Clarification from the agency

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Verification form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. No other documents will be accepted as proof of Indian Preference.

• Responsible for the overall development and management of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Internal Affairs program whose primary responsibility is to review and investigate all external and internal complaints against BIA/Tribal law enforcement officers, detention officers and non-commissioned staff. Ensure all investigations are properly conducted and documented within prescribed guidelines regarding time-frames, deadlines, formats, and submitted to the proper jurisdictional authorities for disciplinary action, prosecution or further action, to include exoneration, along with development and management of the Background Investigation Unit with responsibility to conduct employment suitability investigations for tribal law enforcement and correction personnel and communication of results to BIA-OJS and Tribal leadership.
• Directly supervise and manage Supervisory Criminal Investigators, Non-Supervisory criminal investigators, and administrative support personnel. Daily supervision includes managing a federal criminal investigation program by overseeing the following: Intake and Classification of all complaints, assign and monitor the progress of internal affairs investigations, provide proper guidance to Supervisory Criminal Investigators (that promote completion of thorough investigations and produce quality investigative reports that meet required time frames and deadlines), and develop and implement communication strategies with BIA-OJS District Offices and Tribal Leadership on the status of investigations and patterns of misconduct. Other responsibilities include: evaluate performance standards of Supervisory Criminal Investigators and Criminal Investigators, assign duty schedules, grant leave, implement corrective action on employees with performance deficiencies, resolve complaints, and identify training needs.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with Federal, local, state, and Tribal law enforcement agencies regarding complaints of misconduct, status of internal affairs investigations, responses to internal affairs complaints, internal affairs training, and patterns of misconduct.
• Testify in Federal, tribal, and state courts on criminal matters arising from internal affairs investigations, federal civil litigation, and at personnel disciplinary/adverse personnel hearings.
• Plan, organize, coordinate and recommend national internal affairs policy/training initiatives and/or changes as a result of systemic problems identified during internal affairs investigations throughout Indian country.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated
• A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• Incumbent is required to operate a government motor vehicle, must possess a valid driver's license, and have a safe driving record within the 4 year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607.
• Selectees must pass a pre-employment medical examination and may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine if they are maintaining the fitness standards for this position.
• Drug Testing. This position is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• You must meet the qualifications and be certified to carry a firearm. You will need to maintain firearm proficiency.
• This position has been approved for Secondary Law Enforcement Retirement Coverage. Please see Qualifications section for eligibility information.
• Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: This position is subject to a financial disclosure requirement, and you will be required to complete either OGE Form 278e or OGE Form 450 as applicable within 30 days of your appointment

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-14: 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 grade level managing and supervising uniformed police and criminal investigators involved with operations; planning, organizing, and administering activities for a law enforcement organization to include management of human and financial resources; representing an organization among different jurisdictions; and formulating and revising law enforcement policies and guidelines.

FIREARMS REQUIREMENT: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child; or 8) convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: 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, 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.

NOTE: To be eligible for Secondary Law Enforcement Coverage, you must 1) move directly from a federal Primary/Rigorous position; 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary/rigorous position, and; 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary/rigorous position.

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

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472).

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application package will be evaluated against the minimum qualification requirements specified above. In order to qualify, your resume must specifically describe your work history and the duties you performed in each position.

Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date of 05/15/2026 to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position.

Please follow all instructions carefully, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, which may include a structured resume review, structured interview and/or accomplishment record. These assessments measure the critical competencies required to successfully perform the job.

• Criminal Investigation
• Leadership
• Planning and Evaluating
• Writing

If you meet the minimum qualifications requirements for this position, your application will be evaluated and rated under Category Rating selection procedures. Once the application process is complete, a review of your qualifications will be conducted to determine if you are qualified for this job. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The quality categories are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within each of these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-preference eligibles.

• Best Qualified: Applicants that possess all of the job related competencies identified as important for successful job performance.
• Well Qualified: Applicants that possess a majority (i.e., more than half but not all) of the job related competencies needed for successful job performance.
• Qualified: Applicants meet the basic eligibility and minimum qualification requirements but do not meet the definition of Best Qualified or Well Qualified as described above.