Recent graduates and currently enrolled students who will complete degree requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Please review additional details in the Qualifications section of this announcement.

As Criminal Investigator with the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations, you will be trained to serve as a Special Agent with full statutory law enforcement authority. OIG Special Agents conduct nationwide criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of fraud, waste, and abuse involving GSA programs, operations, and personnel. Key focus areas include major fraud, theft, and corruption; defective, substandard, or counterfeit products procured through GSA contracts; cybercrimes involving GSA information technology systems; and significant employee misconduct.

OIG Special Agents make arrests, execute search warrants, serve subpoenas, and carry concealed weapons. OIG Special Agents work closely with federal, state, and local prosecutors to bring criminals to justice, to forfeit funds and property, and to ensure taxpayer dollars are returned to the U.S. Treasury. They also provide GSA officials with investigative reports to communicate investigative findings regarding administrative matters.

As members of the federal law enforcement community, special agents conduct professional interviews, undercover operations, surveillances, searches and seizures, computer forensic analyses, advanced audio and video monitoring, and a myriad of other law enforcement related actions. 

Allegations we have investigated include bribery, kickbacks, extortion, public corruption, false claims, credit card fraud, theft, diversion of excess government property, counterfeit products, product substitution, false statements, and a variety of other fraud related crimes.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

Qualifications

This position is announced through the Pathways Recent Graduates Program. You must meet eligibility requirements to apply under this program:

• Recent Graduates: If you completed a qualifying degree, certificate, or industry-recognized credential within the previous two years, you may apply.  If you are a veteran who was prevented from applying during the 2-year period due to your military service, you may apply if your degree, certificate, or industry-recognized credential was completed within the last 6 years.
• Enrolled students: If you will complete your degree requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement, you may apply.

The GL-9 salary range starts at $72,977 per year. The GL-7 salary range starts at $65,435 per year. This position is also authorized Law Enforcement Availability Pay of an additional 25 percent of a criminal investigator's rate of basic pay, subject to the biweekly maximum earnings limitation for law enforcement officers in 5 U.S.C. 5547(c). If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.

GRADE 09 QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To qualify at the GL-9 level, you must possess at least one of the following:

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-7 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience participating in various phases of investigative work assignments; studying a broad variety of material pertinent to cases; interviewing employees, officials in and out of Government, and others for the purpose of verifying facts and obtaining specific pieces of information; obtaining signed statements, affidavits and documentary evidence to be included in reports or case records; and preparing written reports of investigative activities. OR 
• A master's degree or equivalent graduate degree OR have completed two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. To be qualifying, graduate education must be in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related KSAs/competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. OR
• A combination of graduate level education and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position. 

GRADE 07 QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To qualify at the GL-7 level, you must possess at least one of the following:

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-5 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience assisting investigators in conducting criminal investigations by gathering facts; collecting physical or digital evidence while ensuring proper chain of custody; and assisting with interviews of witnesses, victims, or suspects to obtain factual and reliable information. OR 
• Completion of all the requirements for a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university PLUS demonstrated Superior Academic Achievement as defined below; OR
• Completion of at least one full year of graduate level education (18 semester hours or the equivalent). To be qualifying, graduate education must be in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related KSAs/competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position.
• A combination of graduate level education and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position.

Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) at the baccalaureate level is fully qualifying at the GS-7 level.  To claim SAA, submit documentation of one of the following:

1. Class standing -- You must be in the upper third of your graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2.  Grade-point average (rounded to one decimal point) of:
   1. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum; or
   2. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during your final 2 years of the curriculum.
3. Honor Society Membership -- Membership in a scholastic honor society listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
If selected at any grade level, you must also meet the following conditions of employment:

• Medical Requirements: Selectee will be required to undergo a pre-employment examination and meet the physical requirements for this position. 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.
• Drug Testing: This position requires a pre-employment drug test to screen for illegal drug use (appointment to the position is contingent upon a negative drug test result), and random drug testing after appointment.
• Age Requirement: This position is covered by the law enforcement officer retirement provisions, and as such is covered by mandatory age requirements. You must be at least 21 years of age. There is also a maximum entry age of the day before your 37th birthday (except for veteran's preference eligibles) for entry into law enforcement office positions. This position is covered by the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement Officers [5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) or 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d)] and has a mandatory retirement age of 57. If you are over age 37, you must have been or currently be covered by the special retirement provisions and be able to complete at least 20 years of covered service by age 57.
• Firearms Qualification: All OIG criminal investigators are required to qualify to use OIG owned firearms and to accept assignments where firearms are required. Quarterly certification is required. Per the Lautenberg Amendment, any person who has been convicted of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition.
• Security Clearance: This position is a critical-sensitive national security position. The person selected for this vacancy will be required to undergo a Tier 5 background investigation and the GSA security office must grant you a Top Secret national security clearance. The Top Secret clearance must be maintained throughout employment.
• Unscheduled Duty: Due to the nature of the work, Criminal Investigators are required to work, or be available to work, substantial amounts of unscheduled duty.
• Formal Training: Selectee will be required to attend and graduate from FLETC's Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), unless previously completed.
• Mobility Agreement: This position requires the employee to sign a mobility agreement as a condition of employment.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume will be reviewed to determine if you meet the basic qualifications and eligibility requirements outlined in this vacancy announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications and eligibility requirements, your application will advance to the Subject Matter Expert (SME) review phase of the evaluation process. A panel of SMEs will score the required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) listed below, based on a review of your resume and your responses to the narrative questions related to your prior achievements or work/educational activities that align with the KSAs.

• Technical knowledge in at least one field of study relevant to GSA OIG investigations (accounting, procurement/contracts, law, computer science)
• Ability to use spreadsheets, collaboration platforms, databases, dashboards, and analytics tools, to support research, drafting, summarization, data organization, analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to conduct interviews, research/fact-finding, and determine essential facts relevant to an investigation with a high degree of integrity/honesty and attention to detail.
• Ability to remain resilient and make effective decisions under stressful situations.
• Skill in thorough, organized, and effective written communication.
• Effective teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Skill in clear and effective verbal communication.

The SME assessment of your resume and answers to the vacancy questions will be used to score your application in accordance with Rule of Many rating procedures. This announcement will utilize a set number of candidates method for determining a cut-off score in referring best qualified applicants to the hiring manager for further consideration. The top 30 highest scoring candidates at each grade level will be referred. Veterans’ preference procedures will apply under the Rule of Many.