This position is a General Attorney (Investigative Attorney) in the Office of Investigations in the Office of Inspector General at the U.S.National Science Foundation. The mission of the OIG is to provide independent and objective oversight of the U.S. National Science Foundation (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 General Attorney (Investigative Attorney) in the Office of Investigations in the Office of Inspector General at the U.S.National Science Foundation. The mission of the OIG is to provide independent and objective oversight of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of its programs and operations and to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
As a General Attorney (Investigative Attorney), you will perform the following duties:
Plan, organize, and conduct investigations of alleged or suspected violations of federal criminal and civil laws and administrative regulations. Investigations can include allegations of sexual assault, stalking, grant fraud, contract fraud, and violations of whistleblower protections;
Evaluate facts based on current law, specific court decisions, and current policy to provide legal advice and decide the appropriateness in using investigative techniques or equipment and develop new concepts and applications for the successful resolution of work assignments;
Provide advice to case team members and decision-makers regarding planning and timing of complex investigation components;
Plan, participate in, and organize interrogations, interviews, hearings, and conferences to resolve problems of considerable importance;
Interpret OIG/Office of Investigations (OI), other law enforcement, agency, and Federal guidelines;
Assist in effective coordination with other federal, state, and local agencies and private contractors in matters related to work assignments;
Prepare clear, comprehensive, and cohesive investigative reports in a timely manner in accordance with established policies;
Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to convey information clearly, appropriately, and professionally with investigators, management, prosecutors, partners, and stakeholders;
Recognize, identify, and address undefined investigative issues and elements, coordinating with other investigative participants to determine the nature and scope of the problems and the factors that will be instrumental in their resolution;
Exercise sound judgment and discretion in high-visibility, sensitive, or complex matters; and,
Analyze, explain, and advise on factual and legal issues arising in cases and investigative trends in order to ensure legal sufficiency and consistent referrals.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
You may be subject to a background/security investigation
This is not a remote position
Relocation expenses are not authorized
This is an excepted service position
An active Bar license is required for verification. Bar license must reference Bar number and indicate the status of good standing. A Self-Certification Form is not acceptable verification.
This is a positive education position. Transcripts are required to be considered for this position.
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 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 - and maintain - one if needed.
If you are a current federal employee holding a General Schedule (GS) position, you must meet the time-in-grade requirements.
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
BASIC REQUIREMENT
Education: Must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.). Law school transcripts must be submitted at the time of application.
Bar Membership and Certification: Must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Your active Bar license must include your Bar number and indicate your good standing status.
In addition to the BASIC REQUIREMENTS, applicants must also meet the following:
To qualify at the GS-13 or GS-14 level, you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the grade below.
For the GS-14 level, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level that includes: planning, organizing, and conducting investigations of alleged or suspected violations of federal criminal and civil laws and administrative regulations; evaluating facts based on current law, specific court decisions, and current policy to provide legal advice and decide the appropriateness in using investigative techniques or equipment; providing advice to case team members and decision-makers regarding planning and timing of complex investigations; planning, participating in, and organizing interrogations, interviews, hearings, and conferences; demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and the ability to convey information clearly, appropriately, and professionally with investigators, management, prosecutors, partners, and stakeholders; coordinating with other investigative participants to recognize, identify, and address undefined investigative issues and elements; analyzing, explaining, and advising on factual and legal issues arising in cases and investigative trends in order to ensure legal sufficiency.
For the GS-13 level, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level that includes: supporting the planning, organizing, and conducting of investigations of alleged or suspected violations of federal criminal and civil laws and administrative regulations; assisting in evaluating facts based on current law, specific court decisions, and current policy; planning, participating in, and organizing interrogations, interviews, hearings, and conferences; demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and the ability to convey information clearly, appropriately, and professionally with investigators, management, prosecutors, partners, and stakeholders; coordinating with other investigative participants to recognize, identify, and address undefined investigative issues and elements; analyzing, explaining, and researching factual and legal issues arising in cases and investigative trends in order to ensure legal sufficiency.
This experience must be fully supported and articulated in your resume to receive consideration. Please do not cut and paste the specialized experience from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
NOTE: 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
(NOTE: All Agency employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status. 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.
Education
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.
Additional information
Relocation Expenses will not be paid. This is a non-bargaining unit position.
This announcement may be used to fill similar positions in other organizations within the U.S. National Science Foundation and other federal agencies, including OIG offices.
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 Promotion or Reassignment. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM-approved qualifying conditions for the position; be physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receive a rating of at least "Very Good" on the questionnaire. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources.
Veteran's Preference: If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the VA letter or other required documentation as specified on the SF-15.
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.
You will be rated on the following competencies for this position:
Criminal Investigation
Legal/Regulatory Compliance
Effective Communication
Decision-Making and Sound Judgment
Documentation and Reporting
Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence
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. If your resume is missing the job title, duties, grade, or salary, and dates worked, you might not be referred for consideration to the hiring manager.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
For evaluating the quality of applicants for referral to the selecting official, a four-phased process will be used.
Phase 1: Applicants' resume and supporting documents will be reviewed by Human Resources (HR) to determine whether they meet the basic qualification requirements.
Phase 2: Applicants who are minimally qualified may be advanced to a Structured Resume Review assessment conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs may review applicants' resumes to evaluate technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience.
Phase 3: Applicants who successfully pass the Structured Resume Review assessment may be advanced to a Structured Interview conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs may assess applicants' ability to demonstrate the required competencies for the position.
Phase 4: A final score, which may combine the results from one or more assessments, may be used to identify the top-rated applicants. Applicants meeting the established cut-off score may be referred to the selecting official for consideration and may be required to participate in one or more additional interviews as part of the hiring process.
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.
RESUME: 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:
Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:
Contact Information: Name and preferred contact method, including email address and phone number.
Relevant Work Experience
Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 -08/2022 or present)
The number of hours you worked per week
MOST RECENT PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: If a performance appraisal is not dated within the last 18 months, or if you are unable to provide a performance appraisal, an explanation of why must be provided. Please include a document in your application package explaining why the performance appraisal is not available.
NOTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL ACTION (SF-50): 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.
PROOF of BAR CERTIFICATION: A copy of your Bar License that certifies you are an active member of the Bar in good standing of any state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any Territorial Court under the U.S. Constitution. Your active Bar license must include your Bar number and indicate your good standing status.
TRANSCRIPT: An unofficial copy of your transcripts is sufficient for this application package. The unofficial transcripts must be verifiable; contain the name of the institution, applicant's name, list of completed courses (with grades), semester hours, and GPA. If the position has a positive education requirement (i.e., LL.B. or J.D.), as indicated under the "Education" section, the unofficial transcripts must show the degree type and the degree date (conferred).
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position.
When claiming a Veterans' 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). The condition, diagnosis, or specific medical information is not required - simply the statement from a healthcare provider certifying that a disability (intellectual, physical, or psychiatric) exists.
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.
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.
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. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application before final submission and ensure you have submitted all required documents. Uploading documents to USAJOBS does NOT ensure they are included in our system with your application. You must verify that the documents are in your application prior to final submission.
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.
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.
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.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
RESUME: 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:
Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:
Contact Information: Name and preferred contact method, including email address and phone number.
Relevant Work Experience
Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 -08/2022 or present)
The number of hours you worked per week
MOST RECENT PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: If a performance appraisal is not dated within the last 18 months, or if you are unable to provide a performance appraisal, an explanation of why must be provided. Please include a document in your application package explaining why the performance appraisal is not available.
NOTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL ACTION (SF-50): 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.
PROOF of BAR CERTIFICATION: A copy of your Bar License that certifies you are an active member of the Bar in good standing of any state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any Territorial Court under the U.S. Constitution. Your active Bar license must include your Bar number and indicate your good standing status.
TRANSCRIPT: An unofficial copy of your transcripts is sufficient for this application package. The unofficial transcripts must be verifiable; contain the name of the institution, applicant's name, list of completed courses (with grades), semester hours, and GPA. If the position has a positive education requirement (i.e., LL.B. or J.D.), as indicated under the "Education" section, the unofficial transcripts must show the degree type and the degree date (conferred).
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position.
When claiming a Veterans' 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). The condition, diagnosis, or specific medical information is not required - simply the statement from a healthcare provider certifying that a disability (intellectual, physical, or psychiatric) exists.
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.
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.
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. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application before final submission and ensure you have submitted all required documents. Uploading documents to USAJOBS does NOT ensure they are included in our system with your application. You must verify that the documents are in your application prior to final submission.
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.
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.
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.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
