Student Cooperative - Office of Investigations

Summary Are you currently enrolled in a college or graduate program and seeking a valuable opportunity while you study? The Office of Investigations within the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is looking for passionate and driven students for our Student Cooperative program. This opportunity will support the Northeast Area Field Office (NEAFO) located in: San Juan, PR If you are interested in a career as a Federal Law Enforcement Special Agent in the USPS OIG, apply today! Responsibilities About the Office of Investigations The USPS OIG's mission is to promote integrity, accountability, and efficiency of the U.S. Postal Service. In support of the mission, the Office of Investigations has special agents stationed all across the country conducting investigations in contract fraud, financial fraud, narcotics, mail theft, official misconduct, health care provider fraud, health care claimant fraud, and cyber crimes. About the Student Cooperative Position The successful candidate will assist in gathering data and conducting limited inquiries regarding individual case assignments; assist in case development including, surveillance, forensic analysis, researching assembling, compiling, tabulating information, and preparing memoranda of activity, for agents use in developing search and arrest warrants, and further assisting agent's in evaluating evidence for administrative, civil, and criminal hearings or trials. The student cooperative will gain valuable experience by contributing to investigations and projects. A student cooperative: Performs specialized administrative duties with continuing responsibility for projects, questions, or problems related to a review/project. Each assignment typically consists of a series of related actions or decisions prior to final completion. Addresses a wide variety of problems or situations common to the segment of the program or function to which the employee is assigned. Decisions or recommendations are based on the development and evaluation of information that comes from various sources. Identifies and studies factors or conditions and determines their interrelationships as appropriate to the defined area of work. Takes or recommends actions that are consistent with the objectives and requirements of the program or functions. Recognizes the dimensions of the problems involved, collects the necessary information, establishes the facts, and takes or recommends action based upon application or interpretation of established guidelines. Provides applicable oral and written support for briefings and other related products. Adapts and interacts well in situations that involve diverse team and work dynamics. Please note that the duties and responsibilities associated with these positions may vary based upon the area of assignment. The preceding description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations. Position Compensation These positions are being advertised at the Administrative Band level, equivalent to a GS-05. The hourly pay range for these positions is $$19.58 to $$23.59. Authorized locality is included in this range for all geographic area locations. Learn more about locality specifics by visiting: OPM's General Schedule (GS). The following are the base hourly pay rates for students, categorized by year of study: Sophomore students earn $16.73 per hour, plus additional locality pay. Junior and Senior students earn $17.78 per hour, plus additional locality pay. Graduate or Law students earn $20.15 per hour, plus additional locality pay. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Candidates will be evaluated on the skills that they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and/or 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 10/01/2026 will be considered. Position Minimum Requirements You must meet all minimum requirements listed below. Degree/Major Requirement: Students must be currently enrolled full or half-time (see major list below) in an accredited college or university program, classified or academically ranked by semester hours as a Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Graduate student graduating no sooner than May 2027 (must submit transcripts stating current enrollment status, GPA, and in good standing.) GPA Requirement: Must be in academic good standing as defined by the college or university, earning at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale. Work Location Requirement: Students must report in person to the USPS OIG duty station to which they are assigned. During the academic semester: 10-30 hours per week During school breaks: Up to 40 hours per week (with management approval) Systems Experience: Must have experience with computer software applications such as Microsoft Office, Office365, Word, Excel, etc. Criminal Investigator (1811) Related and Accepted Degrees: Law, Criminal Justice, or Accounting OR Social Sciences (Anthropology, History, Archaeology, Human Geography, Economics, Law, Development Studies, Education, Criminology, Political Science, Translation Studies, Media Studies, Business and Management, Philosophy, Health, International Relations, Linguistics, Cultural Studies, Sociology, Psychology or Communication) Desired Qualifications Previous internship/co-op/employment in the criminal justice field Advanced experience with Microsoft Excel Evaluation Factors | How You Will Be Evaluated A structured Interview will be conducted for the top rated applicants to validate your experience meets the critical competencies at the minimum proficiency level: Skill in written and oral communications and ability to apply those skills in coordination and problem-solving efforts. Skill in the use of personal computers and basic office software programs, including Microsoft office. Ability to work on a wide range of assignments/projects with many different people. Note: Please include in your resume how you meet each evaluation factor listed above. You will no longer be considered for this position if you: fail to respond to all of the questions or receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor. Education Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation here: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation. 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: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs. Additional Information Student Cooperatives are not eligible for USPS OIG Employee Benefits. Reasonable AccommodationsThis agency provides Reasonable Accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please send an email to [email protected]. The decision on granting an accommodation request will be made on a case-by-case basis.