Clarification from the agency

Your application will be considered if you are a: Current or former career/career-conditional employee; Reinstatement eligible; Special Appointing Authority (i.e., Military Spouse, Land and Base Management, Sch A) eligible; 30% or more Veteran; VEOA eligible Veteran; ICTAP eligible; or OPM Interchange Agreement eligible.

This is an Open Continuous Announcement (OCA) that will be used to fill multiple Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) vacancies for the Homeland Security Task Force. Eligible candidates will be referred as long as there are vacancies. This position is located under the Office of Field Operations located in Location Negotiable After Selection, United States.

ATF is looking for experienced Criminal Investigators. The primary purpose of this position is to be responsible for the prevention, detection, and investigation of substantive and conspiracy type violations of laws administered and enforced by ATF.

As a Special Agent, your typical work assignments may include:

• Performs the full range of expert level criminal investigative i.e. conducting complex investigations involving illegal and/or organized crime organizations.
• Recognizes patterns of illegal operations in order to anticipate and/or influence events as they transpire while maintain awareness of the implications of precedential court decisions in one or more judicial and law enforcement jurisdiction.
• Establishes and develops leads from known criminal activities and initiates investigations that are wide in scope and complexity and involve criminal conduct that is interwoven with legitimate business pursuits.
• Utilizes elaborate planning and coordination to resolve and overcome complex jurisdictional problems involving other Federal, State, county, and local agencies.
• Serves as the key person or coordinator when performing duties such as surveillance or undercover work involving extremely complex, delicate or dangerous elements.

Conditions of employment

The time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

MOBILITY PLAN: New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement. The purpose of ATF's mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression, and achieve mission and business effectiveness. To accomplish these objectives, the mobility plan will facilitate the movement of employees through special short-term assignments or permanent reassignments throughout the Bureau. Applicants who decline to sign a mobility agreement, as required, will be removed from the hiring process.

1. Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
2. Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
3. Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov
4. May be required to serve a one year probationary period.
5. Pass drug screening and subject to random drug test.
6. Must display and maintain required proficiency with firearms.
7. Take and pass a medical examination and meet medical requirements.
8. Must take and successfully complete a polygraph examination.
9. Possess a current and valid automobile operator's license.
10. May have to attend and successfully pass the below training:
    • Occupational Questionnaire
    • ATF Special Agent Applicant Assessment
    • Physical Task Test
    • ATF Special Agent Basic Training (SABT)
    • Structured Interview
    • Law Enforcement Training: You must have successfully completed and passed Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator training program (CITP), OR an equivalent and recognized federal law enforcement training program- must upload certification.

Qualifications

GS-11 - You qualify if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GL-9 grade level in the Federal, State, or Local government or equivalent public or private sector experience, performing all of the following duties:

• Conducting the full range of criminal investigations using accepted methodology and problem solving techniques; AND
• Obtaining investigative leads and factual data; participating in operational planning, searches, seizures, and arrests; reviewing evidence; and preparing case reports at the conclusion of a criminal investigation.

You have one of the following:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Criminal Justice and/or Administration; Law and Society; Forensics; Public Safety and/or Administration; Homeland Security; Law Enforcement; Justice Administration; Organizational Security and Management; Criminology; Cyber Security; Social Work; Fire Science; or
• 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or
• LL.M., if related.

You have the specialized experience as described above but less than one year; and have some graduate education as described above, but less than the required one-year. The percentage of the requirements MUST total least 100%.

GS-12 - You qualify if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal, State, or Local government or equivalent public or private sector experience, performing all of the following duties:

• Conducting the full range of criminal investigations of greater than average complexity and importance using accepted methodology and problem-solving techniques; AND
• Serving as a lead agent in planning and conducting investigations, operations, searches, seizures, or arrests; AND
• Reviewing evidence; and preparing case reports at the conclusion of a criminal investigation.

GS-13 - You qualify if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal, State, or Local government or equivalent public or private sector experience, performing all of the following duties:

• Applying a wide range of criminal investigative, enforcement, laws, regulations, guidelines, and precedent decisions; AND
• Identifying significant sources of information to detect illegal activity and document issues or probable cause and conduct investigations to determine if violations have occurred; AND
• Communicating orally and in writing to prepare and present reports, briefings, and/or exchange information.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a Veteran Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under the VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.

Please note: Applicants applying under the Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) Authority may only be placed at the GS-11 grade level.

Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in resume.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume will be submitted to a subject matter expert resume review panel. If your qualifications are not supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

The structured resume review panel will measure your ability in the following competencies: Criminal Investigation, Criminal Law, Oral Communication, and Problem Solving

This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future vacancies.

Applicant lists will be pulled on January 1, 2026, and on the 1st of every month until the closing date. Positions are open until filled, but no later than November 20, 2026. You may only apply to this vacancy once. No updates will be permitted. If you incur changes to your credentials or eligibilities, please continue to review USAJOBS for additional similar vacancies throughout the year. All credentials must be received at the time of application submission.

Once your complete application package is received, it will be reviewed to ensure you meet all job requirements. You will be notified if referred to a hiring official and if selected for an interview.