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Lead Criminal Investigator (CDI Unit Team Leader)

Social Security Administration
Office of the Inspector General (OIG) - Office of Investigations (OI)

Summary

Serves as a Special Agent in the SSA Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Cooperative Disability Investigations Division with responsibility for planning, conducting, and coordinating investigations related to fraud, waste, and abuse in SSA's disability programs and operations. Investigative oversight includes wrongdoing by applicants, grantees, contractors, or by SSA employees in the performance of their official duties, and investigations of violations of the U.S. Code.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/30/2026 to 04/08/2026
Salary
$106,437 - $138,370 per year

This position includes an additional Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) of 25%. Salary varies by location.

Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
11 vacancies in the following locations:
Birmingham, AL
Little Rock, AR
Washington, DC
Des Moines, IA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
SSA-12920473-MP26-OIG
Control number
862775100

Duties

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  • Independently conducts investigations into criminal and non-criminal cases pursuant to Agency legislation and regulations, and general policies and procedures.
  • Conducts comprehensive research and analysis of cases to determine the applicable laws and the implementing regulations which were violated, and the proof required to support such cases and methods of obtaining them.
  • Plans, coordinates, and initiates contacts with Federal, State, and local officials; and other key officials related to matters under investigation.
  • Plans and conducts interviews with suspects, witnesses, and informants in case development.
  • Serves search warrants and subpoenas; searches crime scenes for evidence; and participates with other law enforcement agencies as required.
  • Prepares interim and comprehensive final investigative reports for prosecutive and management officials.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Selective Service Registration: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov
  • Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background/security investigation results.
  • Federal employees must have a successful performance rating.
  • Selectees may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
  • This position is designated as mobile work. Mobile work means work that is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite such as a home or office.
  • Selectees may be required to sign a mobility agreement.
  • Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
  • Requests for copies of application documents will not be accepted.
  • All application forms submitted become the property of SSA Human Resources.
  • All application materials must be received by the closing date.
  • Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required
  • Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement

Qualifications

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.

WHO MAY APPLY: Applications will only be accepted from applicants eligible for one of the following categories.

  • Federal employees currently serving under career or career conditional appointments;
  • Federal employees currently serving under the following types of appointments: Schedule A, Reg. 213.3102 (U) appointments for individuals with disabilities.
  • Former Federal employees eligible for reinstatement (i.e., those who have career status or separated from a career-conditional appointment less than 3 years ago).
  • Current or former Federal employees eligible under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) Eligibles (i.e., Preference-eligible veterans OR veterans who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous service).
  • Federal employees serving under excepted service appointments with competitive service compatibility (e.g., Postal Service, Foreign Service, an agency with an interchange agreement, etc.) may be eligible to apply. Please visit Excepted Service Appointments with Competitive Service Compatibility for more information.
  • Spouse of a member of the armed forces serving on active duty, a spouse of a 100 percent disabled service member injured while on active duty, or the un-remarried widow or widower of a service member who was killed while performing active duty.
Note: Excepted service employees serving under Schedule A appointments for Attorney positions or Pathways Programs appointments (Presidential Management Fellows, Recent Graduates, and Interns) are not eligible for consideration.

HOW TO QUALIFY: Eligible applicants must meet the following qualification requirements

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-12 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience must include One of the following:
(1) Leading and managing a personal caseload containing multiple independent criminal investigations;
(2) Testifying during criminal judicial proceedings (for example, grand jury, evidentiary hearings, trials);
(3) Coordinating with prosecutors to present cases for prosecution, determine legal courses of action, or prepare for legal proceedings.

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

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at GS-12.

Time in grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: If you are a current Federal employee eligible under VEOA, you are subject to the time-in-grade requirement and must submit an SF-50 as required above.

Additionally, the Law Enforcement (1811) series has the following qualification requirements:
  • Tentative selectee(s) must pass a pre-appointment physical examination. 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, 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 themselves or others is disqualifying.
  • Tentative selectee(s) will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment unless currently an SSA employee occupying a position already in a random drug testing program. Appointment to the position is contingent upon a negative test result. After appointment the employee will be included in the agency's random drug test program.
  • This position is subject to the Lautenberg Amendment/Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968.
  • The selected employee will not be made a final offer of employment until after we receive notice of a successful background investigation, drug test, and medical physical.
  • Selectee will be required to pass firearms qualification and may be required to carry a firearm.
  • The selectee will be required to attend a course of instruction on the proper use of Oleoresin Capsicum spray (OCS), which is the oily resin of pepper. This instruction includes being exposed to OCS so that knowledge of its effects can be gained.
  • This position is covered by the special retirement provision for Federal Law Enforcement Officers (FLEO). Selectee without previous FLEO service must be at least 21 years of age and not yet 37 years of age or older on the date of appointment.
  • Selectee newly assigned to the Criminal Investigator position MUST successfully complete the 12-week Criminal Investigator Program training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia.
  • This position is designated as a mobile work position. Mobile work means work that is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite such as a home or office. It is different from telework and/or remote work. 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).
  • Selectee must sign a mobility agreement to accept relocation to other geographic locations if required by the agency.

Education

There is no Educational Requirement for this position.

Additional information

This is a non-bargaining unit position to be filled under the provisions of the Management Officials Promotion Plan. The best-qualified list for this vacancy may be used to fill the same or similar positions in a component(s) under the same Deputy Commissioner. Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date the best qualified list is issued.

LOCALITY PAY: Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Candidates currently receiving a higher locality pay than the office applied for are advised that should they be selected, they will lose entitlement to the higher locality pay. Pay will be set based on locality for location selected. Please visit pay tables by location for Law Enforcement Officers to view locality pay tables.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests:If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request an RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

OTHER NOTES:

The selectee will be required to file an OGE form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, in accordance with 5 CFR section 2634, subpart i.

This position is not eligible for telework.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

This position is designated as a mobile work position. Mobile work means work that is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite such as a home or office. It is different from telework and/or remote work. 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).

This is a critical sensitive position. The selected employee will be required to complete a Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions, in order to have the appropriate investigation conducted, unless the employee has been previously certified eligible to occupy a position at this level.

NOTE: If you are a current Federal employee (non-SSA) applying under VEOA, you must submit a performance appraisal or explanation(s) as required above.

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.

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the online assessments completed during the application process. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Knowledge of the laws, principles, and procedures used in apprehending a criminal suspect, including policies for pursuit and reasonable use of force.
  • Knowledge of the guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with managing an investigation; knowledge of how to develop, coordinate, execute, monitor, and evaluate an investigative process to ensure a successful outcome.
  • Knowledge of Federal, State, local, and tribal criminal laws, including procedures, regulations, and guidelines governing investigations and prosecution.
  • Knowledge of laws, policies, and techniques related to interviewing individuals, including advice of rights (e.g., Miranda, Kalkines, Garrity).
  • Knowledge of methods for gathering information to make determinations, developing new sources of information, analyzing information, and drawing factual inferences; knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures for conducting criminal, civil, or administrative investigations.
Applicants will be assessed using the rating criteria listed in the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12920473
The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. Cheating on the online assessment may result in your removal from consideration

Social Security Administration

Do you have a desire to:

  • help SSA manage its Social Security programs?
  • analyze and solve problems?
  • help and advise millions of retired and disabled individuals?
  • work on a team to make a difference in people's lives and your own?
Join SSA, one of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government!

Agency contact information

Careers at SSA
Phone
000-000-0000
Email
Careers@ssa.gov
Address
OIG
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Social Security Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.ssa.gov/careers/

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