Criminal Investigator (MMU)

Summary

This position is located with the Office of the Secretary of Interior, OJS, Missing and Murdered in Bismarck, North Dakota. The Incumbent will be responsible for the review and engagement in the investigations of complex criminal cases in Indian country involving acute and long term missing persons and murders. This position is also open under ST-26-12992563-CAWV-RH. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods. Readvertisement

Duties

• Organizes, plans, and conducts the investigation of major and/or sensitive criminal activity occurring on or impacting Indian country, which can be complex and intricate in nature.
• Leads and organizes investigations that involve working with other federal, tribal and state agencies.
• Focus on analyzing for solvability, on unsolved Missing or Murdered cases involving Native Americans/Alaskan Natives in Indian Country.
• Apprehends, arrests, detains and interviews all subjects suspected of violations of Federal, State, Tribal and local laws. Testifies at hearings and trials and secures search warrants through processing of affidavit.
• Gathers information at a crime scene, documents interrelationships of facts, relevance of evidence and validity of allegations involving criminal activity relating to Missing and Murdered case investigations.
• Prepares and/or reviews reports of investigations to ensure they are prepared in a clear, concise, logical and impartial manner for submission to the appropriate law enforcement, attorneys or prosecutors office.
• Performs surveillance of sites and suspects and/or perform sensitive undercover assignments to obtain evidence, establish probable cause or link multiple suspects and events to criminal activity.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards) GS-12:In addition to the experience at lower grade levels, to qualify at the GS-12 grade level, you must have one (1) year specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level carrying out the full range of in-depth investigative duties related to complex criminal matters in multiple locations, experience investigating missing persons and murder cases, conducting surveillance for extended periods of time to obtain evidence and establish probable cause; and independently writing investigative reports. This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child; or 8) convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Maximum Entry Age Limit: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: 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 in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform 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 too himself/herself, or others is disqualifying. NOTE: If you have previous Federal law enforcement (LE) experience, you must enter the number of MONTHS when you respond to the questionnaire. For example: If you have 5 years of Federal LE, you must enter 60 months, 4 years would be 48 months, etc. Otherwise the system may screen you out. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application package will be evaluated against the minimum qualification requirements specified above. In order to qualify, your resume must specifically describe your work history and the duties you performed in each position. Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date of 08/28/2026 to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a structured resume review and structured interview. These assessments measure the critical competencies required to successfully perform the job. Criminal Investigation Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Problem Solving If you meet the minimum qualifications requirements for this position, your application will be evaluated and rated under Category Rating selection procedures. Once the application process is complete, a review of your qualifications will be conducted to determine if you are qualified for this job. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The quality categories are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within each of these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-preference eligibles. Best Qualified: Applicants that possess all of the job related competencies identified as important for successful job performance. Well Qualified: Applicants that possess a majority (i.e., more than half but not all) of the job related competencies needed for successful job performance. Qualified: Applicants meet the basic eligibility and minimum qualification requirements but do not meet the definition of Best Qualified or Well Qualified as described above. Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472). Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. Indian Preference eligibles not currently employed in Federal service may be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(a)(7). Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applicants in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles. For more information, please visit: https://www.bia.gov/jobs. REVIEW BEFORE YOU SUBMIT: You may preview the assessment questions here in the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12994682. Other Information

The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your [probationary period -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.