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Criminal Investigator

Department of Commerce
Bureau of Industry and Security
Office of Export Enforcement

Summary

This vacancy is for a Criminal Investigator in the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement (EE), Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the Department of Commerce.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/09/2025 to 12/16/2025
Salary
$105,383 to - $156,755 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
4 vacancies in the following locations:
Huntsville, AL
Washington, DC
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Tampa, FL
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
BIS-OEE-ST-26-12843433
Control number
851988200

Duties

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As a Criminal Investigator, you will perform the following duties:

  • Receive, develop and evaluate leads, original requests, complaints and allegations. Find and develop evidence sufficient to prove or disprove allegations of actual or attempted violations. Determine the nature, scope, timing, and direction of the investigation.
  • Conduct interviews, interrogations, and examination/procurement of pertinent records. Conduct investigative activities including surveillance, writing and serving of subpoenas, taking sworn statements, preparing and serving search and arrest warrants, developing and utilizing informants and conducting detentions/seizures of shipments/items.
  • Study and review laws, regulations and legal opinions. Practice and use various traditional and modem investigative techniques.
  • Summarize and report all investigative activities efficiently in a clear, logical and impartial manner.
  • Coordinate findings with other law enforcement agencies, other regulatory agencies, and other DOC program areas, and the United States Attorney's Office, as appropriate.
  • Conduct meetings with and deliver presentations to industry representatives on Export Enforcement (EE) objectives in the private sector and general public.
  • Train junior criminal investigators in required skills such as report writing, interviews and interrogation procedures, detention and seizure procedures, recording investigative information electronically, taking of statements, database and records checks, rules of evidence, export control laws and regulations.
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Criminal Investigator,GS-1811-13, Full Performance Level (FPL) GS-13 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical locations with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
  • A probationary period may be required.
  • Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Security Clearance: You will be required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
  • Drug Test: Except as prohibited by law, all applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment, and appointed the incumbent will be subjected to random drug testing procedures.
  • License required: Valid State Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
  • Pre-employment physical required: Yes
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes
  • Basic Training: You must complete or have completed the basic criminal investigator course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA (or equivalent training determined by the agency).
  • Travel: Frequent temporary travel may be required.
  • Mobile Workforce: You will be expected to work "on the road" meaning from and/or out of their vehicles; work from and/or out of non-traditional locations; work in-transit from either aircraft or motor vehicle.
  • Mobility Agreement: Youmust sign a mobility agreement to accept, on direction of the Director of the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), assignment to any one of OEE's offices.
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: will not be paid.
  • Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade/band.

Qualifications

Firearms: This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency and successfully pass periodic firearm qualifications. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition in accordance with 18 USC 922 (Lautenberg Amendment). Applicants for the Criminal Investigator position who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not eligible for employment.

Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, USC Section 992(g)). A felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is generally defined under the statute as any offense involving the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent, or guardian. The term convicted, as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set aside, or pardoned, or any person whose civil rights have been restored, so long as such restoration does not restrict the shipping, transport, possession or receipt of firearms or ammunition. Candidates convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statutes are not eligible for the position.

Individual Occupational Requirements - Medical Requirements:
The duties in this position 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 for applicants to perform their 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. As measured by an audiometer, hearing loss 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 unqualifying.

AND

In addition to meeting Individual Occupational Requirements, candidates must also meet the additional specialized experience requirement.


Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

  • Securing facts and developing evidence; and
  • Maintaining liaison with other law enforcement bodies; and
  • Conducting investigative interviews, record searches or obtaining sworn statements; and
  • Preparing comprehensive written investigative reports.

Education

There is no positive education requirement for this position.

Additional information

Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
  1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.
  2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting your current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
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.

Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): Incumbent is required to work an average of two or more LEAP hours per scheduled workday, which may include evenings, nights and weekends. The incumbent is subject to work unscheduled duty hours and must be available for unscheduled duty based upon the needs of the Agency. Therefore, the incumbent is eligible for LEAP of an additional 25% and is subject to the provisions of the LEAP Act of 1994.

Maximum Entry Age: This position is covered by the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement Officers (FLEO). FLEO must retire at age 57 upon completing 20 years of law enforcement service. If 20 years of service are not attained at age 57, mandatory retirement is required upon completion of 20 years of service. The day immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday is the last date for original appointment to a position as a law enforcement officer. This requirement does not apply to a) Preference-eligible veterans; OR b) Individuals who have previously served in a Federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. Section 8336 (c) provisions. Maximum entry-age requirement may be waived.

Telework: Criminal Investigators in the Office of Export Enforcement are not eligible for telework.

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., two-page resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, the result of the Structured Resume Review and Structured Interview required for this position.

Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Structured Interview: A structured interview is an assessment method designed to measure job-related competencies of candidates by systematically inquiring about their behavior in past experiences and/or their proposed behavior in hypothetical situations.

For Certain Military Spouses: All applicants who meet the qualification requirements and military spouse noncompetitive eligibility requirements (see "Additional Information" section above") will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration on a separate referral list. While veterans' preference is not a consideration when filling positions under the military spouse non-competitive hiring authority, preference eligibles are encouraged to submit their supporting documentation (DD-214, stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.).

All:

"Performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive due weight, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.)".

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

The assessments will evaluate you on the following general/technical competencies required to perform the job; please do not provide a separate written response:

  • Criminal Investigation
  • Criminal Law
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
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. Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application. If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration.
  • Classified or government sensitive information
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Photos of yourself
  • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
To preview the questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12843433

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