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Criminal Investigator

Department of Labor
Office of Inspector General
Office of Investigations

Summary

This position is located within in the Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations (OI). OI's mission is to conduct criminal, civil, and administrative investigations into alleged violations of federal laws relating to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) programs, operations, and personnel to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in such programs and operations.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 07/17/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 17, 2026
Location
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$89,508 - $172,980 per year

The salary range is based on the 2026 General Schedule Pay Tables and is subject to grade level and duty station locality pay adjustment.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Promotion potential
13 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and the supervisor's recommendation to the next grade.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
50% or less - 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
IC-26-OIG-OI-13004278-TKS
Control number
876201700

Duties

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Salary Range:
GS-12 $89,508 - $145,468
GS-13 $106,437 - $172,980
The salary for each location may vary depending on locality. Locality tables may be found at 2026 General Schedule.

The major duties of the full performance level (GS-13) are as follows:

  • Serve as the lead agent in investigating high-profile, complex cases that encompass a broad range of criminal activities within the organization's jurisdiction, establishing contacts with various stakeholders to gather relevant evidence.
  • Assist in conducting joint investigations with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, establishing and maintaining effective communication channels.
  • Obtain information from individuals of diverse backgrounds and develop informants under challenging and sensitive conditions to enhance intelligence gathering.
  • Act as the senior agent responsible for conducting interviews, surveillance, and examinations of records, managing sensitive investigations independently.
  • Draft detailed investigative reports highlighting key findings and evidence to support potential legal actions, presenting cases to Assistant U.S. Attorneys for Grand Jury consideration.
Higher grade level 1811s may receive biweekly and annual premium pay caps (refer to OPM website).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Must be at least 21 years old.
  • Candidate required to obtain and maintain the necessary security/investigation level.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met. See Probationary Period in the Additional Information section for more details.
  • Requires medical exam and must maintain physical requirements.
  • Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • Subject to financial disclosure requirements.
  • Requires a valid driver's license.
  • Subject to frequent travel and overtime.
  • Subject to geographic mobility.
  • See Additional Requirements associated with the position in the Qualifications section for more information.

Qualifications

You must meet the Specialized Experience to qualify for Criminal Investigator, as described below.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

For the GS-12 level: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-11, in Federal Service.

Qualifying specialized experience for the GS-12 level includes all of the following:

  • Under limited supervision, independently performs a full range of investigative functions on assigned cases or portions of cases from planning and conducting fact-finding to reporting the results of investigations;
  • Performs undercover and surveillance work under supervision;
  • Independently conducts investigative interviews;
  • Analyzes investigative facts to arrive at sound conclusions;
  • Provides presentations to Assistant United States Attorneys in support of federal criminal prosecutions and civil actions; and
  • Develops and maintains working relationships with law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local level.

For the GS-13 level: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12, in Federal Service.

Qualifying specialized experience for the GS-13 level includes all of the following:

  • Independently conducts, or leads, the most significant and complex investigations that often involve multiple law enforcement agencies covering multiple judicial districts. These investigation could include criminal offenses committed by individuals, entities, or organized criminal enterprises, including financial crimes and fraud; Federal program, contract or grant fraud; and employee integrity offenses;
  • Proficiency in the application of criminal, civil, and administrative laws, including false claims and qui tam actions;
  • Demonstrates proficiency in utilizing investigative principles and techniques, including undercover operations, consensual monitoring, and other covert investigative techniques;
  • Demonstrates extensive experience in legal procedures related to the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses;
  • Experience in testifying in Federal criminal prosecutions; and
  • Demonstrates extensive experience in consulting and working with U.S. Attorneys and other prosecutorial officials in preparation of cases for prosecution.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POSITION:

Maximum AGE Requirement: An applicant must enter a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) law enforcement covered position or a Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) law enforcement covered position not one day later than his/her 37th birthday.

Please note: Applicants appointed to Criminal Investigator positions in the Federal service must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to the position unless they previously served in a Federal civilian law enforcement position covered by special civil service retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement. This requirement may be waived only for veterans. However, the primary duties of these positions are classified as rigorous, and a waiver may be authorized by the head of the agency only in unusual situations. An age requirement waiver is not automatic. An individual who has passed the maximum entry age limit but previously served in a covered position, may be eligible for consideration and reinstatement of coverage if he/she will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered law enforcement service by the time he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 57. See OPM Retirement Handbook for further details. The Maximum Entry Age requirement (See Maximum Entry may be waived for applicants eligible for veterans' preference.)

POSITION REQUIREMENTS FOR OIG CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS

Incumbents are required to be able to perform the following duties:

A. Firearm Use. All OIG criminal investigators are required to qualify with the U.S. DOL-issued firearms and accept assignments where firearms are necessary. In the exercise of OIG's statutory law enforcement authority, the use of firearms may sometimes be justified and required.

B. Arrests. OIG criminal investigators make arrests, with or without a warrant, according to the circumstances.

C. Search and Seizure. OIG criminal investigators execute warrants for search of premises or seizure of evidence.

D. Surveillances. In conducting investigations, criminal investigators may establish and maintain surveillances of suspected criminal acts.

E. Undercover Assignments. From time to time, criminal investigators assume undercover roles.

F. Review of Records and Other Evidence. Many cases under investigation involve the review of a tremendous amount of records which the agent takes control of and transports for copying.

G. Travel. Many criminal investigators travel frequently -- up to 50 percent of the time. Much of the travel is performed by automobile driven by the agent from 8 to 14 hours at a time to reach the destination.

H. Security Detail: Criminal investigators assigned to the security detail may work 14 to 16-hour days consistently.

I. Basic Law Enforcement Training: As a condition of employment, newly-hired OIG criminal investigators must have successfully completed the basic criminal investigator training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), unless waived by OIG because of proof of comparable special agent or law enforcement officer training.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the required specialized experience at the GS-12 and GS-13 level.

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position.

Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

  • This position will not be filled until the Department's Placement Assistance Programs have been fully utilized.
  • This position is outside the bargaining unit.
  • No Permanent Change of Station Funds (PCS) will be offered.
  • Relocation Incentives are not offered.

Non-Supervisory Financial Disclosure: This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). Therefore, if selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest(s) and your prospective position with DOL. This information will be required annually.

Probationary Period
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Telework: This position is physically located in a DOL office at a work location listed on this job announcement. Incumbents are eligible to telework, subject to supervisor approval, but must also report to the physical office a prescribed number of days each pay period. Click here for Telework Position Information

The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act.

Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.

All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use prior to the appointment.

All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.

Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

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.

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., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You may preview questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13004278

USA Hire

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork

Click here for Evaluation details.

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, based on your adjudication decision. 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.

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings.

INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

Office of Inspector General

Begin a challenging career with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG), and you will help shape the workforce of tomorrow. OIG offers rewarding opportunities to contribute to a noble mission; to serve and protect American workers, prepare them for new and better jobs, and to ensure the safety and fairness of American workplaces.

Through independent oversight, rigorous investigations, and objective audits, the Office of Inspector General protects taxpayer dollars, combats fraud and corruption, safeguards workers and beneficiaries, and strengthens public trust.

The Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General does not make unfavorable hiring decisions on the basis of an applicant's previous or current unemployment, or the fact that an applicant has experienced financial difficulty through no fault of his/her own and has undertaken good faith efforts to meet his/her financial obligations. Consideration is given to financial status in relation to appointments only where required by law, regulation, or Executive Order.

Applicants with disabilities can contact the vacancy point of contact listed on the job vacancy announcement to request reasonable accommodations needed for the application process.

Agency contact information

Tracy Sakato
Phone
240-867-2007
Email
sakato.tracy@oig.dol.gov
Address
Office of Inspector General
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Office of Inspector General, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.oig.dol.gov/

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