Criminal Investigator (Operations Officer)

Summary The working title for the position is Operations Officer. This position is located within in the Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations (OI) Headquarters Operations. OI's mission is to conduct criminal, civil, and administrative investigations into alleged violations of federal laws relating to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) programs, operations, and personnel to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in such programs and operations. Responsibilities Primarily responsible for case management and integrity of database information, and the work of technical specialists. Coordinates interregional intelligence activity, and national program projects/reports. Participates in the planning, development, coordination and control of short- and long-range investigative plans related to program fraud and labor racketeering investigations. Conducts reviews and evaluations of regional offices' investigative activity. Monitors the quality of investigative reports and submissions into the case management system, and as such makes recommendations to OI offices. Provides technical guidance on program fraud and labor racketeering issues to criminal investigators in all OI offices throughout the United States and interacts with other agencies within the Department of Labor as well as the Department of Justice's Organized Crime Section. Also, initiates, plans, coordinates, and oversees inter-office or nationwide investigative efforts. Provides recommendations for course of action on those cases which require high-level attention. Provides technical guidance on investigative matters to criminal investigators on labor racketeering and/or program fraud matters in all OI offices throughout the United States. Develops and participates in program fraud and labor racketeering training. Exercises a broad national perspective in reviewing investigative operations; identifies and resolves potential problem areas, i.e., in situations which are precedent setting, have impact in other locations, or have nationwide impact. Develops and prepares written directives, policy, standards and procedural memoranda to be used nationwide involving investigative activity. Handles Congressional and complaint inquiries and provides responses in a timely and factual manner. Works on recurring reports, such as semiannual report submissions, Council of Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) reports, etc. Higher grade level 1811s may receive biweekly and annual premium pay caps (refer to OPM website). Other Information: This position will not be filled until the Department's Placement Assistance Programs have been fully utilized. This position is outside the bargaining unit. Relocation Incentives are not offered. No Permanent Change of Station Funds (PCS) will be offered. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications You must meet the Specialized Experience to qualify for Criminal Investigator (Operations Officer), as described below. Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-13, in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Qualifying specialized experience includes at least four (4) of the following: Identifies and initiates criminal investigations with regional and/or national significance in financial crimes and fraud, federal programs, contracts or grant fraud and/or employee integrity offenses; Reviews the work of investigators for technical accuracy and adherence to policies, ensuring sound judgment in their actions and recommendations; Recommends or develops investigative policies, directives, standards and/or procedures; Drafts detailed responses and/or reports on investigative findings; and/or Conducts joint investigations with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, establishing and maintaining effective communication channels. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POSITION: Maximum AGE Requirements: An applicant must enter a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) law enforcement covered position or a Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) law enforcement covered position not one day later than his/her 37th birthday. Please note: Applicants appointed to Criminal Investigator positions in the Federal service must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to the position unless they previously served in a Federal civilian law enforcement position covered by special civil service retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement. This requirement may be waived only for veterans. However, the primary duties of these positions are classified as rigorous, and a waiver may be authorized by the head of the agency only in unusual situations. An age requirement waiver is not automatic. An individual who has passed the maximum entry age limit but previously served in a covered position, may be eligible for consideration and reinstatement of coverage if he/she will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered law enforcement service by the time he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 57. See OPM Retirement Handbook for further details. POSITION REQUIREMENTS FOR OIG {SUPERVISORY} CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS Incumbents are required to be able to perform the following duties: A. Firearm Use. All OIG criminal investigators must qualify to use a DOL-owned firearms and accept assignments where firearms are necessary. The use of firearms may sometimes be justified and required. B. Arrests. OIG criminal investigators make arrests, with or without a warrant, according to the circumstances. C. Search and Seizure. OIG criminal investigators execute search warrants to examine premises or seize evidence. D. Surveillances. During investigations, criminal investigators may conduct surveillance of suspected criminal activities. E. Undercover Assignments. From time to time, criminal investigators assume undercover roles. F. Review of Records and Other Evidence. Investigative cases often involve reviewing and managing large volumes of records, which investigators handle and transport for copying. G. Travel. Many criminal investigators engage in frequent travel, sometimes up to 50 percent of their time. This travel often requires long hours of driving (8 to 14 hours) in potentially severe weather and hazardous road conditions. H. Maintain Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance. I. Basic Law Enforcement Training: As a condition of employment, newly-hired OIG criminal investigators must have successfully completed the basic criminal investigator training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC ), unless waived by OIG because of proof of comparable special agent or law enforcement officer training. Education There is no substitution of education for the required specialized experience at the GS-14 level. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information. Additional Information Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Non-Supervisory Financial Disclosure: This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). Therefore, if selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest(s) and your prospective position with DOL. This information will be required annually. Telework (if applicable): This position is physically located in Washington, DC. Incumbents are eligible to telework, subject to supervisor approval, but must also report to the physical office a prescribed number of days each pay period. Click here for Telework Position Information As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use prior to the appointment. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.