Criminal Investigator

About the role

This office works within DOT to detect and prevent waste, fraud and abuse in departmental programs. The OIG reports to the Secretary and Congress and carries out its mission by issuing audit reports, evaluations, and management advisories with findings and recommendations to improve program delivery and performance.

It conducts investigations into whether Federal laws and regulations were followed and reports suspected civil and criminal violations to the Attorney General.

What you will do

• GS-13 Major Duties Reviews allegations to determine criminal jurisdiction, Department of Transportation (DOT) nexus, and programmatic or financial impact; advises management on investigative merit and appropriate criminal enforcement action.
• Plans, develops, and conducts complex and sensitive criminal investigations involving fraud, waste, abuse, and other violations; gathers, evaluates, and analyzes evidence to establish probable cause and support criminal prosecution.
• Determines and articulates DOT nexus and criminal jurisdiction throughout the investigative process.
• Develops, implements, and revises comprehensive investigative case plans, identifying the nature of criminal allegations; subjects and targets; coordination requirements with prosecutors and law enforcement partners; projected evidence needs; sources of information; and investigative steps, strategies, and timelines.
• Exercises significant independence in determining investigative scope, depth, and priorities while coordinating with supervisory personnel regarding resource utilization and case direction.
• Conducts or oversees advanced investigative techniques, including electronic and physical surveillance, undercover operations, execution of search and arrest warrants, and service of subpoenas.
• Leads and coordinates criminal investigative activities with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, U.S. Attorney's Offices, and other prosecutorial authorities.
• Independently conducts interviews and interrogations of witnesses, confidential sources, cooperating defendants, and subjects of investigations.
• Analyzes complex financial, tax, accounting, and banking records to identify, document, and prove fraudulent schemes and related criminal activity.
• Evaluates information to distinguish admissible evidence from hearsay or unreliable data and applies advanced analytical methods to identify criminal patterns and violations.
• Documents investigative actions, findings, and evidence in accordance with criminal investigative standards and maintains accurate, timely records within the official case management system.
• Prepares and reviews legally sufficient investigative reports, affidavits, and case packages for presentation to prosecutors and senior management.
• Provides expert testimony before grand juries, courts, and administrative forums as required.
• Performs frequent travel in support of criminal investigative operations.

Requirements

• A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals.
• Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• PRE-EMPLOYMENT/PRE-APPOINTMENT DRUG TESTING: Tentatively selected candidates are required to successfully complete a pre-employment urinalysis in accordance with DOT 3910.1D entitled "Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace", which includes testing for marijuana.
• Marijuana is legal in some states, however it's still illegal at the federal level.
• Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.
• TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• (continued under 'Other Information')

How you will be evaluated

All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases to determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed.

Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents).

Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible. Federal employees must meet Time-In-Grade (TIG) requirements for merit promotion consideration. TIG is the 52-week requirement Federal employees in competitive service, General Schedule (GS) positions at GS-5 and above must serve before they are eligible for promotion to the next grade level.

TIG requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Supporting documents may either be uploaded or faxed to ***. The requested information MUST be received by fax within 48 hours prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement (not including Saturdays, Sundays or government holidays).

NOTE: If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration. Applicants who fail to submit all the required documentation listed below, in addition to their resumes, will be considered ineligible for further consideration for this announcement.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• Resume (required) - Your resume must sufficiently describe how your experience fully meets the specialized experience requirements as stated in this announcement for each grade level(s) you are applying (see "Qualifications" section). **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 qualifications.
• Your resume must also support your responses to the assessment questionnaire.
• Credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience.
• We cannot assume you have performed the experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career.
• Resume must contain all of the following for each experience/position listed: job title, name of employer, beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year format), hours worked per week, detailed description of duties performed, and if a Federal position, series and grade or equivalent.
• We will not access web pages linked on your resume to determine your qualifications.
• Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information.
• For additional information see: What to include in your resume Resume Writing PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL -Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation (documented within the last 18 months of employment) and 2) a list of any awards (e.g., superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last three years.
• Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official.
• The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the selection process.
• If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is unavailable and indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at a satisfactory or above level.
• CTAP / ICTAP - Displaced federal employees may be eligible for CTAP or ICTAP priority consideration.
• To learn more about your rights, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
• To receive priority consideration, you must be evaluated as well-qualified for this vacancy.
• This means you must: meet all minimum qualifications for the position and score at least 80 on the assessment.
• Required Documentation - You must submit all of the following documents with your application package: Performance Appraisal: Your most recent, dated within the last 2 years.
• Proof of Eligibility: Your agency-issued eligibility letter or Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice showing your official or proposed separation date.
• Separation SF-50: Your separation or termination SF-50 displaying your job series, grade, duty location, and effective date.
• Proof of Full Performance Level (FPL): A promotion or highest-grade-held SF-50 that matches the FPL of this vacancy.

What to expect next

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your application status by the servicing human resources specialist via e-mail.

It is essential that you have a current e-mail address on file and remove any restrictions from your e-mail account that may prohibit our contacting you via e-mail. You may also check the status of your application at ***

Additional information

Conditions of Employment Continued: MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS- The duties of this position 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 Applicants must not turn 37 years of age before 30 days after the closing date of this announcement. If you are age 37 through 56 you must be eligible to retire at age 57 with 20 years of covered law enforcement service.

All qualified veterans preference eligibles may apply and be considered for this vacancy regardless of whether they meet the maximum age requirements identified at 5 U.S.C 3307.

You will be required to satisfactorily complete the criminal investigator training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center if selected and not yet completed.

You will be required to qualify and maintain qualification to carry and use government-owned firearms.

You are ineligible for this position if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, unless the conviction was expunged, set aside, or you received a pardon. In most jurisdictions, you must be at least 21 years of age to carry a firearm. This position is eligible for Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP).

This is a primary position that meets the early law enforcement retirement provisions of both the Civil Service and the Federal Employees Retirement Systems. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Best qualified candidates will be responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel expenses in conjunction with any required interviews, unless they are already employed by the Office of Inspector General at the U. S. Department of Transportation.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment.

In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, ***