Criminal Investigator

Summary

This position is located in the Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Vetting Division , Office of Investigations, Directorate of Domestic Operations, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS/DO/INV/CCV), U. S. Department of State. The Office of Investigations enhances DS's global law enforcement efforts by developing authoritative investigative policy and guidance; providing liaison and investigative support.

For more information about the Bureau, visit: DS

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Duties

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• Serve as a liaison when developing feasible working relationships with various investigative counterparts to gather and/or exchange pertinent information relevant to investigative work that has mutual interests.
• Identify and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies, both domestically and internationally, to provide intelligence analysis, guidance, and technical advice to other criminal investigators.
• Produce and utilize the polygraph to support debriefing activities and evaluate walk-in and vetting information of Foreign National Employees for domestic and international criminal investigations requirements.
• Prepare written reports identifying the results of all polygraph examinations and conduct pertinent interviews and interrogations associated with the conduct of polygraph examinations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Must be no more than 37 years of age upon entry into this position, unless an exception is met.
• Must possess a valid U.S. driver`s license.
• This position requires carrying a firearm, maintaining proficiency, and passing periodic qualifications. Individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9)).
• Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) is authorized at 25% of base pay (incl. locality) and is mandatory. Requires averaging 2+ extra hours per workday, including evenings, nights, and weekends; hours vary by assignment. Paid during BSAC training.
• Must pass periodic physical examinations, meet physical standards set by the Agency for the position, and otherwise fulfill the requirements for law enforcement positions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c).
• Requires various shifts (e.g., 8:15am-5pm), 12am-8am, 4pm-12am, in addition to 2 or more LEAP hours, on a daily basis. The hours worked will vary depending on the nature of your assignment.
• Selectee must sign a mobility agreement to accept relocation to other geographic locations if required by the agency.
• Medical clearance is required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit:

Qualifications

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

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience collecting, analyzing, and evaluating investigative and intelligence data in support of criminal investigations.
• Experience utilizing counterintelligence techniques and personnel security vetting principles, methods, and practices.
• Experience preparing investigative reports, affidavits, or intelligence assessments.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

AGE REQUIREMENT: All applicants must be no more than 37 years of age upon entry into this position, unless one of the following exceptions are met:

• You are a preference eligible veteran (You must submit a copy of your DD-214 verifying your preference eligibility.); OR
• You have prior Federal civilian law enforcement experience covered by Title 5 U.S.C. section 8336 such that, when the years of service is subtracted from your current age, you will be under 37 years of age. (You will need to provide proof of service upon selection.)

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: The duties of positions 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 in order that applicants may perform the 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. Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, 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 disqualifying.

This position requires all incumbents to meet physical fitness standards to ensure they are prepared to carry out all of their official responsibilities. All applicants tentatively selected for this position must complete and submit a Physical Readiness Test (PRT) Self-Evaluation. Prior to receiving a final offer, applicants must pass a Diplomatic Security Service administered PRT. For information on the PRT standards, please visit and Incumbents of this position will be required to maintain the physical fitness standards set by the agency and participate in triannual fitness testing.

TRAINING: Must successfully complete OR have successfully completed the Criminal Investigations Training Program (CITP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glenco, GA, AND the Basic Special Agent Course (BSAC) at the Diplomatic Security Training Center. Candidates will be required to sign a Training Agreement attesting to their understanding that failure to successfully complete the training will result in removal. Additionally, within one year of BSAC graduation, newly hired Criminal Investigators will be required to enroll in the "Advanced Tactics, Leadership, and Skills" (ATLaS) course offered through the Diplomatic Security Training Center. The ATLaS course is 11 weeks long and focuses on enhanced tactics, training and leadership skills. All Criminal Investigators are required to take this course and complete a refresher course every five years.

Polygraph Requirement: The incumbent will be required to meet all requirements for certification as a federal polygraph examiner, to include successfully completing the Psychophysiological Detection of Deception Course at the National Center for Credibility Assessment. This course requires the selectee to pass a Polygraph Exam and possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

The incumbent will be required to meet all requirements for certification as a federal polygraph examiner, to include successfully completing the Psychophysiological Detection of Deception Course at the National Center for Credibility Assessment. This course requires the selectee to possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Additional information

• To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the "Request a Reasonable Accommodation" button within the Assessment Application.
  For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at View email address on click.appcast.io.
  OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests:
  • RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only.
  • Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review.
  • Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters.
  • Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision.
  • Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.
  • Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy.
  • If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at View email address on click.appcast.io.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
• Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.

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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