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Supervisory Investigator (Area Director)

Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Summary

You will serve as a Supervisory Investigator/Area Director. You will work have managerial authority for planning, directing, and coordinating investigations of violations of federal laws and regulations falling within APHIS jurisdiction in a multi-state or assigned geographic area within the region. You will provide assistance, advice, and counsel to the Field Operations Director, Deputy Field Operations Director, headquarters staff, senior management, and field Investigators.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/24/2026 to 03/02/2026
Salary
$106,437 to - $172,980 per year

Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.

Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Remain in current duty station except National Capital Region
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
MP-12889778-26-ER
Control number
857916200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted only from current permanent APHIS employees with competitive and noncompetitive status, and CTAP/RPL eligibles.

Duties

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  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Oversees and coordinates investigative support during special joint investigations and in emergency task force, incident command, and quick response situations.
  • Reviews, assesses, and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of investigation activities in the assigned area in order to promote uniformity and quality throughout the area.
  • Represents the office in meetings and conferences with other federal agencies, state and local government officials, and industry groups in the regulated community to encourage cooperation.
  • Participates as a member of the extended Leadership Team in developing national policies and procedures.
  • Assists in evaluating budgetary, technological, and human resource needs to effectively support program operations, and recommends staffing and funding levels.
  • Provides managerial liaison in cross-jurisdictional cases, oversees intelligence-gathering initiatives, and oversees investigative activities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • May need to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
  • Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
  • In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.
  • All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
  • The incumbent must also be able to obtain and maintain a Non-Critical-Sensitive (NCS) National security clearance because of access to Secret classified information which typically involves matters of extreme sensitivity.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

  • Planning, coordinating, and conducting complex investigations concerning violations of federal laws and regulations governing the international and interstate movement of livestock, poultry, and agricultural products.
  • Conducting field investigations in collaboration with internal and external government agencies.
  • Providing technical leadership and guidance to lower-grade investigators regarding investigatory techniques and the resolution of jurisdictional conflicts with other enforcement entities.
Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

There is no education requirement.

Additional information

  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL). Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL, eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
  • First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
  • Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
  • Significant travel, likely in excess of 50 percent of the work schedule, is required. Travel may be required with little or no advance notice.
  • If selected for this position, you will remain in your current official duty station of record unless you are in the National Capital Region. Selectees with a current duty station in the National Capital Region defined as the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George's Counties of Maryland; Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties of Virginia and all cities and towns included within the outer boundaries of those counties will need a new duty station established prior to entrance on duty. Selectees located anywhere else will not be able to voluntarily change their duty station as part of this selection process.
  • This position involves Mobile Work: Mobile work is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite. Examples of mobile work include site audits, site inspections, investigations, property management, and work performed while commuting, traveling between worksites, or on Temporary Duty (TDY).

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.

Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements. Your resume must address experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12889778

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