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Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) - (Reemployed Annuitant & CTAP/ICTAP/RPL) (Term Appointment)

Department of Justice
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
This job announcement has closed

Summary

ATF is a law enforcement agency in the U.S. Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals/criminal organizations, illegal use/trafficking of firearms, illegal use/storage of explosives, acts of arson/bombings, acts of terrorism, and illegal diversion of alcohol/tobacco products. We partner with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public through information sharing, training, research, & technology. Visit www.atf.gov

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/28/2025 to 11/06/2025
Salary
$120,579 to - $156,755 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - Not to exceed 3 years from date of hire or on the day before you reach age 60, whichever occurs first.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-FO-ST-12825497-RT
Control number
848988900

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 AND previously worked as an 1811 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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This position is located under the Office of Field Operations, located in Washington, District of Columbia.

ATF is looking for experienced Criminal Investigators. The primary purpose of this position is to be responsible for the prevention, detection, and investigation of substantive and conspiracy-type violations of laws administered and enforced by ATF.

As a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent), GS-1811-13, your typical work assignments may include:

  • Performs the full range expert-level criminal investigative i.e. conducting complex investigations focused on violent crime and criminal organizations.
  • Establishes and develops leads from known criminal activities and initiates investigations that are wide in scope and complexity and involve criminal conduct that is interwoven with legitimate business pursuits.
  • Utilizes elaborate planning and coordination to resolve and overcome complex jurisdictional problems involving other federal, state, and local agencies.
  • Serves as a lead investigator or coordinator when performing duties such as surveillance, criminal enforcement, or complex undercover work which may include sensitive or high-risk investigations.
  • Recognizes criminal conduct and unlawful activity and maintain awareness of the implications of precedential court decisions in one or more judicial and law enforcement jurisdiction.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

The time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

MOBILITY PLAN: New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement. The purpose of ATF's mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression and achieve mission and business effectiveness. To accomplish these objectives, the mobility plan will facilitate employee movement through short-term or permanent reassignments throughout the Bureau. Applicants who decline to sign the required mobility agreement will be removed from the hiring process.

Key Requirements:
  1. Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  2. Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
  3. Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov
  4. May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  5. Pass drug screening and subject to random drug test.
  6. Must display and maintain required proficiency with firearms.
  7. Take and pass a medical examination and meet medical requirements.
  8. Must take and successfully complete a polygraph examination.
  9. Possess a current and valid automobile operator's license.
  10. May have to attend and successfully pass the following training:
    • Occupational Questionnaire
    • ATF Special Agent Applicant Assessment
    • Physical Task Test
    • ATF Special Agent Basic Training (SABT)
    • Structured Interview
    • Law Enforcement Training: You must have successfully completed and passed Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Criminal Investigator training program (CITP), OR an equivalent and recognized federal law enforcement training program- must upload certification.

Qualifications

Dual Compensation Off-Set Waiver for Criminal Investigators (Special Agents): 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 specified circumstances, for a period not to exceed 3 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 the maximum hour limitations
  • Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) - additional compensation of 25% of the base salary added to locality pay
  • New hires under this authority will be offered a non-status, term appointment in the competitive service not to exceed 3 years or 1 day before their 60th birthdate, whichever comes first.
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.

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

GS-13 - You qualify if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal, State, or Local government or equivalent public or private sector experience, performing all of the following duties:

  • Applying a wide range of criminal investigative, enforcement, laws, regulations, guidelines, and precedent decisions; AND
  • Identifying significant sources of information to detect illegal activity and document issues or probable cause and conduct investigations to determine if violations have occurred; AND
  • Communicating orally and in writing to prepare and present reports, briefings, and/or exchange information.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (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 score 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: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (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 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 score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. 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 eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/

Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in the resume.

Education

This position does not have an educational qualification requirement.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement.

Notice to Prospective Employees of Ethical Obligations from ATF's Human Resources Operations Division. Please click on the following link to read important information. DOJ Ethical Obligations

You may be required to attend Special Agent Basic Training.

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 www.sss.gov

EEO Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a parent, genetic information, disability, age, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination, you must contact the ATF EEO office within 45 calendar days of when the alleged harm occurred at 202-648-8760 or eeointakemailbox@atf.gov. Please see DOJ Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy.

"Federal Regulations state no ATF employee, his/her spouse, or his/her minor child shall have, directly or indirectly, any financial interest, including compensated employment, stock, or proprietary interest in the alcohol, tobacco, firearms or explosives industries. You should be aware that you may be asked to relinquish any ownership of or interests in the alcohol, tobacco, firearms or explosives industries before a determination can be made whether access to ATF information, information technology systems, and/or facilities can be authorized."

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 and supporting documentation 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 will be submitted to a subject matter expert resume review panel. If your qualifications are not 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.

The structured resume review panel will measure your ability in the following competencies:

  • Criminal Investigation
  • Criminal Law
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving

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