circumstances of investigations including technical matters, that are understandable to other investigative personnel and management officials
  6. Experience in the identification, acquisition, analysis and reporting of digital evidence
  7. Experience using digital forensic tools to perform digital evidence acquisition, analysis, and investigative reporting (OpenText EnCase, AccessData Forensic Toolkit, or other tools)
  8. Experience using mobile forensic tools to perform data extraction, analysis, and investigative reporting (Cellebrite, UFED Touch / Physical Analyzer, MSAB XRY, or other tools

You will no longer be considered for this position if you: fail to respond to all of the questions in the self-assessment questionnaire; fail to address a factor in the narrative section (no response or "See resume" or similar language will be scored a zero (0) ); or receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor.

In each narrative section you must also indicate the reference person(s) who could verify your achievements. Include their full name, title and phone number. Your supervisor may also be contacted to verify any work-related statements you write.

Failure to demonstrate that you meet all evaluation factor requirements will result in a score of zero (0). Upon receipt of a zero score, you will be deemed "not minimally qualified," and you will not be referred for further consideration.

Education

Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation here: www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred. Special Instructions for Candidates with Foreign Education: Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in U.S. education programs. You must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. credential evaluation service to interpret equivalency of your education against courses given in U.S. accredited colleges and universities. For further information visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the USPS OIG. We offer a broad array of benefits programs:
Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Long Term Care Insurances with Flexible Spending options.
For more information about these programs visit www.opm.gov/insure.

Retirement and Thrift Savings. For more information about these programs see www.opm.gov/retire and http://www.tsp.gov/.

Flexible Work Schedules. USPS OIG offers a range of family friendly flexibilities including flexible work schedules, telework and employee assistance programs.

Leave and Holidays. In addition to 10 paid holidays each year, you will earn 13 days of paid sick leave and 13 to 26 paid vacation days each year depending on your years of service.

For further information, please refer to our website at:
https://www.uspsoig.gov/frequently-asked-questions

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Status: Exempt (Nonexempt employees are entitled to overtime pay; Exempt employees are not).

This agency provides Reasonable Accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please send an email to jobs@uspsoig.gov. The decision on granting an accommodation request will be made on a case by case basis.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications required for this position. You will no longer be considered for this position if you: receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor; fail to attach all required documentation; if your application materials indicate that you are not minimally-qualified for this position; or if you fail to qualify on the interview. Only the top-rated candidates will be referred to a review official or the selecting official for further consideration. Top-rated applicants may be required to participate in an interview. Your rating may be further adjusted or rated as ineligible by the review official or the selecting official based on your interview performance. Once all applicant scores are finalized, the selecting official will make a final decision. NOTE: If you receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor or on the interview, you will be considered NOT MINIMALLY QUALIFIED for the position and rated ineligible.

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