Clarification from the agency

U.S. citizens and U.S. Nationals who are Recent Graduates and have completed a degree or certificate from a qualifying education institution within the previous 2 yrs. Veterans unable to apply within 2 yrs of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have a full 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. The eligibility period for veterans must be within 6 years of degree completion.

OIG's Office of Investigations (OI) investigates potential crimes and civil violations of law involving VA programs and operations committed by VA employees, contractors, beneficiaries, and other individuals. These investigations focus on a wide range of matters including health care, procurement, benefits, education, construction, and other fraud; cybercrime and identity theft; bribery, embezzlement, and conflicts of interest; drug offenses; and violent crimes. OI is staffed by special agents, forensic auditors, and other specialized staff in headquarters divisions and regional field offices that use data analytics, cyber-tools, covert operations, and other strategies to detect and address conduct that poses a threat to or has harmed VA personnel, operations, and the veterans or other beneficiaries they serve. Through criminal prosecutions and civil monetary recoveries, OI's investigations promote integrity, patient safety, efficiency, and accountability within VA.

The incumbent serves as a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) in an OI investigative office located in West Palm Beach, Florida, in OI's Southeast Region. As such, the incumbent is responsible for planning, managing, conducting, and concluding, independently or as a team leader, the most complex, sensitive, and difficult OIG criminal, civil, and/or administrative investigations of allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse directed at VA programs and/or operations.

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13 full performance-level; however, you will be selected at a lower grade level (GL-07 or GL-09). You will be provided the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

- Function as a law enforcement officer with full law enforcement authority, i.e., carrying authorized firearms and other enforcement equipment; applying for and executing arrest and search warrants; apprehending, searching, and transporting criminals and arranging for their detention.
- Collect and analyze operational and strategic intelligence from wide-ranging sources including Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
- Initiate contacts with Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, civic and business leaders, officials from financial institutions, medical facilities, and other organizations and individuals for the purpose of obtaining facts, signed statements, and developing investigative leads and cooperation.
- Conduct investigations in compliance with OIG policies and procedures, investigative standards promulgated by the Council of the Inspectors General (CIGIE), and the provisions of the Attorney General Guidelines for Offices of Inspector General with Statutory Law Enforcement Authority.
- Obtain and examine records, books, payrolls, reports, correspondence, and other data of consequence potentially related to the transactions or allegations under investigation. Verify, corroborate, and establish relationships with the evidence obtained and establish accuracy and authenticity.

Conditions of employment

The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.

1. Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."
2. Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
3. Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate may be converted. To be eligible for the Recent Graduates Program, applicants must have, within the previous 2 years*, completed all educational requirements for a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying institution.*Veterans who, due to a military service obligation, were precluded from applying to a Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2 year eligibility period may have their eligibility period extended so that they receive the full 2 years of eligibility. The remaining 2-year eligibility period will begin upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. The veteran's eligibility period may not extend beyond 6 years from the date of completion of all requirements of an academic course of study.

For the GL-9: Specialized experience is one full year at the GL-07 level, or equivalent, that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes:
Researching laws, regulations, guidelines, and approved procedures to provide findings; AND
Analysis of technical documents from different/multiple sources and summarizing review in a written product; AND
Verbal communications that include interviews, briefings and presentations; AND
Writing reports or use of products that present facts, findings, logical conclusions, and persuasive arguments; AND
Applying investigative techniques to conduct and assist in investigations.

OR
Education: Master's degree or equivalent or two years progressively higher education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D. if related. (Attach copy of transcript or list of college courses designating semester or quarter hours earned to ensure proper credit.

OR
You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. This is creditable providing the combination consists of 100% of the requirement. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

For the GL-7: Specialized experience is one full year at the GL-5 level, or equivalent, that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes:
Researching laws, regulations, guidelines, and approved procedures to provide findings; AND
Verbal communications that include interviews, briefings and presentations; AND
Applying investigative techniques to conduct and assist in investigations.

OR
Education: One full year of graduate level education in a related field; or Superior Academic Achievement based on a bachelor's degree that is demonstrated through class standing (upper 1/3 of class); or grade point average (2.95/4.0 overall or 3.5/4.0 in major), or election to membership in a qualifying national scholastic honor society. (Attach copy of transcript or list of college courses designating semester or quarter hours earned to ensure proper credit.

OR
A combination of education and experience. Combining education and experience may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.


Conditions of Employment:
- A one year probationary period may be required.
- Must successfully complete a background investigation.
- Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
-Travel nationwide under tight deadlines. The incumbent should anticipate frequent walking and standing as a component of this travel.
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
- Obtain and use a Government-issued purchase card for business-related travel.
- Carry and use a firearm. Maintaining firearm proficiency is also mandatory. You will be ineligible to occupy this position if at any time you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, unless you received a pardon or your conviction was expunged or set aside.
- Complete a pre-employment medical examination (including vision, hearing, cardiovascular and mobility of extremities) by an authorized Government physician and be determined physically fit to perform strenuous physically demanding duties. You may be required to provide medical or related documentation to Federal Occupation of Health at the time of the pre-employment physical. You will be required to undergo regular physical examinations and to maintain a level of physical fitness in accordance with the standards and policies of this agency.
- Complete or have previously completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA OR its equivalent.
- Agree to work an average of two extra hours per day. Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) has been approved to compensate for unscheduled duty in excess of the 40-hour workweek.
- Possess and maintain a valid driver's license from one of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
- Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.

How you will be evaluated

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

How You will be Evaluated: Your application includes your résumé, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your résumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Rating: Your application will be evaluated in the following areas: Analytical, Technical and Communication. Category rating will be used to rank and select eligible candidates. If qualified, you will be assigned to one of three quality level categories, A-Exceptionally Qualified, B-Highly Qualified, or C-Qualified, depending on your responses to the online questions, regarding your experience, education, and training related to this position. Your rating may be lowered if your responses to the online questions are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your application.

Veterans' preference is applied after applicants are assessed. Preference-eligibles will be listed at the top of their assigned category and considered before non-preference-eligibles in that category.Qualified preference-eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest category.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview and/or a writing assessment. Applicants who are selected for an interview may ask questions about the evaluation process at the time they are contacted for an interview.