Clarification from the agency

Current Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees in the competitive service who hold a non-temporary career or career-conditional appointment only.

This announcement will be used to fill GS-1811-15 supervisory and non-supervisory criminal investigator positions, as listed below, in various locations within the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Office of Professional Responsibility, and Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs.

If you are a current permanent GS-1811-15 Criminal Investigator, you are not required to apply to this USAJOBS announcement for consideration for a lateral position.
Please note, a temporary promotion to a GS-15 position is not considered a permanent GS-15 position.

Positions: Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC); Unit Chief; ICE Attache; ICE Deputy Attache; Liaison Officer (Non-Supervisory); Operations Chief - International; Operations Chief - Domestic. Selections will be based on the needs of the agency and availability of positions and funding.

As a GS-1811-15 criminal investigator, your responsibilities will vary based on the position (e.g., ASAC, Unit Chief) into which you are promoted. You will perform various duties such as:

• Serving as a principal assistant and advisor to the Deputy Special Agent in Charge and Special Agent in Charge, or other senior official, with respect to all operational and administrative activities within an area of responsibility.

• Directing and coordinating through subordinate supervisors the administrative, technical, and clerical work of employees engaged in national and international investigative programs and liaison activities.

• Determining the effectiveness of investigative techniques, recommending improvements, and developing and initiating procedures designed to improve processes and procedures.

• Providing administrative oversight, such as budget allocation, to an area of responsibility or other programmatic area.

• Establishing and maintaining liaison with other federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement and governmental agencies.

• Managing and overseeing complex national and international criminal investigations, resolving complex issues related to investigative activity, ensuring compliance with necessary policies, procedures, and legal frameworks.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Time in Grade: Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the Federal service. Time in grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
• This position may require the incumbent to be reassigned to a different geographic location. The incumbent will be required to sign a mobility agreement, which will remain in effect through the duration of the assignment.
• Supervisory Probationary Period: If selected for a Supervisory position under provisions of the Civil Service Reform Act, first time supervisors and/or managers will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
• This position requires the selectee to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, U.S.C. Section 022 (g)(9)).
• Convictions of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are disqualifying.
• Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess and maintain a valid automobile driver's license at the time of appointment.
• Previous experience in a primary (rigorous) law enforcement position (or equivalent outside the Federal Government) is a prerequisite.
• Work Conditions: Job requires physical strength and stamina due to long periods of surveillance, restraining suspects, and carrying heavy equipment. Environment includes work indoors/outdoors in a potentially dangerous and stressful situations.
• Foreign Language: Proficiency of host country language may be required. If language is a requirement, proficiency must be attained through successful completion of language training prior to assignment overseas or providing certification.
• Medical Requirements: You must be physically, emotionally, and mentally able to perform the duties of the position. You will be required to complete a physical to the satisfaction of the U.S. Department of State for international posts.

Qualifications

This Job Opportunity Announcement is for current and permanent GS-14 (including temporary GS-15) and former GS-15 ICE employees seeking a promotion to a GS1811-15 Criminal Investigator position.

By applying to this announcement, you will be considered for permanent promotions, temporary promotions, and detail positions. Some temporary promotions may be made permanent without further competition.

Certain positions under this announcement are subject to additional screening requirements (i.e., national security polygraph); additional regulations apply to some positions based on location (i.e., international posts).

Specialized experience is experience that equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled.

To qualify for the GS-15 grade level, you must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience at the GS-14 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Serving as a first line supervisor responsible for the administration, management, and execution of criminal investigative activities and personnel assigned to the field office or geographic location.
• Serving as a program manager for a Headquarters, HQ components, or field office program providing investigative input on national security and/or criminal investigations.
• Developing training and/or programs on criminal investigative techniques, methods and programmatic areas for presentation to employees, agency leadership, or other key stakeholders.
• Conducting and/or leading investigations regarding misconduct (criminal or administrative) of ICE personnel, their associates, contractors, and any other entity under ICE's investigative jurisdiction.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

In addition to meeting the eligibility and qualification requirements, candidates must either have a prior passing score for the HSI Supervisory Situational Judgement Test (SSJT), or complete and pass the SSJT in the specified timeframe as a requirement for placement on a Certificate of Eligibles. Candidates who do not meet the HSI SSJT assessment requirements will be removed from further consideration.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NON-COMPETITIVE CANDIATES: To be considered non-competitively, former GS-1811-15s must apply to this announcement and meet specialized experience requirements, as determined by a panel of subject matter experts (SMEs). Former or current GS-15s in other job series must apply and complete all assessments.

Supervisory Situational Judgment Test (SSJT)

• This pass/fail online assessment measures critical leadership and interpersonal skills; candidates have two (2) hours to complete it.
• Candidates who passed the SSJT from a prior SA-15 or SA-14 promotional announcement will NOT be required to re-take it.
• Candidates required to complete the SSJT will receive email invitations on or about May 15, 2026.

• Anticipated SSJT timeframe: May 15, 2026 - May 26, 2026.

A panel of subject matter experts is scheduled to meet in late June to review specialized experience for all candidates with a passing or prior passing SSJT result. Notification of results are anticipated after July.

If you have questions regarding the assessments or assessment process, please email SA15Promotion@ice.dhs.gov for further assistance.

All dates listed in this section are subject to change. While every attempt will be made to adhere to the dates listed above, there may be instances in which a change is required. Issues encountered with assessment completion must be reported before the assessment window closes in order to be considered and/or addressed for this promotional cycle.

Overseas Assignments Offer Various Allowances - Special Notes: ICE

Attache

or Deputy Attache

• These are overseas limited term assignments.
• The initial tour for this position may be up to three (3) years as designated by the U.S. Department of State, not to exceed five (5) years or maximum total ten (10) years. Upon completion of the assignment, selectee will return to the U.S. to a similar position and grade as that held prior to this assignment and/or apply to another position.
• This assignment may be terminated or extended at any time depending on the needs of the agency.
• Allowance of Post Hardship Differential Pay, Special Needs Differential, Relocation Incentive Pay, Cost of Living, Danger or Retention pay may be included depending on overseas locations.
• Selectee must successfully complete pre-employment clearance and all phases of the pre-deployment process which include issuance of passport/and or visa (if applicable), medical clearance, mandatory pre-departure (if applicable), and security overseas training.

Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the lowest and highest potential salaries for this position. The actual salary range will be based on the applicable locality pay for the selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.
These are non-bargaining unit positions.

These are non-bargaining unit positions.

Locations: While the locations for this announcement are identified as location negotiable after selection, duty locations that are available and will be offered will be based on needs of the agency and no specific location is guaranteed.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

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.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

All candidates (including non-competitive candidates and those with prior passing results) must clearly demonstrate in their 2-page resume how they meet the specialized experience and will be reviewed to ensure specialized experience requirements listed for this job are met. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

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.

Candidates who meet the specialized experience and have a passing score for the SSJT assessment will be placed on a Certificate of Eligibles.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Interviews may be required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Candidates are solely responsible for the responses and documentation submitted in their online application. Responses cannot be altered once the announcement has closed.

Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564, and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions (testing designated positions) are subject to random drug testing. Moreover, other drug testing of employees (e.g., reasonable suspicion drug test) may be conducted in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. All applicants tentatively selected for employment at ICE are subject to pre-employment drug testing and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result.