This position is located in the Government Accountability Office. As an Investigative Director you will be responsible for directing the Forensic Audits and Investigative Service (FAIS) investigations staff who are responsible for conducting congressional oversight investigations of alleged violations of federal criminal law and investigations of waste, fraud, and abuse.
Summary
This position is located in the Government Accountability Office. As an Investigative Director you will be responsible for directing the Forensic Audits and Investigative Service (FAIS) investigations staff who are responsible for conducting congressional oversight investigations of alleged violations of federal criminal law and investigations of waste, fraud, and abuse.
As an Investigative Director, ES-1811-00, your typical work assignments may include the following:
Provides executive direction of FAIS's investigative activities, which are performed by criminal investigators. The Investigative Director ensures activities are cost effective, exemplify GAO's core values, align with GAO's strategic goals, and are conducted in accordance with GAO's policies and applicable quality standards. These investigative activities are conducted in close collaboration with auditors/analysts, data analysts, investigative research analysts, methodologists, counsel, and support staff.
Identifies investigative priorities in coordination with the FAIS Managing Director and monitors progress toward annual and strategic goals, evaluates outcomes, and makes appropriate adjustments. This also includes contributing to performance measures for GAO's work, such as timeliness and financial/non- financial accomplishments.
Oversees investigations and identifies potential violations of criminal law as well as systemic and programmatic vulnerabilities within a variety of government programs. Provides leadership and oversight of staff conducting investigative activities to help ensure quality and timely client service.
Coordinates investigative activities with GAO auditors/analysts to maximize resources and leverage available expertise within GAO. As appropriate, coordinates investigative activities with entities outside GAO such as IG Offices and law enforcement agencies.
Provides executive oversight of GAO's FraudNet hotline.
You must meet all qualification requirements before the announcement closes.
1.You must be a U.S. citizen
2. You will be required to submit a financial disclosure statement.
3. You must be suitable for a top secret security clearance.
4. Registered for Selective Service, if applicable. (www.sss.gov).
5. Completion of a 1-year supervisory SES probationary period.
6. Medical and Physical Examinations are required.
7. Selectee must have and be able to maintain a valid state driver's license.
8. This position requires that the selectee has successfully completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) https://www.fletc.gov/criminal-investigator-training-program or an equivalent program, such as the program offered to agents from the FBI, DEA and Postal Inspection Service.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:The Senior Executive Service (SES) appointments require one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band/grade at the GS-14/GS-15 level, PE band level III, PT band levels III and IV, MS band levels I and II, Senior Executive Service, Senior Level (SL), or equivalent in the Federal Service, or comparable private/public sector.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): The ECQs assess executive experience and potential. They measure whether you have the executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of Senior Executive Service positions. ECQs can be submitted outside of the resume as additional documentation. Please address the following ECQs listed below.
Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organizations vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
Building Coalitions: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
Technical Qualifications:All applicants must meet the Mandatory Technical Competency and Executive Core Qualification requirements listed below to be eligible for consideration. Eligibility will be based on a clear demonstration that the applicants training, and experience are of the scope, quality, and level of responsibility sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this executive position.
TQ-1: Criminal Investigation - Experience with knowledge of the guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with criminal investigation, including evidence detection and handling and drawing appropriate factual inferences and conclusions.
TQ-2: Criminal Law - Experience with expert knowledge of state and federal criminal laws, including procedures, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to admissibility of evidence and prosecution.
TQ-3: Investigative Techniques - Experience with the range of techniques (including undercover operations) and the associated technologies that can be used to investigate potential violations of criminal law, as well as conduct vulnerability and controls testing.
TQ-4: Program Management - Experience managing a program responsible for criminal fraud investigations and developing reports to pursue action against fraud, waste, and abuse.
TQ-5: Collaboration - Experience in working with professionals from other disciplines in conducting investigations, such as accountants, auditors, hotline managers, and others.
TQ-6: Policy Development - Experience in evaluating and implementing organizational law enforcement policy, procedures, and directives that communicate organizational priorities.
*NOTE*:For current SES applicants or applicants who have previously held an SES appointment, ECQs can be resume based.
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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
The selectee must pass a pre-appointment medical examination by an authorized government physician and meet the physical requirements for this position as required by this agency.
The duties of position in this series require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing 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.
LEAP
This position is not covered by the provisions of Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP). As such, this position will not receive additional premium pay.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Update your resume so it meets new resume requirements
Starting on September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying to a job. What is required in the resume?
Resumes submitted for federal jobs are required to have:
Contact Information-your name and the best way to contact you.
Relevant work experience-Job experience should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how your previous work experience relates to and helps you meet the required qualifications in the GAO job announcement to which you are applying.
Education, certifications or licensures-If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure you include the required information on the resume.
OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL SELECTIONS: Based on the staffing needs, additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.
This is not a bargaining unit position.
Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid for by the GAO.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov.The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
If you meet the qualification requirements stated above, you will be further rated based on your responses to the vacancy questions. Please make sure that your responses to the vacancy questions are supported in your resume. Please follow all instructions carefully. If you provide incomplete answers, fail to provide a narrative response to any vacancy question(s) that requires further explanation, or if your response to a vacancy question is "see resume", your rating may be affected, or you may be determined ineligible. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), Technical Qualifications (TQs) and resume.If you do not meet the key requirements and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You must provide a complete application package which includes:
Resume: must be created using the USAJOBS resume builder and show relevant work experience.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): Required for applicants who not current SES employees and/or who has never held an SES appointment. Current SES appointees, ECQ's are resume based.
SF-50:Current GAO employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) showing tenure, type of service (competitive/excepted), as well as the highest grade/band held.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact Stephanie Ayton at aytons@gao.gov or 404-679-1879 by 4 p.m. est. on the closing date of the announcement.
For technical issue with USAJOBS: Please refer to the USAJOBS help page.
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US
Next steps
After the closing date of this announcement, GAO's Human Capital Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications by reviewing your assessment questionnaire and resume to complete an analysis. Please be as complete and thorough as possible. If your application is rated "best-qualified," your name will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. At this point you may be contacted for an interview.
If you do not meet the key requirements and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
You must provide a complete application package which includes:
Resume: must be created using the USAJOBS resume builder and show relevant work experience.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): Required for applicants who not current SES employees and/or who has never held an SES appointment. Current SES appointees, ECQ's are resume based.
SF-50:Current GAO employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) showing tenure, type of service (competitive/excepted), as well as the highest grade/band held.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact Stephanie Ayton at aytons@gao.gov or 404-679-1879 by 4 p.m. est. on the closing date of the announcement.
For technical issue with USAJOBS: Please refer to the USAJOBS help page.
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US
Next steps
After the closing date of this announcement, GAO's Human Capital Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications by reviewing your assessment questionnaire and resume to complete an analysis. Please be as complete and thorough as possible. If your application is rated "best-qualified," your name will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. At this point you may be contacted for an interview.
If you do not meet the key requirements and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
