Clarification from the agency

1st area of consideration will be to current, permanent federal employees of the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System. 2nd area of consideration will be to current permanent federal employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs.

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The single focus of the Senior Criminal Investigator is the investigation of suspected major offenses against Veterans Affairs (VA) patients, visitors and staff and U.S. government property and assets and the potential prosecution of criminals. The Senior Criminal Investigator reports to the Chief of Police. Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Performs criminal and non-criminal investigative duties with emphasis on white-collar crime
• Plans and conducts investigations of alleged violation of Title 18, United States Code, including fraud, bribery, larceny, embezzlement, collusion, conflict of interest, as well as the violations of Title 18 which involve VA/VHA employees
• Evaluates complaints and information to determine investigative merit
• Gathers, analyzes, and reports on complex financial, observational, and other information to establish its evidentiary value and sufficiency
• Obtains evidence, explains constitutional rights, performs search and seizures, and makes arrests
• Prepares and reviews reports, makes recommendations, and prepares cases for prosecution
• Collects enough evidence to support a court case against a criminal and explains to juries the significance of evidence as it relates to proof that a crime was committed
• Coordinates and conducts joint investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of criminal laws with other federal and state agencies such as the FBI, US Marshalls, etc.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday As determined by Management; Will be required to workdays/nights, weekends, and holidays.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Criminal Investigator/PD99720S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Law Enforcement Availability Pay: Authorized

Driver's License Requirement: Applicants must possess a valid, unrestricted State driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. Applicants are required to pass agency Government Vehicle Drivers physical examination. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued driver's license.

Firearm Requirement: VA Police Officers are required to carry agency-approved firearms while on duty on VA property. Officers must achieve and maintain qualification/certification with the agency-approved firearms as condition of gaining and continuing employment as a Police Officer. Applicants must be able to possess firearms under the terms of the Gun Control Act of 1968, as amended (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9).

In order to attend the VA Police Academy (Law Enforcement Training Center LETC), you must be able to pass a physical fitness test of a 1.5 mile run, pushups, and sit-ups based off VA physical standards.

Criminal Investigators may be required to attend the Criminal Investigator Training Program through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

Failure to complete the Police Academy or Criminal Investigator Training Program as scheduled by the agency may result in a removal as a VA Criminal Investigator.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age as of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
• Applicants must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others.
• Applicants must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted State driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely.
• LAUTENBERG AMENDMENT. Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are ineligible for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Officer positions. Cases pending adjudication may not be eligible for selection.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below.

(NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.)

GS-11 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Specialized Experience: (In addition to meeting Time and Grade) Your resume must demonstrate one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) or pay band in the federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector performing duties of a Criminal Investigator, such as: 1) reviewing and monitoring criminal activities; evaluating indicated trends and informing management of results; 2) gathering and examining intelligence from confidential sources, using state-of-the-art expertise in criminal investigations involving sensitive and complex investigations; 3) preparing complete, legally accurate, truthful, and sound criminal complaints and/or warrant applications to ensure personnel safety, mission readiness, and national security meet mission objectives. ~OR~
2. Education: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. in a related field that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~
3. Combination: Successfully completed equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience which may be used to qualify for this position if the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, crawling, and similar activities. Performance of work may take place in attics, crawlspaces, walls, ceilings, and other limited access spaces, or in rough terrain. The work may require some common characteristics and abilities of physical agility and dexterity to work in confined spaces and to move or lift moderately heavy objects. The work environment involves frequent exposure to moderate risk situations, some discomforts, unpleasant working conditions, and adverse weather conditions e.g. hot, cold, dry and wet. Safety or security precautions sometimes are necessary, and the position may have to use appropriate clothing or gear. May be required to work long and irregular hours, on weekends, holidays, or at night, and change shifts and duty hours to conduct extensive criminal investigations.

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.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.


***PLEASE NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Applicants will be assessed through a structured, multi-phase evaluation process designed to determine their qualifications and suitability for the position of Criminal Investigator. The evaluation process includes the following phases:

Phase 1: Timed Virtual Written Examination
Eligible applicants will be invited to complete a timed, virtual, written examination. This assessment is designed to evaluate critical thinking, reading comprehension, and job-relevant knowledge. The exam must be completed as assigned and proctored by an agency representative. Instructions and login details will be provided via email.

Phase 2: Oral Panel Interview
Eligible applicants will be interviewed by 2-4 senior VA Police leaders with a determination of eligible/not eligible for further consideration.

Phase 3: Work Scenario-Based Interview
Applicants who pass the written examination will be scheduled for a work scenario-based interview. This structured interview will assess decision-making, judgment, communication, and problem-solving skills in situations commonly encountered by law enforcement personnel. This evaluation may include a sample written investigative report as provided by scenario materials provided to the applicant.

Post-Selection Requirement: Physical Fitness Test
Applicants who receive a tentative job offer will be required to successfully complete a timed Physical Fitness Test (PFT) prior to final appointment. The PFT consists of the following components that are standardized based on applicant specific factors:

• 1.5-mile run
• Push-ups
• Sit-ups

The physical fitness standards are based on job-related requirements and must be met to ensure readiness for the physical demands of the position.