Criminal Investigator
U.S. Agency for International Development
Posted: April 4, 2026 (0 days ago)
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U.S. Agency for International Development
Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
Location
Salary
$121,785 - $158,322
per year
Type
Closes
Base salary range: $88,520 - $115,079
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-12. Expert-level knowledge in field.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job is for a criminal investigator at the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Inspector General, focusing on probing fraud, waste, and abuse in U.S.
foreign aid programs across various government agencies and international partners.
The role involves planning complex investigations, analyzing contracts and records, and ensuring compliance with laws, often in challenging conditions that require physical fitness and mental resilience.
It's a great fit for experienced federal investigators with a background in law enforcement, strong analytical skills, and a passion for protecting public funds in global assistance efforts.
By law, this Office of Inspector General has continued oversight responsibility for United States funded foreign assistance activities across multiple agencies, to include the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Inter-American Foundation, the US African Development Foundation, USAID and the Department of State.
Responsibilities may additionally include oversight of and/or oversight coordination for foreign assistance programs with other interagency partners throughout the US Government.
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 range of motion of fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, and knee joints are 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 the 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 this position 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 to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
Applicants that have no prior series 1811 criminal investigator experience must meet the maximum age for entry into a covered position which is the date immediately preceding the applicant's 37th birthday and must be able to retire at the mandatory age of 57 years with 20 years of service as an 1811 criminal investigator.
Hiring exceptions may be made for certain eligible veterans.
Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-13 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade in the Federal service or equivalent.
Specialized experience is defined as: (1) Planning, organizing, and conducting highly complex criminal, civil and/or administrative investigations, (2) Reviewing and analyzing contracts and business records, and (3) Applying appropriate legal/ regulatory guidelines and standard investigative techniques/procedures.
Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year). Time in Grade Requirement: Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date.
This means that you must have served at least 52 weeks at the next grade level (or equivalent) below the grade advertised on this vacancy announcement.
Required competencies for this position: Investigative Practices and Techniques Case/Project Management Planning and Evaluating Oral Communication and Written Communication Problem Solving Teamwork Selective Placement Factor: (1) Applicants must have experience conducting investigations of Title 18, False Claims Act and investigations involving contractual remedies.
(2) Applicant must have satisfactorily completed the Criminal Investigator Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, or any one of the following equivalent programs: Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Academy; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) (proof of completion must be provided at time of application).
If you are requesting special employment consideration under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or CTAP, you must provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.
If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.
To be well-qualified you must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least "well-qualified" on the questionnaire.
You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority.
Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.
Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from Career Transition (opm.gov). Major Duties:
As a Criminal Investigator with the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations, you will: Conduct complex and large-scale criminal, civil, and administrative investigations.
Plan, conduct and coordinate sensitive and significant domestic and overseas criminal investigations affecting the integrity and efficiency of USAID, ADF, IAF and MCC activities and personnel in an assigned geographic region.
Plan, organize or direct investigations, determine scope and possible ramifications, develop methods, procedures and techniques to be followed.
Conduct research, data collection and analysis of information related to programs and projects that are subject to investigative oversight.
Oversee the gathering and development of technical/administrative evidence relating to phases of investigations, and utilize a broad range of investigative techniques such as interviews, subpoenas, search warrants, electronic surveillance, financial analysis, document examination and the use of expert witnesses.
Lead teams or work directly with employees and other federal agencies' experts to complete investigations.
Prepare investigative reports and other written documentation for action officials, Congress, prosecutorial bodies and OIG management.
Brief and advise management/leadership, congressional staffers, prosecutors and law enforcement teams on various investigative matters/results.
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