This position is a Criminal Investigator in the Office of Investigations (OI), Office of Inspector General (OIG), at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The mission of the OIG is to provide independent and objective oversight of NSF to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of its programs and operations and to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
Summary
This position is a Criminal Investigator in the Office of Investigations (OI), Office of Inspector General (OIG), at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The mission of the OIG is to provide independent and objective oversight of NSF to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of its programs and operations and to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
Current or former Federal employees with competitive status obtained through a permanent Federal competitive service appointment OR individuals with eligibility for noncompetitive special appointing authority OR ICTAP/CTAP eligibles OR veterans eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA).
As a GS-1811-13 Criminal Investigator, you will be responsible for the following duties:
Plan, organize, and conduct investigations of alleged or suspected violations of federal criminal, civil laws, and administrative regulations. Investigations can include allegations of sexual assault, stalking, grant fraud, contract fraud, and employee misconduct.
Provide advice to case partner(s) and management regarding planning and timing of complex interviews and investigations.
Plan, participate in, and organize interrogations, interviews, hearings, and conferences to resolve problems of considerable importance.
Obtain, handle, and analyze physical, digital, and testimonial evidence in accordance with legal standards and agency policies.
Ensure proper chain of custody and admissibility of evidence for judicial or administrative proceedings.
Prepare clear, comprehensive, and cohesive investigative reports in a timely manner in accordance with established policies.
Possess working knowledge of applicable rights and advisories, and ensure they are properly administered to witnesses and subjects in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Utilize strong interpersonal skills to convey information clearly, appropriately, and professionally with investigators, management, prosecutors, partners, and stakeholders.
Recognize, identify, and address undefined issues in assigned investigations, programs, and projects. Coordination with other appropriate participants to determine the nature and scope of the problems and the factors that will be instrumental in their resolution.
Brief senior NSF management, investigative personnel, attorneys, and other interested parties regarding projects and programs.
Exercise sound judgment and discretion in high-visibility, sensitive, or complex matters.
Manage administrative requirements, including case documentation, reporting systems, and resource tracking.
THIS POSITION REQUIRES UP TO 50% TRAVEL TO ANTARCTICA.
Selectee will be required to have a background investigation prior to onboarding.
Selectee may be required to serve a 1-2 year trial/probationary period.
This position is subject to Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP).
This position requires regular qualification with an issued firearm.
This position has physical requirements that must be met prior to onboarding and maintained throughout the incumbent's employment.
This position is subject to random drug testing.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID-compliant cannot be used as acceptable forms of identification for employment.
You must meet all eligibility requirements within thirty (30) days of the date the announcement closes and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.
You will not need a clearance to accept this position, but you must be able to obtain a clearance if needed.
If you are a current federal employee holding a General Schedule (GS) position, you must meet the time-in-grade requirements.
You must answer all job-related questions in the questionnaire and any assessment that is included.
All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Qualifications
You must meet the following within thirty (30) days of the closing date of this announcement:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify at the GS-1811-13 level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 Level in the federal government that includes: Planning, organizing, and conducting investigations of alleged violations of federal criminal and civil laws and administrative regulations including allegations of sexual assault and/or stalking; planning, participating in, and organizing interrogations, interviews, hearings, and conferences; obtaining, handling, and analyzing physical, digital, and testimonial evidence while ensuring proper chain of custody and admissibility; preparing investigative reports; and managing administrative requirements, including case documentation, reporting systems, and resource tracking.
TIME-IN-GRADE: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year of time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year of time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Do not submit an award SF-50. It is highly recommended that multiple SF-50s be submitted to verify that time-in-grade requirements are met.
AGE RESTRICTION: The date immediately preceding an individual's thirty-seventh (37) birthday is the maximum entrance age for original appointment to a federal law enforcement officer position. This requirement does not apply to:
Preference-eligible veterans
OR
Individuals who are thirty-seven (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.
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 fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, and knees is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily.
Near vision, with 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 thirty-five (35) decibels at one thousand (1000), two thousand (2000), and three thousand (3000) Hz levels.
Because the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible, and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability.
Any physical or mental condition that may cause the applicant to be a hazard to themselves or others is disqualifying.
TRAINING: Applicants must have successfully completed the Basic Criminal Investigator Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), or other equivalent law enforcement training such as the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID), U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), or Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS). You must provide documentation proving this training has been completed.
Experience refers to paid/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/experience that translates directly to paid work. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
Education may enhance skills required for this position; however, no substitution of education for specialized experience may be made at this level.
Additional information
Relocation expenses WILL NOT be paid.
This is a non-bargaining unit position.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
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.
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. Learn 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.
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.
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 the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and include the job title, duties, grade/salary, and dates worked.
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited based on the time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
If your resume is missing the job title, duties, grade, or salary, or dates worked, you might not be referred for consideration to the hiring manager.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Criminal Investigation
Investigative Planning and Execution
Effective Communication
Decision-Making and Sound Judgment
Documentation and Reporting
Applicants eligible for selection preference under ICTAP must meet the agency definition of "well qualified."
In the merit promotion selection process, formal performance appraisals may be considered if voluntarily submitted by the applicant.
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.
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. Learn 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.
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.
It is your responsibility to carefully review the list of required documents below and submit the necessary documentation based on your eligibility. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume-building tools can be found at: Page Limit and OPM guidance on 2-page limit
Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two-page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history:
Official position title
Employer name and contact information
If the work was performed as a contractor, please clearly indicate that on the resume
Start and end dates (at least month and year)
Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time
You must submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent agency form. Do not submit an award SF-50; these do not contain sufficient information about your appointment. Your SF-50 should list the full position title, series, grade, and step, organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status. Applicants are encouraged to submit multiple SF-50s to meet eligibility requirements.
You must submit a copy of your most recent performance evaluation or appraisal, signed, showing your final rating. If a performance appraisal is not available, submit a statement explaining why one is not available.
When claiming a Veteran's Preference, you must submit your last DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) form, specifically the Member #4 Copy, indicating dates and character of service and discharge type.
If you are a Veteran with a service-connected disability rating, you will need to additionally submit the SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veterans Preference) and a copy of your VA Letter stating your disability rating.
If you are the qualifying parent or spouse of a disabled, deceased, or deployed Veteran, and are seeking a derived preference eligibility, you must submit appropriate supporting documentation, such as the Veteran's DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter, and/or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. See Veteran Family Preference for more information.
For more information on each type of Veterans Preference, and the documentation required for each, see FedsHireVets.
You must submit "proof of a disability" documentation ("Proof of a disability" is a letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability).
You must get this letter from your doctor, a licensed medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal, state, or local agency that issues or provides disability benefits.
During the application process, you may have an option to opt in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency (or elsewhere) who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
The NSF OIG provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Individuals with disabilities may contact OIG-HR@nsf.gov for assistance with the application or hiring process. Individuals who are eligible for a non-competitive appointment under an Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) special appointing authority may apply for consideration under a comparable non-competitive appointing authority.
Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment" (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from federal service.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH, OR ANY OTHER PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established on the OPM website following the instructions provided to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be redirected to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position may do so until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application. If the announcement has an application cap, the announcement may close sooner than the date listed.
If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that the information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields.
Need Help? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc.
Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact OIG-HR@nsf.gov for assistance.
National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
US
Next steps
Once you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation email. However, you can also see your application status any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account and looking at the "Applications" page. Click the position title to expand the display for each application in the list.
After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued, and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.Email is our preferred method of communication. Please use the email address above, OIG-HR@nsf.gov, to contact the HR Department.
When NSF OIG completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining qualified candidates may be shared with additional federal agencies. Please opt in by emailing OIG-HR@nsf.gov if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
It is your responsibility to carefully review the list of required documents below and submit the necessary documentation based on your eligibility. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume-building tools can be found at: Page Limit and OPM guidance on 2-page limit
Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two-page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history:
Official position title
Employer name and contact information
If the work was performed as a contractor, please clearly indicate that on the resume
Start and end dates (at least month and year)
Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time
You must submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent agency form. Do not submit an award SF-50; these do not contain sufficient information about your appointment. Your SF-50 should list the full position title, series, grade, and step, organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status. Applicants are encouraged to submit multiple SF-50s to meet eligibility requirements.
You must submit a copy of your most recent performance evaluation or appraisal, signed, showing your final rating. If a performance appraisal is not available, submit a statement explaining why one is not available.
When claiming a Veteran's Preference, you must submit your last DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) form, specifically the Member #4 Copy, indicating dates and character of service and discharge type.
If you are a Veteran with a service-connected disability rating, you will need to additionally submit the SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veterans Preference) and a copy of your VA Letter stating your disability rating.
If you are the qualifying parent or spouse of a disabled, deceased, or deployed Veteran, and are seeking a derived preference eligibility, you must submit appropriate supporting documentation, such as the Veteran's DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter, and/or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. See Veteran Family Preference for more information.
For more information on each type of Veterans Preference, and the documentation required for each, see FedsHireVets.
You must submit "proof of a disability" documentation ("Proof of a disability" is a letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability).
You must get this letter from your doctor, a licensed medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal, state, or local agency that issues or provides disability benefits.
During the application process, you may have an option to opt in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency (or elsewhere) who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
The NSF OIG provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Individuals with disabilities may contact OIG-HR@nsf.gov for assistance with the application or hiring process. Individuals who are eligible for a non-competitive appointment under an Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) special appointing authority may apply for consideration under a comparable non-competitive appointing authority.
Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment" (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from federal service.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH, OR ANY OTHER PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established on the OPM website following the instructions provided to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be redirected to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position may do so until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application. If the announcement has an application cap, the announcement may close sooner than the date listed.
If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that the information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields.
Need Help? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc.
Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact OIG-HR@nsf.gov for assistance.
National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
US
Next steps
Once you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation email. However, you can also see your application status any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account and looking at the "Applications" page. Click the position title to expand the display for each application in the list.
After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued, and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.Email is our preferred method of communication. Please use the email address above, OIG-HR@nsf.gov, to contact the HR Department.
When NSF OIG completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining qualified candidates may be shared with additional federal agencies. Please opt in by emailing OIG-HR@nsf.gov if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
