Clarification from the agency

This is a status announcement and is open to current and former Federal employees, Veterans, individuals with disabilities (Schedule A) as well as CTAP/ICTAP and qualified military spouses . Documentation is required to support all status claims.

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Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized for highly qualified candidates.

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: Schedule is generally Monday- Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. However, this can vary with a need for after hours and on call situations.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Criminal Investigator/PD99702S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not 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)

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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)

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, 02/20/2026.

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/education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
• Investigating serious crimes and complex misdemeanors.
• Utilizing an extensive array of standardized, optional, and innovative investigation procedures, techniques and methods to detect, investigate, and resolve crimes and other activities that are beyond the scope or requirements for solutions associated with standard patrol assignments.
• Acting as liaison officer and facilitating the investigations of other Federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel involved in the investigation and disposition of major crimes.
• Collecting and using forensic evidence to solve crimes and support court cases against criminals.
• Analyzing, evaluating, and advising on law enforcement delivery systems and operations, as well as assessing the productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency of the activities and operations.
• Coordinating and/or participate in a taskforce or other team to conduct highly complex, difficult and sensitive criminal, civil and administrative investigations involving alleged misconduct, criminal activity and/or corruption.

~OR~

EDUCATION: Have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M. in field a directly related to this position being filled (such as criminal law, criminal justice, etc.). NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
~OR~

COMBINATION:
Have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.


You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Arrest
• Criminal Investigation
• Criminal Law
• Forensics

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: This position is rigorous and physically demanding, meets the definition of a "Rigorous Position" contained in 5 CFR 842.802,
1)Having direct contact with, and frequently pursuing and detaining, persons who are suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States.
2) Carrying a firearm and exposure to hazards or danger.
3) interviewing witnesses, interrogating suspects, and giving Miranda and other rights warnings when appropriate.
4) Working long periods without a break, which may require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving considerable walking, long periods of standing, frequent bending or lifting, and occasional climbing; and,
5) Being on-call 24 hours a day. The incumbent must meet certain physical qualifications and shall maintain a high standard of physical condition, enabling the incumbent to work long and/or irregular hours under adverse conditions.

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/.

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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.