Criminal Investigator

Summary

The USPS OIG is seeking a highly qualified applicant to fill our Criminal Investigator positions within the Office of Investigations, Central Area Field Office (CAFO) located in Eagan, MN. Bring your skills and voice to our team!

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Duties

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The successful candidate must have experience in planning, conducting and/or leading complex federal criminal, civil and administrative investigations.

Candidates will be evaluated on the skills that they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and the experience, education and training that indicate the applicant's ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Only those candidates who meet all qualification and eligibility requirements and who submit the required information by 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, will be considered.

The USPS OIG uses a Pay Banding system, which is equivalent to the Federal GS scale. Grade and salary determinations will be made based upon a candidate's education and professional experience.

This position is being advertised at the Journey Band level, equivalent to a GS-11 - 13 grade level. The salary range for this position is $81,415 - $197,200 and includes locality pay. Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) is authorized. Compensation includes 1811 LEAP coverage in primary position under law enforcement retirement.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Travel Required: 50% or Less

Please note that the duties and responsibilities associated with this position may vary based upon the agency's needs at the time of hire. The following description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations.

The successful candidate must be highly motivated and exhibit a high degree of character and have experience conducting complex Federal criminal, civil, and administrative investigations.

• Plans, conducts and/or coordinates criminal, civil and administrative investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of Federal laws committed by or against Postal Service personnel or Postal Service contractors.
• Obtains and evaluates information to support all criminal and civil investigations.
• Applies for and serves warrants for arrests, searches and seizures as appropriate and provided by law.
• Prepares requests and/or reviews/approves requests for subpoenas, consensual monitoring, and other requests requiring higher authority.
• Assists Government attorneys in the preparation of grand jury presentations and court cases; serves as a witness in grand juries, criminal and civil courts and administrative forums.
• Maintains liaison with other offices, agencies, and appropriate organizations as needed.
• Conducts investigations using various techniques such as surveillance, interviewing and interrogating, examining files and records, obtaining physical and documentary evidence and undercover assignments.
• Collects, evaluates and preserves physical and documentary evidence. Utilizing cameras and other electronic surveillance equipment to gather evidence.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must currently be a Federal Law Enforcement Officer classified as an 1811 series Criminal Investigator
• Must be able to pass a drug screening and physical examination
• Must be able to pass a background investigation
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Top Secret security clearance
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a government-issued credit card
• May be required to successfully complete a 12-month probationary period
• Selectee subject to random drug testing

Qualifications

You must currently be an 1811 criminal investigator or military equivalent and have at least one or more years of experience as a criminal investigator at a GS-11 or above equivalent grade level in the 1811 occupation series. NON-QUALIFYING experience includes security details, intelligence analysis, corrections or guard duty, physical security, and military/security police officer.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

You must meet ALL of the minimum qualifications listed below.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Completed Basic Criminal Investigative Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) or its equivalent (You must submit a copy of the certification)
• Currently serve as a federal law enforcement officer classified as an 1811 series Criminal Investigator or Military equivalent
• Have at least one or more years of experience in position at the GS-11 or above equivalent grade level as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer. (You must submit a current SF-50 or equivalent that demonstrates your federal law enforcement status)
• Demonstrated experience planning, conducting and/or leading complex criminal investigations
• Must have received a satisfactory performance rating on your two most recent performance appraisal (Fiscal year 2024 and 2025). If a performance appraisal is not available, you must submit a written statement stating the reason (You must submit a copy of your latest 2 performance appraisal or written statement)

In accordance with applicable laws, the applicant selected for this position must:

• Maintain eligibility to operate motor vehicles.
• Must be at least 21 years of age and not have reached 37th birthday at the time of initial appointment to law enforcement position.
• Qualify and maintain authorization to carry firearms, including no current or previous domestic violence convictions.
• Maintain physical, mental and emotional standards and requirements necessary to perform law enforcement assignments.
• Work unscheduled irregular hours with the possibility of personal risk.
• Must be willing to relocate at the direction of management.

Applicants that do not meet the minimum qualification requirements will not be considered .

DESIRABLE

• Knowledge of Postal Service structure, processes operations, etc.

You must have the experience, knowledge and skills as listed in EACH of the evaluation factors. Failure to demonstrate that you meet all of the evaluation factor requirements as listed below will result in a score of zero (0); an ineligible status, and you will not be referred for further consideration.

EVALUATION FACTORS

Include your major accomplishments relevant to the position requirements in your resume.

1. Demonstrated experience planning, conducting and/or leading complex criminal investigations.
2. Demonstrative ability to define problems, analyze alternatives and recommend solutions to difficult problems or issues.
3. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing facts and circumstances of investigations to individuals and groups.

Failure to demonstrate that you meet all evaluation factor requirements will result in a score of zero (0). Upon receipt of a zero score, you will be deemed "not minimally qualified," and you will not be referred for further consideration.

Education

Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Applicants can verify accreditation here:

Special Instructions for Candidates with Foreign Education:

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in U.S. education programs. You must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. credential evaluation service to interpret equivalency of your education against courses given in U.S. accredited colleges and universities. For further information visit:

Additional information

Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the USPS OIG. We offer a broad array of benefits programs:

As a result of the passage of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 (PSRA), USPS employees (including USPS OIG) and retirees will transition from the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program to the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program effective January 1, 2025. Detailed information about eligibility and enrollment will be provided upon hiring. For more information, visit the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program website at

We offer Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Long-Term Care Insurances with Flexible Spending options as well.For more information about these programs visit:

Visit the 'Guide to PSHB Plans' for a comprehensive PSHB plan comparison tool and an educational tool that explains how Medicare B works:

Retirement and Thrift Savings. For more information about these programs see and tsp.gov/.

Flexible Work Schedules. USPS OIG offers a range of family-friendly flexibilities including flexible work schedules, telework and employee assistance programs.

Leave and Holidays. In addition to eleven (11) paid holidays each year, you will earn thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave and thirteen (13) to twenty-six (26) paid vacation days each year depending on your years of service.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Status: Exempt (Nonexempt employees are entitled to overtime pay; Exempt employees are not).

This agency provides Reasonable Accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations during any part of the application and/or hiring process, please contact us by sending an email to View email address on click.appcast.io. The decision on granting an accommodation request will be made on a case-by-case basis.

For further information, please refer to our website at:

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.