Skip to main content
U.S. flag
 

Investigator

Department of Justice
Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys
U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California

Summary


For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.

As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$87,061 - $135,657 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Promotion potential
12
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
26-CAC-13067140-MS
Control number
885338600

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

Government-wide (Local Commuting Area) - Well-qualified surplus/displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) and current/former Federal employees in permanent competitive service positions (status candidates) in the local commuting area. VEOA eligibles and those eligible for non-competitive appointment under special hiring authority.

Duties

Help

The incumbent serves as a Civil Fraud Investigator responsible for supporting investigations involving violations of the False Claims Act.
Investigations may involve complex financial transactions, asset identification and valuation, review of public records, analysis of documentary and electronic evidence, witness interviews, and preparation of investigative reports.

Typical work assignments will included:

  • Conduct complex investigations into suspected civil fraud schemes involving Medicare (including false billing, kickbacks, upcoding, unbundling, medically unnecessary services, and other fraudulent practices), customs duties, and other federal programs.
  • Collect, analyze, and synthesize evidence, including claims data, medical records, financial documents, and business records, to identify patterns and indicators of fraud.
  • Develop investigative plans, conduct interviews of witnesses, and collaborate with auditors, data analysts, and subject-matter experts.
  • Evaluate witness credibility and corroborate statements through documentary and other evidence.
  • Present findings of fact, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
  • Prepare detailed investigative reports, chronologies, and evidentiary summaries.
  • Work closely with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and agency counsel to support litigation, including participating in strategy meetings.
  • Coordinate efforts with federal and state agencies such as HHS-OIG, CMS, FBI, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, and CBP, among others.
  • Participate in settlement discussions and assist in calculating damages, penalties, and potential recoveries.
  • Maintain accurate investigative files and ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and evidentiary standards.
  • Conduct asset searches and financial investigations using public records, commercial databases, government information systems, and open-source resources.
  • Document investigative findings related to asset ownership, valuation, transfers, and potential concealment.
  • Examine financial records, accounting documents, bank records, invoices, contracts, billing records, grant files, procurement records, and related documentation.
  • Identify, locate, and evaluate real property, business interests, vehicles, financial accounts, and other assets relevant to investigations.
  • Review deeds, property records, court filings, corporate registrations, tax records, and other public records.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become progressively more complex and independent.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
  • You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
  • If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
  • Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
  • You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level; or education or a combination of both specialized experience and education as explained below.

Specialized experience is defined as experience conducting routine investigations and/or financial examinations as the lead or sole investigator or analyst, or assisting with complex investigations as an investigator or analyst; knowledge of relevant state, local, and/or federal laws or regulations regarding health care fraud, contracting fraud, or other fraud; conducting interviews of witnesses; creating reports on the progress of investigations for use by attorneys; and identifying significant findings and conclusions, recommendations for additional investigative actions, and candid assessments of strengths and weaknesses of witnesses, documentary evidence, or other aspects of cases.

Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Data Science, Public Health, Medical, Business): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 2 full years.

GS-12: To be eligible at the GS-12 level, you must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in Federal service.
Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as performing the following types of duties: conducting complex investigations and/or financial examinations; knowledge of public healthcare programs, the statutory and regulatory provisions governing such programs, and/or methods to identify fraud, waste, and abuse within such programs; selecting interviewees and conducting interviews of witnesses; performing quantitative, qualitative or other analysis of relevant facts; coordinating investigatory activities with, and otherwise liaising with, other federal or state agencies; and creating analytical or investigative reports to guide the attorneys and investigative team with regard to further investigative steps, the evidence that supports specific violations, and the relative strength of the evidence.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your 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 satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) -VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.

Special Employment Consideration - Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below . You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.
Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments

Education


All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your complete application package (resume/supporting documentation, online questionnaire, and USA Hire Competency Based Assessment) will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

You will be rated on the following Competencies (see The OPM Website for definitions):
Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork


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.

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys

If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career, this is the position for you. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California is presently recruiting for an Investigator located in Civil Fraud Division, Los Angeles, CA. With a diverse and talented workforce of over 100,000 men and women, Justice leads the Nation in ensuring the protection of all Americans while preserving their constitutional freedoms. You will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal and civil laws that protect life, liberty and the property of citizens.

Agency contact information

Karla Castillo
Phone
(213) 894-7611
Email
Karla.Castillo@usdoj.gov
Address
Central District of California
312 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/

Your session is about to expire!

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