To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043 does not currently apply as of the date of this job opportunity announcement. ICE will request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

As a Criminal Investigator, at the full performance level, you will perform the following duties:

• Conduct and coordinate high-level comprehensive investigations involving individuals, groups, or large organizations operating at a local, national, or international level.
• Use electronic surveillance, interviews, polygraph examination, and physical surveillance to obtain evidence in investigative cases.
• Make arrests, confront multiple suspects, secure scenes sometimes under potentially dangerous and hazardous environments.
• Take part in securing signed statements, affidavits, and documentary evidence for inclusion in reports or case records.
• Prepare sworn testimony on behalf of the government in criminal and federal grand jury cases.

Conditions of employment

• Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement unless you are using education as any part of your qualifications for this position. If using education, qualification requirements must be met by June 15, 2022.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation which may include a polygraph examination.
• If referred for a polygraph, you would be required to travel at your expense to complete the polygraph exam and obtain a favorable result in order to continue in the hiring process.
• You must complete a pre-employment medical examination which may include a psychological evaluation and be found to meet the medical standards for the position.
• You must successfully complete a pre-employment drug test. Employees are subject to drug testing in compliance with the Agency's Drug-Free Workplace Program.
• Upon appointment to this position, you will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• You will be required to sign a Mobility Agreement. You may be reassigned to a new location during your career as a Criminal Investigator based on the needs of the Agency.
• The law enforcement profession carries inherent risks and you may be required to work alone in remote areas throughout the night or at times when you may have limited communication.
• This position requires the selectee to 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 022 (g)(9)).
• If you are selected for this position, you will be required to testify at court. Law enforcement officers and agents must be able to testify without concern of impeachment.
• You must be appointed (enter on duty) prior to your 37th birthday (certain exclusions apply).
• You must have a valid driver's license prior to your final job offer.
• ICE Criminal Investigators may use deadly force when necessary, in accordance with the law and agency policy.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment Physical Fitness Test (PFT) is required.
• A mandatory component of continued employment is the successful completion of Basic Training, which consists of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Criminal Investigator Training Program and the HSI Special Agent Training Program.
• You will be required to maintain the ability to perform the rigorous physical requirements of the job.
• Criminal Investigators are required to live within 50 miles of their duty station.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement unless you are using education as any part of your qualifications for this position. If using education, qualification requirements must be met by June 15, 2022.

Applicants will be reviewed and assessed for both grade levels.

You qualify for the GL-07 grade level if you possess one of the following:

Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-05 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Conducting developmental assignments (while in a training status) in one or more investigative specialties such as narcotics, bulk cash smuggling, money laundering, financial crimes, human trafficking, fraud, international trade, or general criminal investigations
• Performing a variety of database queries for the purpose of gathering information
• Assisting higher graded agents or specialists with researching or analyzing data
• Assisting in the preparation of administrative or investigative reports OR

Education: One (1) full year of graduate level education or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university AND meet one of the Superior Academic Achievement Provisions:

1. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision.
2. Grade Point Average (GPA):
   • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
   • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
3. Election to membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.

A college transcript(s) is required if claiming education in lieu of experience and must show your grade point average for all four years of undergraduate study, including all transferred courses. GPAs are rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail or similar basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honor society. OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed post high school education beyond the second year and experience as described above that totals at least one year. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

You qualify for the GL-9 grade level if you possess one of the following:

Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Conducting investigations, (while in an advanced training status), in one or more investigative specialties such as narcotics, bulk cash smuggling, money laundering, financial crimes, human trafficking, fraud, international trade, or general criminal investigations
• Performing a variety of federal, state, and local database queries for the purpose of gathering information on criminal histories
• Conducting interviews with suspects and witnesses
• Assisting in the preparation of investigative reports for prosecution or administrative action OR

Education: A master's or equivalent graduate degree, two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a LL.B/J.D., if related. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience as described above that totals at least one year. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

*****OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

HSI Special Agent Basic Training: A mandatory component of continued employment is the successful completion of Basic Training, which consists of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) and the HSI Special Agent Training Program (HSISAT). The training is approximately 22 weeks in total. You may be temporarily reassigned to a non-law enforcement position if you fail to complete basic training.

Physical Fitness Testing (PFT): A pre-employment Physical Fitness Test (PFT) will be administered. A passing score is required. If you have failed a PFT, you are not eligible for consideration for 12 months from the closing date of the announcement in which you applied that required the PFT. Additionally, PFTs will also be administered at FLETC during Basic Training. Every trainee must pass the PFT a minimum of two times throughout the duration of training.

Current Federal Employees: Current federal employees who apply to this announcement may be required to accept a change to lower grade which will reduce their current salary based on Federal pay regulations. Pay retention and automatic re-promotion will not apply. You will be required to complete 52 weeks at each grade level prior to being eligible for promotion or re-promotion. Current ICE employees in the 1811 job series will not be eligible for consideration under this vacancy announcement.

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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

The following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities are needed to perform this job and you will be assessed on your ability to complete all assessments demonstrating your level of proficiency:

• Conscientiousness, Decision Making and Judgment, Managing and Organizing Information, Oral Communication, Teamwork, Written Communication, Flexibility, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Skills, Emotional Maturity, and Continual Learning

Veterans and applicants choosing one or more of the locations with an incentive will receive priority consideration and will move forward in the testing process. Additional applicants will be referred in the order in which they apply. If additional vacancies become available, we will seek candidates to move forward in the testing process based upon the order in which their initial application was received.

The following will be used to determine if the minimum qualifications have been met:

• Passing score from the Assessment Questionnaire
• Passing score from the Phase I Assessments
• Passing score from the Phase II Assessments
• Passing score from the Phase III Structured Interview

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Phase I Assessments:

• An invitation to complete an online assessment will be extended to those given priority consideration.
• Assessments in Phase I can be taken during the time frame specified in the invitation email and may be completed from any computer with internet access.
• Anticipated assessment window: March 4 - 8, 2022

Phase II Assessments:

• Applicants passing Phase I assessments will receive an invitation to complete Phase II assessments; detailed information about the scheduling process will be emailed.
• Phase II assessments are taken together, under the supervision of a proctor, by appointment only at ICE-designated testing centers.
• Anticipated assessment window: March 30 - April 12, 2022

Phase III Structured Interview:

• Applicants earning passing scores on all Phase I and II assessments will be referred for a Structured Interview.
• These interviews will be administered throughout the country following Phase I and II assessments.
• Interviews may be conducted in person, telephonic, or in a virtual environment. Applicants who successfully complete Phases I, II, and III will be placed in a category based upon their combined scores from the assessments.
• Anticipated assessment window: May 9 - 27, 2022

A Preparation Guide with more detailed information regarding the assessments and assessment process may be found on the ICE.gov website here.

While every attempt will be made to adhere to the dates listed above, all dates are subject to change.

These are non-bargaining unit positions.