Clarification from the agency

• Current federal civilian employees in the competitive service on permanent career or career-conditional appointments; • Former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; • Current federal employees eligible under Interchange Agreements; and, • Applicants eligible under special hiring authorities (Schedule A, etc.).

The Inspector General of the Department of Education heads an independent and objective organization responsible for audit, investigation, and other inspection services related to programs and operations of the Department. The Inspector General provides leadership and coordination and recommends policies for activities designed, to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of programs and operations as well as to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in such programs and operations. The Inspector General is the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Department on the above matters and is responsible for keeping the Secretary and Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of the Department's programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action.

The Office of the Inspector General consists of the following five components:

• Immediate Office of the Inspector General
• Investigation Services
• Audit Services
• Management Services
• Information Technology, Audits and Computer Crime Investigations (ITACCI)

Investigation Services (IS) is responsible for all investigative activities relating to the Department’s programs and operations and the prevention and detection of fraud and abuse in these programs and operations. IS also conducts, supervises, and coordinates investigations of suspected fraudulent activity by Departmental employees. Investigation Services is responsible for establishing the necessary procedures for coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on all criminal matters dealing with the Department’s programs and operations.

As a Supervisory Criminal Investigator, Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) with the Investigation Services of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in the US Department of Education; the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

- Supervises agents to plan and conduct investigations of fraud, waste, or abuse in programs and operations administered or financed by the U.S. Department of Education, involving contractors, grantees, educational or financial institutions, Department employees, and other individuals.

- Develops policies, criteria, and procedures for investigations; conducts special projects and analyses in support of IS; and develops and implements training strategies to promote the professional development of Criminal Investigators.

- As a recognized national expert in investigations, the incumbent receives only administrative direction in performing the work of the position. The position organizes, analyzes, and evaluates documents and evidence, and prepares and submits reports. Investigations cover the entire investigative spectrum from theft, fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, public corruption, or whistleblower reprisals involving Department programs, operations, or funds.

- This position supervises all staff actions providing advice, guidance and regulatory interpretation of laws, orders, rules, and regulations pertaining to the investigations conducted by the Investigation Services of the OIG. Personally conducts, supervises, and/or oversees all criminal investigations conducted by subordinate staff.

- Collaborates orally and in writing with other Department officials within OIG to successfully perform the mission of the office; and participates with intergovernmental task forces on program fraud and abuse.  Submits written reports and makes oral presentations for management and/or prosecutors to substantiate or disprove allegations in accordance with standards and timeframes.

The duties of positions in this series require moderate arduous physical exertion involving walking, running, operating vehicles in dangerous situations; serving subpoenas and search warrants; and making arrests. The work involves high risks with exposure to a wide variety of potentially dangerous situations in which criminal investigators must be able to defend themselves and others against physical attack. The criminal investigator may also have to work long and irregular hours, on weekends, and at night, be exposed to inclement weather, and frequently works outside the office gathering information or performing undercover and surveillance activities. Since duties of these positions are exacting 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.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must complete a background investigation and fingerprint check
• A pre-employment medical examination is required
• Drug testing is required
• Must complete a supervisory probationary period
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To verify that you meet these requirements, we will review your responses to the core eligibility questions on the occupational questionnaire, as well as your submitted resume and required documents.  To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week.  

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).

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements

You may meet the minimum requirements for the GS-14 if you possess:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-13) in federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position (see description below).

Specialized Experience for the GS-14:

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 performing all three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Applicants must have successfully completed the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator Training Program or equivalent Federal criminal investigations training course;

2. Experience in planning, organizing, and conducting complex fraud investigations;

3. Experience in analyzing records and complaints to validate allegations, interviewing others to obtain and verify information, and preparing comprehensive reports detailing the investigation of the alleged violations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1.    Knowledge of and skill in applying investigative approaches and techniques to gather information and evidence;

2.    Knowledge of and skill in analyzing and organizing data;

3.    Ability to lead and inspire a diverse team to include maximizing employee potential, developing performance plans and monitoring performance, resolving conflicts, and achieving organizational goals;

4.    Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships;

5.    Skill in oral and written communications.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPERVISORY POSITIONS: Candidates must have demonstrated in their work experience or training that they possess, or have the potential to develop, the qualities of successful supervision as follows:

-Assign and review work of subordinates, train and work effectively with subordinates from a variety of backgrounds and with different levels/areas of training.

-Accomplish the quality and quantity of work expected within set limits of cost and time.

-Plan own work and carry out assignments effectively.

-Communicate with others effectively both orally and in writing in working out solutions to problems or questions relating to the work.

-Understand and further management goals as these affect day-to-day work operations.

-Develop improvements in or design new work methods and procedures.

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. This Position is approved for Secondary Law Enforcement Coverage. (SEE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS)

How you will be evaluated

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

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

1.    Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications
Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if you are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply) or your application is missing any required documents. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

2.    Rating and Ranking
If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. (The occupational questionnaire is the list of questions in the automated system that you will have an opportunity to answer once you apply for the position).  

Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be assigned a numerical score (out of 100 possible). If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

3.    Referral and Selection
If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.