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CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR

Department of Commerce
Bureau of Industry and Security
Office of Enforcement Analysis

Summary

This vacancy is for a CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR in the Export Control Officers Divisions (ECO, Office of Enforcement Analysis (OEA), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement (EE) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the Department of Commerce.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/17/2026 to 04/24/2026
Salary
$143,913 - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% 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
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
BIS-OEE-DHA-26-12937364
Control number
865629300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is being advertised under Direct-Hire Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking and veterans' preference procedures do not apply.

Duties

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Aa a CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR, you will perform the following duties:

  • Conducts and supports criminal investigations involving potential violations of U.S. export control laws and regulations, including analyzing evidence, developing investigative leads, and assisting in enforcement actions.
  • Plans and coordinates investigative and enforcement activities in support of Export Control Officer (ECO) operations, including end-use checks, international outreach, and compliance verification efforts.
  • Collaborates with domestic and international law enforcement partners, foreign governments, and interagency stakeholders to support investigations and prevent the illegal transfer of sensitive U.S. technologies.
  • Applies criminal investigative techniques and methodologies, including surveillance, records analysis, and evidence development, to support complex investigations related to export enforcement.
  • Develops and implements policies, procedures, and program initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of export enforcement programs and ensure alignment with national security and regulatory requirements.
  • Prepares investigative reports, briefings, and analytical products to support leadership decision-making, case development, and enforcement strategies.
This position is approved for primary law enforcement retirement coverage under 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). Must maintain requirements to qualify for LEO retirement coverage (5 USC 8336(c) and 5 USC 8412(d)).

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR GS-1811-14, positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • This position requires a TOP SECRET/SCI CLEARANCE: Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before the selectee can be placed in the position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
  • A probationary period may be required.
  • Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will not be paid
  • License required: Yes, Valid State Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
  • Drug Test Required: Yes, this position is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter.
  • Pre-employment physical required: Yes, all applicants tentatively selected for this position must successfully pass all required physical/medical examinations prior to appointment. Selectee must be able to successfully pass, as applicable, annual and periodic physical/medical examinations, and psychological screenings to maintain a level of physical fitness in accordance with the standards and policies of this agency.
  • Mobile Workforce: You will be expected to work "on the road" meaning from and/or out of their vehicles; work from and/or out of non-traditional locations; work in-transit from either aircraft or motor vehicle.
  • Mobility Agreement: Youmust sign a mobility agreement to accept, on direction of the Director of the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), assignment to any one of OEE's offices.

Qualifications

Firearms: This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency and successfully pass periodic firearm qualifications. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition in accordance with 18 USC 922 (Lautenberg Amendment). Applicants for the Criminal Investigator position who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not eligible for employment.

Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, USC Section 992(g)). A felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is generally defined under the statute as any offense involving the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent, or guardian. The term convicted, as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set aside, or pardoned, or any person whose civil rights have been restored, so long as such restoration does not restrict the shipping, transport, possession or receipt of firearms or ammunition. Candidates convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statutes are not eligible for the position.

Individual Occupational Requirements - Medical Requirements: The duties in this position 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, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning for applicants to perform their 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. As measured by an audiometer, hearing loss 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 unqualifying.

AND

In addition to meeting Individual Occupational Requirements, candidates must also meet the additional specialized experience requirement.


Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

  • Conducting criminal investigations using investigative techniques involving the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information related to suspected violations of export controls and other national security regulations;
  • Leading operational efforts to target the illicit procurement of dual use technology, including teams that include Criminal Investigators and other staff;
  • Leading and coordinating operations, surveillance activities, and other operational missions critical in support of national security; and/or
  • Supporting the issuance of criminal investigation-related guidance to field components regarding procedures, techniques, and methods.

Education

There is no positive education requirement for this position.

NOTE:
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

Additional information

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

  1. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
  2. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
  3. Military Spouse Non-Competitive Hiring Authority

ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

Military Spouse The spouse of a member of the armed forces seeking eligibility under the non-competitive hiring authority of certain military spouse MUST submit various required documentation by the closing date of the announcement in accordance with one of the three below eligibilities:

  • 1.) Spouse of a member of the armed forces serving on active duty,
  • 2.) Spouse of service member who incurred a 100% disability, or
  • 3.) Un-remarried widow or widower of a service member killed while performing active duty. Please review the "Required Documents" Section for specific documents pertaining to each of the above eligibilities that MUST be included with your application, if you are applying as a Military Spouse.


Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): Incumbent is required to work an average of two or more LEAP hours per scheduled workday, which may include evenings, nights and weekends. The incumbent is subject to work unscheduled duty hours and must be available for unscheduled duty based upon the needs of the Agency. Therefore, the incumbent is eligible for LEAP of an additional 25% and is subject to the provisions of the LEAP Act of 1994.

Maximum Entry Age: This position is covered by the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement Officers (FLEO). FLEO must retire at age 57 upon completing 20 years of law enforcement service. If 20 years of service are not attained at age 57, mandatory retirement is required upon completion of 20 years of service. The day immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday is the last date for original appointment to a position as a law enforcement officer. This requirement does not apply to a) Preference-eligible veterans; OR b) Individuals who have previously served in a Federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. Section 8336 (c) provisions. Maximum entry-age requirement may be waived.

Telework: Criminal Investigators in the Office of Export Enforcement are not eligible for telework.

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.

Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority (DHA), rating, ranking and veterans' preference does not apply. While veterans' preference does not apply in DHA, preference eligibles are encouraged to submit their supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.).

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., two-page resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire and the result of the Structured Interview required for this position.

Applicants who meet the qualification requirements, as defined in the job opportunity announcement, will be referred for selection consideration.

For Certain Military Spouses: All applicants who meet the qualification requirements and military spouse noncompetitive eligibility requirements (see "Additional Information" section above") will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration on a separate referral list. While veterans' preference is not a consideration when filling positions under the military spouse non-competitive hiring authority, preference eligibles are encouraged to submit their supporting documentation (DD-214, stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.).

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The technical assessment will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

  • Technical Competence
  • Leadership
  • Partnership
  • Criminal Investigation
Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application. If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration.
  • Classified or government sensitive information
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Photos of yourself
  • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
To preview the questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12937364

Bureau of Industry and Security

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) advances U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives by ensuring an effective export control and treaty compliance system, and by promoting continued U.S. leadership in strategic technologies. BIS accomplishes its mission by maintaining and strengthening adaptable, efficient, effective export controls and treaty compliance systems, along with active leadership and involvement in international export control regimes.

Agency contact information

Johnetta Young
Email
JYoung@doc.gov
Address
Bureau of Industry and Security
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
US

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