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Criminal Investigator

General Services Administration
Office of Inspector General

Summary

As a Special Agent with the GSA OIG Office of Investigations, you will be responsible for conducting and reporting upon investigations of suspected criminal violations affecting the programs, operations, and employees of the GSA consistent with the Inspector General Act of 1978.

Location of Position:
Office of Investigations
Midwest Division
Chicago, IL

We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—This position is full-time in the office. In rare instances, situational telework may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$71,299 - $108,533 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Promotion potential
13 - The full performance level of this position is GS-13.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
50% or less - This position requires frequent travel. Selected applicant must be able to acquire and maintain a government-issued travel charge card. This position also requires operation of a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle. A valid State driver's license is required.
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
JI-2026-D-16-MP
Control number
886647900

Duties

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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. The following duties are performed by OIG Special Agents:

  • Plan, coordinate and conduct complex investigations into criminal and civil violations of law and administrative matters relating to GSA programs, operations and employees. Allegations 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 financial and fraud related crimes.
  • As members of the federal law enforcement community, special agents make arrests, execute search warrants, serve subpoenas, and carry concealed weapons. 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.
  • Present investigative results orally, testify in court proceedings, and maintain liaison with investigative and legal personnel in other Offices of Inspectors General, U.S. Attorneys, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  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.
  • Prepare written reports of investigative activities and final reports of investigation pursuant to OIG guidelines, and provide GSA officials with investigative reports to communicate investigative findings regarding administrative matters.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
  • Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable
  • Register with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA OIG employee.  We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
  • Serve a one-year probationary period, if required.
  • Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position

Qualifications

GS-9 QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
The GS-9 salary range starts at $71,299 per year in Chicago, IL. 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), for a total of $89,124.

To qualify at the GS-9 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes participating in various phases of investigative work assignments; studying a broad variety of material pertinent to cases such as emails, financial records, and contract documents; 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, by Education: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree or a LL.B or J.D., or a combination of specialized experience and education that totals 100 of the experience requirement. To be creditable, graduate education must be in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related KSAs/competencies necessary to satisfy the minimum qualifications and perform the duties of the position.

GS-11 QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
The GS-11 salary range starts at $83,482 per year in Chicago, IL. 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), for a total of $104,353.

To qualify at the GS-11 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes working with higher level Criminal Investigators on completing various aspects of a criminal investigation involving criminal, civil, or administrative priorities; coordinating investigative activities with both internal and external factors; developing supportable data and materials; collecting and confirming information from a variety of sources; reviewing large amounts of data such as emails, financial records, and contract documents; and preparing investigative reports.

OR, by Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or have successfully completed 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M.; or, a combination of graduate level education and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position. To be creditable, graduate education must be in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related KSAs/competencies necessary to satisfy the minimum qualifications and perform the duties of the position.


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

  • This position is covered by the law enforcement officer retirement provisions, and as such is covered by a mandatory age requirement. There is 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.
  • 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.
  • Selectee will be required to undergo a pre-employment examination and meet the physical requirements for this position. The duties require moderate to arduous physical exertion. Manual dexterity of fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips and knees is required. Arms, hands, legs and feet must be sufficiently functioning in order to perform the duties satisfactorily. Good vision and hearing are required. Selectee must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the selectee to be a hazard to him/her, or others is disqualifying.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Operate a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle. A valid State driver's license is required.
  • Due to the nature of the work, Criminal Investigators are required to work, or be available to work, substantial amounts of unscheduled duty.
  • Attend and graduate from the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP), unless previously completed.
  • This position requires the employee to sign a mobility agreement as a condition of employment.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.

In the event that this position cannot be filled by the initial selection, alternate selections may be made from this announcement. Management also has the right to fill this position through other means or to not fill this position. Additional vacancies may also be filled through this announcement as needed.

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 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 narrative questions related to your prior achievements or work activities that align with the KSAs. Failure to answer the narrative questions may affect your eligibility to be considered for this position.

    • Knowledge of financial, accounting, contract, and/or procurement laws and regulations.
    • 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.
    • Knowledge of investigative methods, techniques, and approaches.
    • Ability to review large amounts of data such as contract documents, emails, and financial records to identify evidence.
    • Knowledge of, and skill in carrying out, law enforcement techniques and procedures.
    • 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.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). List any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration.  If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If you are eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or GSA OIG’s Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), you must score 85.0 or higher to receive priority consideration.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Office of Inspector General

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the General Services Administration (GSA) is one of the original OIGs established by the Inspector General Act of 1978. OIG provides oversight through auditing, inspections, and investigations of GSA's extensive procurement, real property, and related programs and operations, which primarily support other federal agencies. Applicants are encouraged to review the work and accomplishments of the GSA OIG on our website, https://www.gsaig.gov/.

Agency contact information

Derek Hunter
Phone
000-000-0000
Email
derek.hunter@gsaig.gov
Address
GSA, Office of Inspector General
OIG Human Resources Division (JPH)
Washington, District of Columbia 20405
United States

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