Clarification from the agency

Open to All U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals

Investigations (INV) promotes the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of TSA's people, programs, and resources through objective criminal and administrative investigations. This investigator position is located in INV Field Operations (FO). Duties include but are not limited to:

• Plans, conducts, documents, and finalizes administrative cases. Utilizes a broad knowledge of investigative techniques and sources to develop a strategy for each separate case. Receives additional guidance from the supervisor at the outset of assignments that involve unfamiliar issues or unusual techniques. When criminal investigations are determined necessary, refers cases as appropriate and follows up on status of investigation. Provides administrative support in conducting investigations.
• Performs a wide variety of administrative and operational functions such as gathering and assessing information to determine facts. Incumbent is responsible for gathering information, identifying and analyzing issues & allegations necessary for discovering evidence, coordinating & conducting interviews, researching standards, and reporting the findings of a thorough, complete investigation or inquiry.
• Conducts fact-finding, interviews witnesses and suspects on administrative cases involving allegations against non-supervisory and supervisory TSA employees, contractors, regulated parties and individuals with a nexus to the investigation. Consults senior investigators, as needed, to overcome technical and nuanced barriers impacting investigative objectives.
• Implements accepted methodology, procedures, precedents, and techniques to a broad scope of administrative investigations. Performs investigative activities in accordance with administrative laws, DHS, and TSA regulations. Incumbent applies some discretion to select the most appropriate approach in the application of complex techniques and contributes to developing new solutions to achieve investigative goals.
• Participates in cross-organizational or interrelated investigations that include interagency and intergovernmental teams to ensure discrepancies, in findings, are resolved and confirms the investigation is supported by evidence sufficient to Investigations' standards.
• Performs intra- and interdivisional requests for investigative assistance, to include interviews, physical and electronic surveillance, and other support functions in furtherance of administrative, civil, and criminal investigations throughout the United States and Outside of the Continental United States. Applies the relevant jurisdictional precedent, or legal standard, in gathering and interpreting evidence material to the trier of fact.
• Facilitates and prepares, sworn statements, affidavits and serves administrative subpoenas and other official investigative correspondence. Prepares accurate, concise, and comprehensive reports of investigation for presentation to Division management officials and/or other adjudicating entities. Provides practicable assistance to criminal investigators in administrative and criminal investigative activities as needed.

The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (H Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.

Conditions of employment

1. You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
2. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
3. Selective Service registration is required.
4. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance based on a Special Background Investigation (SBI) with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
5. Must successfully complete pre- and post-employment drug/alcohol test.

If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-12), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-G or GS-11 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience applying knowledge of the concepts, principles, and techniques of investigative functions to independently conduct investigations;
• Conducting interviews and interrogatories of witnesses and subjects of investigation; and
• Preparing reports of investigation that provide detailed and clear analysis and present persuasive conclusions.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of complex inspection, investigation, and/or compliance principles, concepts, and practices; a broad range of advanced investigative techniques and research methodologies,
• Experience conducting legal and independent research, performing link analysis, establishing patterns, detecting trend; and preparing memoranda, reports and summaries of recommended actions and finding.

Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

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.

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.

Resumes must include the following:

• Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience.
• State the number of hours worked in a position (i.e. full-time or part-time). If part-time, state the total number of hours worked per week.
• Performance level (i.e. band or grade)

Utilizing the USAJOBS Resume Builder and completing all available fields is strongly encouraged.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the competencies required for this position. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your category placement may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Grouping procedures. Under Category Grouping, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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. If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is not considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on Veterans' Preference.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

• Incident Management
• Investigative Skills
• Law Enforcement Proficiency
• Managing and Organizing Information
• Oral Communication
• Problem Solving
• Written Communication

You may preview the questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12449601