Customs and Border Protection Logo
Position Title
Criminal Investigator
Agency
Customs and Border Protection
Announcement Number
OPR-SMP-11720984-RJS Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, November 16, 2022 to Wednesday, November 23, 2022
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
The following set of questions focuses on how you are eligible to apply for this announcement. Eligibilities are known as the specific hiring authorities that allow you to be considered for this announcement. Applicants will only be considered for eligibilities for which they claim during the online application and provide documentation displaying their eligibility for the hiring authority. Please see the required documents section of this announcement for documentation information. For more information regarding what hiring authorities you may be eligible for, please see the following link https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/

Note, the Promotion Potential question applies to current or former Federal employees only. If you are not a current or former Federal employee, select No. Selecting No or answering this question incorrectly will not remove you from consideration. However, if you only claim the promotion potential eligibility, you will not receive further consideration for this position.
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1. Are you a current federal employee who has received notice that you will be displaced from the Department of Homeland Security? If yes, confirm:
  • you occupy a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of CTAP eligibility, such as:
  • Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice, AND
  • Copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.
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2. Are you a current Federal employee with competitive status?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Must reflect:
  • Tenure: Career or career-conditional (1 or 2)
  • Position Occupied: Competitive service (1)
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3. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency? If yes, confirm:
  • you occupy (or have been separated from) a position located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of ICTAP eligibility, such as:
  • Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice, AND
  • Copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.
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4. The following question applies to current or former Federal employees.  If you are not a current or former federal employee, select No.  Applicants who claim only the Promotion Potential eligibility will not receive further consideration. 

Do you hold or have you previously held a permanent position in the Federal competitive service (or in another merit system with which OPM has an interchange agreement) with a Full Performance Level (FPL) equivalent to or higher than the FPL of the position being announced?
 
Applicants who competed for and currently hold or have previously held a permanent position with the same FPL or higher as the position being announced, may be referred for selection without competition under our agency promotion procedures.  Details and temporary promotions are not considered permanent positions.
 
To verify your eligibility as a current or former Federal civilian employee, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form that reflects:
  • career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND
  • status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1); or if with another merit system which OPM has an interchange (Position Occupied field is 2); AND
  • Full Performance Level equivalent to or higher than the grade level being announced.
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5. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:
  • served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (NOTE: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
  • are entitled to veterans' preference?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service. For information on how to request your veterans documentation please contact the Veterans Affairs Benefits and Services at 1-800-827-1000  or online via https://iris.custhelp.va.gov/app/ask/ 
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Preferences
1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. You may only select up to 2 location(s). (limit characters)
2. Are you a current political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee or a former political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years applying to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under Title 5 of the United States Code or are you a current non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) Executive Branch employee or a former non-career SES Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years applying to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under Title 5 of the United States Code?

To verify, please submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) or other relevant documentation reflecting your status as a Political Appointee.
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3. There is a time-in-grade (TIG) requirement for promotion into this position for any individual who holds or within the previous 52 weeks held a General Schedule (GS) position under nontemporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch. Have you completed 52 weeks in a position at or above the GS-13 grade level?

If you are a current federal employee or former federal employee within the past 52 weeks, submit one or more SF-50s that support your selected response below showing you meet or are exempt from time-in-grade requirements.
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4. Do you have a current valid State driver's license or will you be able to obtain a valid license at the time of appointment? (limit characters)
5. There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years, before completing an application for CBP employment.

If you do not meet the residency requirement as stated above and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Exceptions may be granted to applicants if they can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a suitability determination. Examples of state-side coverage information include: the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicant's personnel file is located, the state-side address of the Professor in charge of the applicant's "Study Abroad" program, and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas. If selected for a position, you must provide documentation to support a request for an exception.

Do you meet the residency requirement?
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6. Are you receiving a retirement annuity from OPM based on retiring from the Federal government? If you select yes and you are selected for this position, your salary will be off-set by the amount of your retirement annuity.

To verify, please submit a copy of your retirement SF-50 with your application package.
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7. Have you engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, holding facility, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1997? (limit characters)
8. Have you been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or where the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse, or have you been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in such activity? (limit characters)
9. I have read and understand the following statement: You will be considered for the highest grade level for which you qualify for. Eligibility will be verified based on your resume and transcripts. You must have gained the work experience by the closing date of this announcement. Full-time work experience is 35 or more hours worked per week and must be clearly stated on your resume. Qualifications based on work experience will be determined by what is listed on your resume. Work experience refers to both paid and unpaid experience, such as volunteer work.

Your resume must include the following:
  • Be in English
  • Include full legal name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Complete work history (which includes job titles)
  • Detailed description of your duties (including tasks performed)
  • The dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY - MM/DD/YY)
  • Hours worked per week for any position you worked that was not full time (less than 35 hours per week)
For Federal employment experience, your resume must also include:
  • Series
  • Grade level(s)
  • Salary
*Note- It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality. Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, to include Office 365 passwords.

Do you agree to provide a resume that contains the necessary requirements listed in the instructions above?
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10. Conviction under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child is disqualifying. An intimate partner means, with respect to a person, the spouse of the person, a former spouse of the person, an individual who is a parent of a child of the person, an individual who cohabitates or has cohabited with the person. Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or a child? (limit characters)
11. Are you the subject of any Federal, State, or Tribal court-ordered restraining (protection) order for domestic abuse, including harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or a child? (limit characters)
12. Provisions of Public Laws 93-350 and 100-238 allow the imposition of a maximum age for initial appointment to a primary Law Enforcement Officer position within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In accordance with DHS Management Directive 251-03, the "day before an individual's 37th birthday" is the maximum age for original appointment to a position as a primary law enforcement officer within DHS. In accordance with Department of Homeland Security Directive 251-03, unless the below criteria applies, you must meet this age requirement by the date of referral to the hiring manager.

Creditable law enforcement officer service covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d), or creditable service covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8401(36) (as a Customs and Border Protection Officer) on or after July 6, 2008, may be applied toward the maximum age requirement. This age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving in a federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d).

Veterans Preference Eligibility: To ensure compliance with statutes pertaining to the appointment of preference eligible veterans as determined by the Merit Systems Protection Board in its recent decision of Isabella v. Dept. of State, the maximum age for original appointment articulated above shall not apply to the hiring of individuals entitled to veterans preference eligibility under 5 U.S.C. § 3312. You must submit proof of Veteran's Preference (DD-214 Member 4 Copy) at the time of application.
Will you be less than 37 years of age at the closing date of this announcement?
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13. Have you taken and FAILED a CBP polygraph examination within the last two years? (limit characters)
Assessment 1
The following question will be used to determine whether or not you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. You may wish to consult the vacancy announcement for a description of those requirements. (limit characters)
1. Which of the following best describes your experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level?
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2. If you chose response A in the previous question, please list the position titles, dates and a DETAILED EXPLANATION of qualifying experience from your resume to confirm your response. Please ensure your resume supports the response you selected. If you chose response B, please enter N/A.
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The following questions will be used to rate applicants who meet the minimum eligibility and qualification requirements. (limit characters)
3. Indicate the extent of your experience in interviewing individuals to verify facts or obtain specific information.
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4. Indicate the extent of your knowledge conducting large-scale felony criminal investigations having national and/or international media interest.
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5. Indicate the extent of your experience in participating in or conducting undercover operations.
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6. Indicate the extent of your experience in conducting surveillance.
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7. Indicate the extent of your knowledge of and experience applying search and seizure procedures.
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8. Indicate the extent of your experience in dealing with individuals who are uncooperative, hostile, combative, or dangerous.
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9. Indicate the extent to which you have utilized law enforcement databases.
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10. Indicate the extent to which you have presented information to all levels of employees and management.
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11. Indicate the extent of your knowledge of the concepts, principles, and methodologies for conducting criminal investigations related to procurement fraud and corruption.
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12. Indicate the extent of your experience developing program guidance and direction to ensure fraud is properly identified and investigated in the most efficient and effective manner.
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13. Indicate the extent of your experience in completing forms, documents, and other routine reports.
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14. Indicate the extent of your experience in utilizing computerized databases.
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15. Indicate the extent of your experience developing strategies for the investigation of complex felony crimes involving procurement fraud and corruption.
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16. Do you have experience conducting non-criminal or special-inquiry investigations involving complaints of alleged misconduct?
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17. Do you have experience conducting non-criminal or special-inquiry investigations involving the use of force by law enforcement officers?
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