Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all current Federal Competitive Service, Career and Career-Conditional employees. Applicants who have non-competitive eligibility, such as, Schedule A disability, Peace Corps or VISTA, reinstatement eligibles, Eligible Family members (EFM), etc. AND those eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) or Interchange Agreements with other Merit Systems may also apply.

This position is located in the Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations (INV).  INV has broad jurisdiction over criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of alleged violations of Federal laws, regulations, and policies relating to Department/) programs and operations.  The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Criminal Investigator (Hotline Manager) with internationally delineated investigative responsibilities. 

Major duties include: 

-      Supervise and conduct preliminary investigations to determine violations of Title 18, U.S. Code, Federal regulatory violations, and instances of fraud, waste and abuse impacting the operations, systems and programs. 

-      Act independently, under the general direction of the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations and Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, and the Special Agent in Charge to plan, organize, supervise, and conduct complicated criminal investigations which often concern senior career and appointed officials of the USG as well as foreign citizens both here and abroad. Independently plan, organize, supervise, and conduct investigations with tact and discretion in hostile environments. 

-      As a supervisor, carries out a range of the supervisory responsibilities expected of supervisors in the Federal government. For example, the incumbent participates in interviews of candidates for INV vacancies; makes assignments; sets priorities and deadlines for the work to be accomplished; ensures that work is carried out in a timely and fully satisfactory manner; gives advice and assistance to assigned staff; evaluates and prepares formal performance appraisals; hears and resolves routine or minor complaints and refers grievances and more serious complaints to the Special Agent in Charge; effects minor disciplinary actions; identifies training and developmental needs of staff. 

-      Serve as the OIG Hotline Manager. Utilize criminal investigative experience to supervise and direct the receipt, evaluation, and disposition of all complaints and allegations received by INV and the OIG Hotline related to waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, and whistleblower reprisal. Determines OIG actions to be taken, or identify the appropriate DOS bureau, or external agency or organization, to which the complaint or allegation will be referred.  Ensure referrals contain appropriate recommendations and adequate investigative guidance prior to allocation of the complaint. Evaluate all complaints and allegations involving senior Foreign Service, and Civil Service employees, or special interest issues impacting the programs and operations of DOS. Ensure that highly sensitive or extremely complex problems are brought to the attention of the Special Agent in Charge, Operations Support Division and / or the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. 

-      Evaluate and identify significant findings, trends and patterns contained in the Hotline complaints and identify areas considered sensitive to fraud, waste and abuse. Assist with the development of long-range strategies and goals to combat fraud, waste and abuse in Departmental programs and operations, as well as innovative techniques for the detection of fraud, waste and abuse. 

-      Prepare, review and edit correspondence to complainants and their legal representatives, Congressional representatives, DOS agency contacts, Office of the Secretary of State and the Office of Management and Budget, and to White House inquiries for accuracy and conformance to regulations. Review responses from DOS Bureaus for accuracy, thoroughness and determination that all aspects of the complaint are addressed fully, inquiries are conducted properly, and that appropriate corrective measures are taken based on the stated findings and conclusions.

Conditions of employment

• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• New supervisors must serve a 1-year probationary period
• Financial Disclosure Required: Annual OGE Form 450.
• Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
• Travel: Occasional Domestic and International travel may be required, 25%.
• Incumbent must possess & maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must pass a pre-employment medical examination, if required.

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement.  Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications.

Incumbent is required to successfully complete/previously completed one of the following:  the Criminal Investigation Training Program (CITP) course(s) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). As an alternative, this training requirement may be satisfied by certification of completion of a comparable course of instruction, such as the FBI Academy New Agent Training, DEA Basic Agent Training, or U.S. Army CID Special Agent Course.

Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent 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 922(g)(91)).

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.  It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.  Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.  Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

-      Experience planning, organizing, supervising, and conducting difficult and complex criminal investigations. 

-      Experience evaluating complaints reported through various resources. 

-      Demonstrated knowledge of Hotline Complaint Center operations. 

-      Experience coordinating investigative and prosecutive activities with Federal, state and local agencies.

In addition, applicant's experience must also demonstrate that the candidate possesses the following qualities:

• Ability to assign, review, and supervise the work of others;
• Objectivity and fairness in judging people on their ability, and situations on the facts and circumstances;
• Ability to adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations without undue stress;
• Willingness to consider new ideas or divergent points of view; and
• Capacity to "see the job through".

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position.

AGE REQUIREMENT: All applicants, except preference-eligible veterans, MUST be no more than 37 years of age upon entry into this position.  If you are 37 or older, or will reach your 37th birthday, but have previously served in a federal civilian law enforcement position which may exempt you from this age restriction, you must submit a copy of the SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that you received in that position. If you are a preference-eligible veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 verifying your veterans preference eligibility.

Candidate must possess a valid U.S. driver's license. 

This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency and successfully pass periodic firearm qualifications.  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 922(g)(9). 

This position requires the incumbent to work an average of two or more Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) hours per scheduled work day, which may include evenings, nights and weekends.  The hours worked will vary depending on the nature of the assignment.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS:  The duties of positions in this series require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform the duties satisfactorily. Near vision, corrective lenses permitted, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz levels  Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible, 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.

MOBILITY AGREEMENT: Selectee must sign a mobility agreement to accept, on direction of the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, a 1-2 year, unaccompanied detail to one of INV's overseas posts. 

The incumbent must pass periodic physical examinations, meet physical standards set by the Agency for the position, and otherwise fulfill the requirements for law enforcement positions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c). 

TRAINING: Must successfully complete OR have successfully completed the Criminal Investigations Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Center, Glynco, GA, AND the Inspector Investigator Training Program (IG-ITP) at the Inspector General Institute.  Candidates will be required to sign a Training Agreement attesting to their understanding that failure to successfully complete the training will result in removal.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

- Knowledge of investigative techniques

- Ability to analyze complex problems to implement solutions

- Ability to supervise

- Ability to communicate information and ideas verbally and in writing

- Ability to perform analyses

- Ability to form relationships with people in and outside of the organization

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience(s) and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. In order to fully evaluate your application and receive proper credit, your resume should include: (1) paid and non-paid experience, job title, dates held (month and year for qualifying purposes to receive credit), number of hours worked per week, and salary (2) knowledge of the subject matter and technical skills pertinent to this position; (3) specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work; and (4) names and phone numbers of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic/specialized experience requirements as stated in this job opportunity announcement for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of consideration. For tips on writing your resume, please visit the USAJOBS Resource Center.

Qualified candidates are assigned a score between 70 and 100. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) candidates must be rated "Well Qualified" for the position and earn a score of at least 85 (when applicants are rated in a range of 70 to 100) to receive consideration for special priority.

If, after reviewing your resume and self-assessment questionnaire responses and a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, a score will be manually determined that reflects your documented experience. This may result in a lower score, which may also eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements and submit any required supporting documentation by the closing date of this job opportunity. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.
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