Criminal Investigator

Summary

View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. Locations listed below.

These are non-bargaining unit positions.

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Duties

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As a Criminal Investigator, GS-13 you will perform the following duties:

• Conducts complex criminal, civil, and administrative investigations requiring an expert level of planning and multi-jurisdictional coordination;
• Investigates individuals, businesses, criminal organizations, criminal conspiracies, and terrorist or terrorist organizations representing a significant threat to public safety and national security;
• Obtains evidence through traditional and non-traditional investigative techniques, such as electronic surveillance and monitoring, interrogation, polygraph examinations, physical surveillance, controlled deliveries, documentary searches, and cultivation and use of paid informants;
• Prepares affidavits for court-approved search and seizure warrants and electronic intercepts (e.g., non-consensual wiretaps, pen registers and other communication devices) believed to be used for terrorist or criminal activities; and
• Utilizes a variety of law enforcement databases to conduct mandatory e-searches on subjects under investigation.

Organizational Location : These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations at 245 duty locations throughout the country to include the Headquarters National Capitol Region.

Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Buffalo, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; Saint Paul, Minnesota; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Seattle, Washington; Tampa, Florida; Washington, District of Columbia

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.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Time in Grade: Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the Federal service. Time in grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
• Probationary Period: This is a full-time permanent position (Career/Career-Conditional appointment). Upon appointment to this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess a valid automobile driver's license at the time of appointment.
• This position requires the selectee to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, U.S.C. Section 022 (g)(9)).
• Convictions of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are disqualifying.
• Work Conditions: Job requires physical strength and stamina due to long periods of surveillance, restraining suspects, and carrying heavy equipment. Environment includes work indoors/outdoors in a potentially dangerous and stressful situations.
• If referred for a polygraph, you would be required to travel at your expense to take a polygraph exam.
• Travel: You will be required to travel frequently and on short notice.
• Medical Requirements: You must be physically, emotionally, and mentally able to perform the duties of the position. You must comply with ICE's policies, procedures and applicable law related to such medical and fitness standards.
• The date immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday is the last day to be referred for selection consideration (certain exclusions apply).
• You will be required to live within 50 miles of your duty station.
• You will be required to testify at court. Law enforcement officers and agents must be able to testify without concern of impeachment.
• ICE Criminal Investigators may use deadly force when necessary, in accordance with the law and agency policy.
• You will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment Physical Fitness Test (PFT).

Qualifications

Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Handling criminal investigations involving substantial difficulty where circumstantial evidence is used or indirect perpetrators are pursued;
• Complications because the subjects were prominent figures or operated their illegal activities under cover of legal ones; AND
• Follow up on the entire chain of separate investigative matters stemming from original assignments; and a web of multi-jurisdictional problems.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Firearms Requirement: You will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position. Maintaining firearm proficiency is also mandatory. You must satisfactorily complete (or have previously completed) the firearms component of the Criminal Investigation Training Program at Glynco, Georgia. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition. Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment.

Work Conditions: This job requires physical strength and stamina to perform such activities as conducting long periods of surveillance, pursuing and restraining suspects, and carrying heavy equipment to be uses in investigative efforts. These activities require considerable physical exertion, such as running, stooping, bending, climbing, lifting and carrying heavy objects. The environment involves work indoors and outdoors in a variety of potentially dangerous and stressful situations, as well as exposure to physical attack, including the use of lethal weapons.

Polygraph: ICE has designated this position for polygraph testing, which you may be required to submit to and successfully complete as a pre-employment requirement. If referred for polygraph testing, you will be required to travel to a testing location at your own expense. If you previously had an unsuccessful ICE administered polygraph examination within the last 365 days, ICE will use those results, which will eliminate you from continuing in the hiring process.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

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.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Additional information

This position is at the full performance level.

Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the lowest and highest potential salaries for this position. The actual salary range will be based on the applicable locality pay for the selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Suitability: 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, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Financial Disclosure: If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for Top Secret as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Local Commuting Restriction: This announcement is subject to Local Commuting Restrictions as defined in 5 CFR §330.101. For this announcement, the Local Commuting area is 50 miles from your home of record. The home of record listed on your resume will be used to determine if you reside within the Local Commuting area. Certain eligibilities are exempt from the Local Commuting restriction while others are not. Local Commuting restrictions are determined by the eligibility in which you select and will be assessed once the announcement has closed.

Benefits: DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required.

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.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.