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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR

Department of the Navy
Secretary of the Navy Offices (SECNAV)

Summary

This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will not be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants must follow the directions in the "How to Apply" section of this flyer to be considered. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer. Notice of Result letters will not be sent to applicants who respond to this flyer.

Overview

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Open & closing dates
02/09/2026 to 02/11/2026
This job will close when we have received 500 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$48,854 to - $140,426 per year

Base Salary-$48,854 (GL-07, Step 1) to $118,204 (GS-13, Step 10)

Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 13
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Yuma County, AZ
Camp Pendleton, CA
Lemoore, CA
Naval Station Complex, San Diego, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
DE-12880809-26-ARS
Control number
856878400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. CITIZENS

Duties

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  • You will recognize, develop, and present evidence to reconstruct events, sequences, time elements, relationships, responsibilities, legal liabilities, and conflicts of interest.
  • You will conduct investigations in a manner meeting legal and procedural requirements.
  • You will provide advice and assistance both in and out of court to Military JAG and U.S. Attorney’s Office during investigations and prosecutions.
  • You will utilize knowledge of criminal investigative techniques.
  • You will handle evidence in accordance with the rules of criminal procedures, laws, and precedent court decisions including constitutional rights for search and seizure.
  • You will have knowledge of pertinent statutes, regulations, policies, and guidelines, including the Code of Federal Regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice for criminal investigations.
  • You will interview witnesses, victims, and suspects.
  • You will utilize criminal investigative techniques to conduct searches and crime scene documentation.
  • You will utilize additional techniques, such as protective surveys and assignments, surveillance, and undercover work.
  • You will collaborate with various jurisdictions, including local, federal, and foreign areas of operation to include coordination for protective operations.
  • You will provide protective support for designated personnel and other U.S. and foreign dignitaries.
  • You will develop and maintain sources of information.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a US Citizen.
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
  • Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
  • New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Be at least age 21 at the time of application and less than age 37 at the time you receive a conditional offer of employment unless you have previous service in a Federal Civilian Law Enforcement position.
  • You must have vision correctable to 20/20 with normal color vision.
  • You must pass a background suitability screening.
  • You must pass a polygraph examination.
  • You must pass a medical examination.
  • You must successfully pass a pre-employment drug test.
  • You must sign a mobility agreement.
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance.
  • You must have a valid driver’s license.
  • You must sign a DD-Form-2760, Qualification to possess firearms or ammunition.
  • Occasional Travel is required for this position.
  • You must successfully complete the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), which includes mandatory physical fitness standards, as a condition of continued employment.

Qualifications

GL/GS-07 :Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GL/GS-05 level or pay band in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that includes performing the following duties:

- Collecting and organizing information from various sources;
- Writing details reports, summaries, or papers that present factual findings of a specific purpose;
- Researching, collecting and analyzing data from a variety of sources relating to investigator;
-Assisting in investigationsof alleged or suspected violations of law;
- Assisting on structured inquiries, reviews, or projects that require analyzing information to identify facts or discrepancies.

GL-09: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GL/GS-07 level or pay band in the Federal service(experience may have been gained in the private sector) that includes performing the following duties:


-Experience gathering and documenting facts from various sources and producing detailed written reports;
- Assisting in investigations of alleged or suspected violations of law;
- Experience analyzing records, data, or systems to identify discrepancies, patterns, or compliance issues;
- Experience conducting structured interviews or inquiries to gather information from people;
- Consolidating gathered information to produce a detailed report that presents evidence-based findings and supports a final conclusion or recommendation for action.

GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least theGL/GS-09level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrate your ability in the following:

- Experience conducting or supporting federal criminal investigations in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies.
-Independent Project Management: Experience independently planning and executing multi-step projects or inquiries from start to finish.
- Complex Data Synthesis: Experience managing and synthesizing multiple streams of information (e.g., records, interviews, open-source data) to produce a comprehensive analytical product

GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, demonstrating leadership and expertise in planning and conducting complex criminal investigations. This experience must include tasks such as:

- Experience serving as the lead investigator on felony-level cases (e.g., homicide, sexual assault, major fraud, espionage).
- Experience applying advanced investigative techniques, such as court-authorized electronic surveillance.
- Experience developing cases for federal prosecution and presenting evidence to a U.S. Attorney's Office.
- Experience applying provisions from the UCMJ, U.S. Code, and international law to investigations.

GS-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level that demonstrates mastery of the investigative field and the ability to operate at a strategic level. This experience must include tasks such as:

- Strategic Management: Planning and managing large-scale, multi-jurisdictional, or transnational investigations.
- Policy Development: Developing or influencing agency-wide investigative policies, procedures, or doctrine.
- Expert Consultation: Providing expert technical advice to senior leadership on critical law enforcement operations.
- Advanced Intelligence Fusion: Collecting and analyzing operational and strategic intelligence from a wide range of sources, including federal, state, local, military, and foreign government partners.

Education

Qualifications:NCIS is seeking a diverse pool of applicants who demonstrate a strong balance of education, life experience, and commitment. Stand-out skills such as fluency in critical languages (e.g., Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Korean) or a background in STEM fields or specialized experience in aviation are highly desirable. Current Special Agents (1811) with documented experience, can generally be hired at their current pay level. Applicants will be evaluated for the appropriate grade level (GS-7 to GS-13) based on the scope and complexity of your specialized experience and education.

The following criteria identifies preferred education and experience for best qualified ranking:

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (preferably in computer technology, forensics, criminal justice, and information technology)
  • Federal Investigative Experience: Possess a minimum of three (3) years of federal investigative experience. This must include service as a credentialed member of a Military Criminal Investigative Organization (MCIO) while on active duty.
  • Federal Law Enforcement Officer (1811): Current employment as a federal law enforcement officer holding an 1811 job series classification, as evidenced by an official Standard Form (SF) 50.
  • Successful completion of a basic criminal investigator training program at an academy accredited by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation (FLETA). Examples include, but are not limited to, the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), FBI Academy, DEA Academy, and the US Army CIDSAC.
GL/GS-07: SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: The experience requirement for the GL-7 level may be met by one full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to successfully perform the duties of the position OR
SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (SAA): Applicants who have completed (or expect to complete within 6 months) all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related competencies necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position. Courses should emphasize the development of skills in teamwork, problem-solving, decision-making, flexibility, oral communication, interpersonal relations, and/or self-management.
Eligibility for Upcoming Graduates: Senior students who are currently enrolled in a degree program and expect to complete all graduation requirements within 6 months of the closing date of this announcement, may be considered for a GL-7 appointment based on their grades at the time of application. To be considered:
  • At the time of application, senior students must provide documentation confirming an expected graduation date AND;
  • Prior to entry on duty, provide evidence that they maintained the required grades during their senior year.
Failure to provide proof of graduation within the required timeframe OR failure to maintain the required grades through their senior year, may result in removal from consideration.

S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership:
  • Class Standing: Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class, based on completed courses;
  • Grade Point Average: Applicants must have a grade point average of:
    • 3.0 or higher: Based on 4 years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR
  • 3.5 or higher: Based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR
  • Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society: Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.
GL-09: SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2-full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
GS-11: SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Have a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leader to a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or LL.M, if related;
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Additional information

LOCALITY PAY WILL BE CALCULATED BASED UPON GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AVAILABILITY PAY (LEAP) UP TO 25% WILL BE CALCULATED BASED UPON THE FINAL RATE OF PAY (BASE AND LOCALITY PAY)

Announcement will close upon receipt of Maximum 500 applications.


This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.

The position advertised has been exempted from the federal civilian hiring freeze.

Several vacancies may be filled.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf.

Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application as described in the Required Documents section below.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Resumes are restricted to no more than 2 pages. Illegible/unreadable resumes will not be considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.

As vacancies occur, the Human Resources Office will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this flyer. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume, along with your supporting documentation.

If selected, you may be required to provide additional supporting documentation.

If after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible/not qualified.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

All qualification requirements must be met before being considered for any vacancies.

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