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INVESTIGATIVE ANALYST (POLYGRAPH EXAMINER/QUALITY REVIEWER)

Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration
Inspections Division - Office of Security Programs
This job announcement has closed

Summary

TOUGH WORK. VITAL MISSION. Challenge yourself! You have the power to help combat drug trafficking. Be a part of DEA! It's tough work, but a vital mission. Whatever your background or expertise, your work at DEA will be tremendously rewarding because it will have a daily impact on national security and the quality of life of all Americans.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/30/2025 to 10/09/2025
Salary
$90,025 to - $117,034 per year

Salary listed is the 2025 GS Base pay only. The locality pay will be adjusted once the duty location assignment is determined.

Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
Location Negotiable After Selection
9 vacancies
Arlington, VA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - 3 YEARS
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
H-DEA-25-12807274-MP-CR
Control number
847006700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Retirees under Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who are eligible for re-employment as a Federal Annuitant for any Federal Government Agency and Federal, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), and Reemployment Priority List (RPL) eligibles. Retired applicants must be retired on or before the opening date of this announcement.

Duties

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As a INVESTIGATIVE ANALYST (POLYGRAPH EXAMINER/QUALITY REVIEWER), your typical work assignments may include:

  • Developing and conducting polygraph examinations of investigative subjects identified in support of agency field offices.
  • Identifying information and report polygraph conclusions for potentially pre-disqualifying misconduct described by an applicant assisting agency in determining an applicants' eligibility.
  • Verifying applicant statements using polygraph disciplines to support adjudicative decisions by agency for the eligibility of applicants requiring public trust and access to national security.
  • Advising various Staff Coordinators, Polygraph Program Manager, and Section Chief regarding polygraph operations and operations policy.
  • Performing polygraph quality control (QC) review of DEA polygraph examinations and/or perform polygraph examinations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.
  • Incumbent is subject to random drug testing.
  • Selectee may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period (OR 1-year OR 2-year trial period, as appropriate) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
  • Applicant must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license while employed in the position and will be required to operate the motor vehicle in accordance with applicable OPM regulations and related requirements of DOJ/DEA.
  • Federal agency certified federal polygraph examiner in good standing having successfully completed the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA) Basic Examiner Psychophysiological Detection of Deception (PDD) course.

Qualifications

Dual Compensation Off-Set Waivers: This announcement is being used to recruit CSRS and FERS annuitants on a limited basis. A dual compensation waiver may be approved in accordance with applicable regulations under certain specified circumstances, not to exceed three years. Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset (dual compensation) waiver are eligible for:

  • Full annuity and full Federal salary;
  • Annual and sick leave (not applicable for an intermittent work schedule);
  • Full-time work schedules;
  • Receive overtime (on a full schedule). Overtime hours are counted towards maximum hour limitations; and
  • New hires under this authority will be offered a non-status, term appointment in the competitive service not-to-exceed 3 years.
Annuitants reemployed with full salary and annuity under an exception granted in accordance with 5 CFR 533:
  • Are not considered employees for purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code.
  • May not elect to have retirement contributions withheld from their pay;
  • May not use any employment for which an exception is granted as a basis for a supplemental or recomputed annuity; and
  • May not participate in the Thrift Savings Plan.

Reemployed annuitants may only receive one appointment per job series.

For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement.

Selective Placement Factor: Applicants must be a federal agency certified federal polygraph examiner in good standing, having successfully completed the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA) or Predecessor Basic PDD course. (Must submit a copy of your certificate).

AND


Applicants applying for the GS-13 must meet the following requirements:


A. Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-12 grade level. Specialized 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.

Qualifying experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Conducting the Empirical Scoring System when reviewing polygraph software; 2) Using practical experience in techniques relating to polygraph pre and post examination interviews to elicit information in support of adjudicative decisions regarding persons in access or requesting access to classified information and/or positions of public trust; 3) Explaining relevant topics in a manner that differentiates disqualifying conduct from non-pertinent transgressions by a law enforcement applicant; and, 4) Testifying in litigation as a sworn federal agent to any criminal confessions and/or admissions collected during the conduct of a polygraph examination; and, 5) Providing technical review of examination files while following ethical, professional and technical standards.

Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

For reasonable accommodation at the Drug Enforcement Administration, please contact the Human Resources office listed in this announcement.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable 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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Division/Office listed in this announcement. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

Recruitment and/or Relocation Incentives may be considered and approved under conditions specified provided the agency has determined that the position is likely to be difficult to fill in the absence of an incentive and funding for such an incentive is available.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period, or 1-year or 2-year trial 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 or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Please note that any approved remote work arrangement is subject to the locality pay area of the alternative telework worksite.

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) and your responses on the application questionnaire. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Decision Making
  • Oral Communication
  • Quality Assurance
  • Technical Competence
  • Technical Problem Solving

The assessment questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions which provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question in 200-words or less.? You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and have not used a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application.

All qualified Non-Competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Agency and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for selection priority. Candidates are considered well qualified if their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) exceed the minimum qualifications described in the announcement.

ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE: You may preview the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12807274.

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