Investigator

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT 26-40
Investigator - Trial Unit
Office of the Federal Public Defender
District of Arizona, Flagstaff

THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA is accepting applications for the position of full-time investigator to be stationed in Flagstaff. The federal defender organization operates under authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A, to provide defense services in federal criminal cases and related matters by appointment from the court. Staffed offices operate in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and Flagstaff.

The Flagstaff office handles initial hearings of felony cases arising in Northern Arizona, including major crimes occurring on Indian Reservations. Generally, these cases are transferred to the Phoenix office after initial hearings, but our Flagstaff attorneys may keep some felonies through district court resolution. Much of the Flagstaff practice involves misdemeanor offenses occurring in national parks/forests and other federal lands and buildings in Northern Arizona. These cases remain in Flagstaff and are presided over by the magistrate judge. The investigator stationed in Flagstaff will work primarily on cases arising in Northern Arizona and primarily on cases handled by the Flagstaff attorneys, including misdemeanor and felony cases. The investigator may also be assigned to cases arising elsewhere in the District of Arizona and to cases being handled by attorneys in Phoenix and other offices, as needed.

Requirements. To qualify a person must be a high school graduate or equivalent and have at least three years of general experience and three years of specialized experience; some higher education may be substituted for specialized experience. Bachelor’s degree preferred. The applicant should possess the ability to write clearly and present complex and interrelated concepts and ideas. U.S. Citizenship and heavy and extended travel is required. Employment is subject to a satisfactory background investigation.

Duties. The duties of an investigator include case preparation, obtaining and reviewing law enforcement and other pertinent records, meeting with clients, locating and interviewing victims and fact witnesses, conducting scene inspections to take photos and measurements and draft diagrams, identifying and meeting with experts, drafting investigative reports, serving subpoenas, and testifying in court as needed. Other duties include social history investigations, locating and interviewing potential penalty phase witnesses, identifying factors in a client’s background that require expert evaluations, consulting with attorneys to develop guilt and penalty phase theories of the case and case strategy, and working with clients and a client’s family while the case is pending. The investigator’s role includes traditional field investigation and open source digital investigation. An investigator is expected to develop proficiency in and utilize technology as appropriate, including specialized software, hardware, digital forensics and artificial intelligence tools acquired by the office for use in investigations.

Salary and Benefits . The starting salary for the investigator position will be fixed commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the applicant within a range from JSP 11, Step 1, to JSP 14, Step 10, and currently yielding $74,678 to $163,514 per annum. The position is in the excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of the competitive Civil Service. The position does include regular Government employee benefits including health and life insurance, retirement, and the Thrift Savings Plan. Salary is payable only by Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit). All positions are at will and are subject to the availability of funds.

How to Apply . Qualified persons should apply via the online application system at To be considered for the position, applicants need to register at the above web address and create an online profile, or login if you already have a profile. Please follow the prompts to upload a letter of interest, résumé, and a representative writing sample. Announced: September 18, 2026; Closes: October 23, 2026. Interviews may be conducted during the recruitment process. Qualified candidates may receive an interview prior to the closing date.

The Federal Public Defender is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age, are encouraged to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer. The Federal Public Defender for the District of Arizona is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals from groups underrepresented in national projects within the defender community are encouraged to apply.