Criminal Investigator - Direct Hire

Summary

Positions under this announcement are being filled using a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) , open to all U.S. citizens. Selections made under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would be given new appointments to the civil service. Under the provisions of the DHA, veteran's preference in selection does not apply.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. citizens.

Duties

• Responsible for conducting and coordinating difficult and sensitive investigations related to fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in Agency programs and operations.
• Independently conducts criminal investigations and determines the scope of investigations based on guidance from supervisory criminal investigators, subject matter experts, auditors,
• (Cont'd) Office of Counsel to the Inspector General attorneys or other personnel in the investigative process.
• Plans, coordinates, and initiates contacts with Federal, State, local officials, and other key officials related to matters under investigation for the purpose of obtaining facts,
• (Cont'd) signed statements, explanation of actions, and conducting surveillance.
• Plans and conducts interviews with suspects, witnesses, and informants in case development.
• Plans and conducts surveillance of a suspect or various groups of suspects. Serves as the key coordinator for all activities and participants involved in the surveillance.
• Prepares interim and comprehensive final investigative reports for prosecutive and management officials and maintains investigative files in a professional, organized manner in order that
• (Cont'd) all pertinent information will be readily available.
• Testifies before grand juries, courts, or administrative hearings on facts of investigative cases.
• Selectee will be required to pass firearms qualification and may be required to carry a firearm.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (
• Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
• Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
• Relocation expenses will not be paid
• Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
• Selectees may be required to sign a mobility agreement.
• This position is designated as mobile work. Mobile work means work that is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite such as a home or office.
• Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion or national origin

Qualifications

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.



HOW TO QUALIFY : Eligible applicants must meet the following qualification requirements



Specialized Experience: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-11 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Such experience must include at least ONE of the following:
(1) Planning criminal investigations with minimal oversight;
(2) Collecting and organizing information for use in criminal investigations;
(3) Reviewing statements or evidence obtained from various sources (for example, witnesses, financial institutions, databases) to determine the impact on criminal investigations;
(4) Partnering with law enforcement agencies at the Federal, state, local, or tribal level to accomplish criminal investigative objectives.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Additionally, the Law Enforcement (1811) series has the following qualification requirements:

• Tentative selectee(s) must pass a pre-appointment physical examination. 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, 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 themselves or others is disqualifying.
• Tentative selectee(s) will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment unless currently an SSA employee occupying a position already in a random drug testing program. Appointment to the position is contingent upon a negative test result. After appointment the employee will be included in the agency's random drug test program.
• This position is subject to the Lautenberg Amendment/Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968.
• The selected employee will not be made a final offer of employment until after we receive notice of the completion of a successful background investigation.
• Selectee will be required to pass firearms qualification and may be required to carry a firearm.
• The selectee will be required to attend a course of instruction on the proper use of Oleoresin Capsicum spray (OCS), which is the oily resin of pepper. This instruction includes being exposed to OCS so that knowledge of its effects can be gained.
• This position is covered by the special retirement provision for Federal Law Enforcement Officers (FLEO). Selectee without previous FLEO service must be at least 21 years of age and not yet 37 years of age or older on the date of appointment. NOTE: Your date of birth and preference eligibility will be verified. The age restriction does not apply to individuals currently employed in FLEO positions or preference eligible veterans. To receive preference eligibility, you must submit verification documentation (e.g., DD-214 or VA compensability letter). Please also note that you may be disqualified at any time during the process should it be determined that you will reach age 37 prior to appointment.)
• Selectee newly assigned to the Criminal Investigator position MUST successfully complete the 12-week Criminal Investigator Program training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia.
• This position is designated as a mobile work position. Mobile work means work that is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite such as a home or office. It is different from telework and/or remote work. Examples of mobile work include site audits, site inspections, investigations, property management, and work performed while commuting, traveling between worksites, or on Temporary Duty (TDY).
• Selectee must sign a mobility agreement to accept relocation to other geographic locations if required by the agency.

Education

There is no educational requirement for this position.

Additional information

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.


Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.


This is a non-bargaining unit position.



Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See



Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request an RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here:

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.

Benefits

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.

Review our benefits

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. To preview the questions, click the following link:


The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the online assessments completed during the application process. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Knowledge of laws, policies, and techniques related to interviewing individuals, including advice of rights (e.g., Miranda, Kalkines, Garrity).
• Knowledge of the laws (e.g., 4th Amendment), policies, and procedures related to searches of persons and property.
• Knowledge of surveillance laws, policies, and techniques, including overt and covert methods (e.g., electronic, optical, video).
• Knowledge of the laws, policies, and procedures governing application, receipt, and execution of warrants.

The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.
.Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully.


Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. Cheating on the online assessment may result in your removal from consideration.

Required Documents

You must also submit ALL supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.



To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

• Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. - Per OPM's new resume guidance , resumes must be limited to 2 pages only.

• Other documents supporting qualifications and/or preference, if applicable.

* Additional information on writing a resume for a federal job *





INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:

• proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
• proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information visit

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

• To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.

• Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.

• Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.

• After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.

• If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. You may check Computer System Requirements here: Note: Set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the "Track my application" link for the corresponding application.

You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application . This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.


To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account and select "Application Status". If your status has not been updated, then no changes have occurred since your referral. Please note that the selecting official may choose to interview all, some, or none of the referred candidates. You will be contacted directly if you are to be interviewed.


Additionally, you will receive notification via email to the email address in your USAJOBS profile when your status is updated, such as if another applicant was selected or the posting was cancelled. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit:


If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Megan Robertson at View email address on jobs.institutedata.com


Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state:


Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.

Agency contact information

Megan Robertson

Phone

View phone number on jobs.institutedata.com

Email

View email address on jobs.institutedata.com

Address

SSA OIG
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US

Next steps

If you meet the minimum qualifications of this position, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments system. These additional online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement unless you have requested Reasonable Accommodation for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Your results will be kept on record for one year when applying for future jobs that require the same USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.


Once you have successfully submitted all of the required application materials and assessments, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.


Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.

Overview

Accepting applications

Posted today · Apply by 06/01/26

Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 1, 2026

Location

Denver, CO

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible

No

Remote job

No

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Salary

$99,800 - $129,742 per year

Selectee will also receive 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) in addition.

Pay scale & grade

GS 12

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule

Full-time

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Appointment type

Permanent

Occupations and job series

• 1811 Criminal Investigation

Supervisory status

No

Federal service type

This job is in the Competitive Service

Represented by a union

No

Drug test

Yes

Security clearance

Top Secret

Position sensitivity and risk

Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

• National security

Financial disclosure required

Yes

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number

SSA12969036-DHA26-OIG

Control number

870641600