Skip to main content
U.S. flag

Criminal Investigator (Special Agent)

Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Inspector General
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located at Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, OIG, Office of Investigation. As a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent), you will be responsible for audits, investigations, fraud control, and designated security services to all HUD programs and operations.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open date: 06/11/2026
Closed date: 06/15/2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$79,733 - $121,371 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
26-HUDIG-12978868-DH
Control number
872522600

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

All Candidates who are: Internal employees of HUD OIG who are Status Candidates, currently serving on a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), OR CTAP eligibles.

Duties

Help

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13 . If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

  • Plan, direct, and execute investigations of diverse housing programs and activities--both within and outside the Department.
  • Involve investigations that are of major inter-regional or national coverage.
  • Develop the investigative strategy/plan. Throughout the course of the investigation, modify the plan by changing and/or adding areas of emphasis and devising new approaches as required to meet unanticipated developments or complications. As new cases grow out of the original investigation, incorporate them into the overall plan.
  • Perform a variety of collateral duties, such as directing the office's witness relocation program; managing special supplies such as firearms; serving as the office or region's firearms instructor; etc.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.

Key Requirements:
  1. Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
  2. Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Age Restriction: The date immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday is the maximum entry age for original appointment to a law enforcement officer position. This requirement does not apply to a) Preference-eligible veterans; OR b) Individuals who are 37 years of age or older and have previously served in law enforcement officer positions that were covered by a special law enforcement retirement plan.

AND

Medical Requirements:
The selectee must pass a pre-appointment physical examination and meet the physical requirements for this position as required by this agency. 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.

Specialized experience: For the GL-9: Specialized experience is one full year at the GL-07 level, or equivalent, that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience is defined as: Working with Criminal Investigators performing segments of investigations which includes the following types of tasks:

Searching public records/databases; AND
Interviewing witnesses/employees to verify facts and obtain specific pieces of information; AND
Securing signed statements, affidavits and documentary evidence to be included in reports or case records; AND
Writing reports for case records.
OR
Education: Master's degree or equivalent or two years progressively higher education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D. if related. (Attach copy of transcript or list of college courses designating semester or quarter hours earned to ensure proper credit.
OR
You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. This is creditable providing the combination consists of 100% of the requirement. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

Specialized experience: For the GS-11, You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GL-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

Participating in the performance of the full range of investigative functions on assigned cases or portions of cases from planning and conducting fact-finding to reporting the results of investigations; AND
Assisting in the investigative interview process; AND
Assisting in analyzing investigative facts to arrive at sound conclusions.
OR
A Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related.
OR
You may qualify on a combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. (Only graduate level education in excess of the first two years 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.)

Time-in-Grade: In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement, if applicable: For the GL-09, you must have been at the GL-07level for 52 weeks.
For the GS-11, you must have been at the GL-09level for 52 weeks.

Time After Competitive Appointment: Candidates who are current Federal employees serving on a non-temporary competitive appointment must have served at least three months in that appointment.

Education

The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Additional information

Other Information:
- We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
- Selectee is entitled to Law Enforcement Availability Pay at the rate of 25% of base pay.
- This is a non-bargaining unit position.
- We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (CONTINUED):
- A probationary or trial period may be required. Continued employment is contingent upon supervisory certification that continued employment will benefit the Federal Service; the certification will occur no less than 30 days before the end of the probationary/trial period.
- Top Secret- Background Investigation will be required.
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
- Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
- Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
- File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
- Pass a detailed background investigation.
- Be willing to travel an average of 5 days per month.
- Test negative for the presence of illegal drugs before placement in this position and be subject to random drug testing thereafter.
- Satisfactorily complete the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator Training Program, or its equivalent.
- Carry a firearm, maintain firearms proficiency, and conduct full law enforcement activities. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence may not be hired [Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(9)].
- Be willing to work irregular unscheduled hours and under hazardous conditions.
- Be willing to relocate at the direction of management.
- Pass a pre-employment physical examination.
- Possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork.

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.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must meet the definition below to be considered "well qualified" and receive special selection priority.

To be found well-qualified, and in addition to meeting specialized experience, the applicant must have documented the following experience:

  • A solid and comprehensive and understanding of the position.
  • They have the ability to perform the required tasks efficiently and is proficient in applying the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the job.

To preview the application questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12978868

Office of Inspector General

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has as its primary mission the detection and deterrence of fraud, waste, and abuse in the administration of over $40 billion in Federal funds each year by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). Through its programs, largely carried out by thousands of approved lenders and public housing authorities throughout the United States, HUD expands housing opportunities for American families by extending such benefits as mortgage insurance and rental subsidies for qualified persons.

As the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), we remain an independent and objective organization, conducting and supervising audits, evaluations, and investigations relating to the Department's programs and operations. We promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in these programs and operations as we also strive to prevent and detect fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. We are committed to keeping the HUD Secretary, Congress, and our stakeholders fully and currently informed about challenges and deficiencies and the necessity for and progress of corrective actions. We invite you to join HUD OIG, where we are guided by the shared core values of integrity, accountability, and courage. These core values serve as the framework for all of our work.

Agency contact information

Applicant Call Center
Phone
304-480-7300
Email
hudiginquiries@fiscal.treasury.gov
Address
OIG, Office of Investigation
Treasury Common Services Center
Parkersburg, WV 26101
US

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.