Veterans Affairs, Inspector General Logo
Position Title
Criminal Investigator (Special Agent)
Agency
Veterans Affairs, Inspector General
Announcement Number
23-VAOIG-247 Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 to Wednesday, October 4, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a surplus or displaced Federal employee eligible under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)?  Click CTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.
(limit characters)
3. Are you a displaced Federal employee eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)?  Click ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.
(limit characters)
4. Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency covered by an OPM Interchange agreement that conveys noncompetitive eligibility?

For more information, review Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=InterchangeAgreementsWithOtherMeritSystems

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status. 
(limit characters)
5. Are you eligible for competitive consideration under any of the following merit promotion categories?
  • Current Federal civilian employee in the Competitive service on a permanent career or career-conditional appointment
  • Current Excepted service employee covered by an Interchange Agreement
  • Former Federal employee with Reinstatement eligibility
  • Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA)
  • Current Federal employee serving on a VRA appointment
  • Land Management Employee eligible under Public Law 114-47
  • Other competitive category not listed above (you must submit proof of eligibility)
(limit characters)
6. Are you eligible to be appointed under the Military Spouse Noncompetitive Appointing Authority based on any of the following categories?
  • You are the spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces.
  • You are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating at the time of retirement of 100 percent or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • You are the widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status, and you have not re-married.
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources. (https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans)
(limit characters)
7. Are you a former federal employee that has been separated for at least one full year and is eligible to be non-competitively reinstated to a higher grade or full-performance level than which you left federal employment?
(Note: you MUST provide:  1) a copy of your separation SF-50 (the "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2"); AND 2) the last performance appraisal you received from your federal employment which shows at least a fully successful rating.)
(limit characters)
8. Do you currently hold (or have you previously held) on a permanent basis, a position in the competitive service (or in another merit system with which OPM has an interchange agreement), with promotion potential equivalent to (or higher than) the full performance level of the position advertised in this vacancy announcement?
(limit characters)
9. Are you eligible under any other miscellaneous appointing authority not listed thus far, such as (but not all inclusive to):
  • Postal Career Service Employee;
  • Postal Rate Commission Employee;
  • Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; 
  • Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee; or 
  • Foreign overseas employee or eligible family member of former overseas employee
 For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management.  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=MiscellaneousAuthoritiesNotRegulated .  To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status. 

For more information on Foreign overseas employment please review the following: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#NontemporaryForeignService or https://www.state.gov/global-community-liaison-office/family-member-employment/family-member-employment-in-the-d-c-area/non-competitive-eligibility-nce/#NCE5
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10. Are you eligible for consideration as a Peace Corps, VISTA, or Action volunteer?  If you select this option, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility by submitting proof of employment from the appropriate agency with your completed application.
(limit characters)
11. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.
(limit characters)
12. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions and you:

• recently separated (within the past 3 years)
• are a disabled veteran
• served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition OR
• received an Armed Forces Service Medal

If eligible, 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 your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, provide the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
2. Are you currently serving or have served in the last five years in a Political Appointment in the Federal Government? (limit characters)
3. Would you like the opportunity to be considered for similar positions that require the same knowledge, skills and abilities? (limit characters)
4. If you were born a male after December 31, 1959, and are at least 18 years of age, have you registered with the Selective Service System (select "Not applicable" if this question does not apply to you)? (limit characters)
5. Are you a current Federal employee?
(limit characters)
6. If you are, or ever were a Federal civilian employee, indicate the pay plan and grade level or pay band of the highest graded position you have ever held.
(limit 250 characters)
7.

Incumbents selected for Criminal Investigator positions are covered under special law enforcement provisions. This requires that applicants not exceed the maximum age for entry. The date immediately preceding an applicants 37th birthday is the final date for selection. The age restriction does not apply if you served in a Federal civilian (not military) law enforcement officer (FLEO) position covered by special civil service retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement.

If you are not subject to the age restriction because you have previously served in a Federal civilian (not military) law enforcement officer (FLEO) position as described above, you must submit an SF 50 (or equivalent documentation) showing service in a covered civilian law enforcement. OR If you are not subject to the age restriction because you are a preference eligible veteran, you must submit appropriate veterans documentation to establish that you are eligible for veteran's preference in order to waive the age requirements for this position.

Will you have reached your 37th birthday by the closing date of this announcement?

(limit characters)
8.

Medical Requirements: The selectee must pass a pre-appointment physical examination and meet the physical requirements for this position as required by this agency. The duties of this position 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 and hearing are required to perform the duties satisfactorily. Because the duties of this position are exacting, responsible, and sometimes performed under trying conditions, the selectee must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the selectee to be a hazard to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying.

Do you meet the physical requirements as described above?

(limit characters)
Performance Appraisal
1. As outlined in the vacancy announcement, you must submit a copy of your most recent completed annual performance appraisal which includes the final rating. If you have not submitted an appraisal meeting these requirements, you must explain why you are unable to do so. If you do not provide a copy of the performance appraisal, or a statement advising why it is unavailable, you will be removed from further consideration. Type "yes" in the text box below if you are providing a performance appraisal meeting the above requirements with your application. If you are unable to provide a performance appraisal with your application, please provide a reason in the text box below. (This is required of all applicants regardless of prior federal service. "N/A" is not considered an acceptable response.) (limit characters)
Assessment 1
For the GS-9: Specialized experience is one full year at the GS-07 level, or equivalent, that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes:
Applying investigative techniques to conduct investigations. AND
Assisting with interviews, briefings or presentations; AND
Drafting written reports or use of products that present facts, findings, logical conclusions, and persuasive arguments
OR
Masters or equivalent graduate degree, or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LLB or JD. From the choices below, select the item that best describes your education and experience. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

OR
You may qualify on a combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent.
(limit characters)
1. Select the choice that describes your specialized experience as described above. (limit characters)
2. Please state the dates and location for this experience/education. Please be sure that your resume clearly describes this experience/education. (limit characters)
For the GS-7: Specialized experience is one full year at the GS-5 level, or equivalent, that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes:
Applying investigative techniques to assist in investigations; AND
Assisting with interviews, briefings or presentations

OR
Education: One full year of graduate level education in a related field;

OR
Superior Academic Achievement based on a bachelor's degree that is demonstrated through class standing (upper 1/3 of class); or grade point average (2.95/4.0 overall or 3.5/4.0 in major), or election to membership in a qualifying national scholastic honor society. (Attach copy of transcript or list of college courses designating semester or quarter hours earned to ensure proper credit.

OR
You may qualify on a combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent.
(limit characters)
3. Select the choice that describes your specialized experience as described above. (limit characters)
4. Please state the dates and location for this experience/education. Please be sure that your resume clearly describes this experience/education. (limit characters)
5. Select the one answer that describes your experience of conducting criminal investigations or analyzing information. (limit characters)
6. Select the response that reflects your experience gathering and analyzing facts. (limit characters)
7. Please select the option that describes your primary work experience. (limit characters)
8. Select the types of computer software programs and/or applications with which you have experience. (limit characters)
9. Which of the following computer resources do you have experience using? (limit characters)
10. Select all of the verbal communication activities that you have experience performing. (limit characters)
11. Please select the option that describes your primary work experience. (limit characters)
12. Select all of the written products below that you have experience writing. (limit characters)
13. Select the one answer the describes your experience self-initiating and monitoring work priorities. (limit characters)