Criminal Investigator

Full Job Description

This office works within DOT to detect and prevent waste, fraud and abuse in departmental programs.

The OIG reports to the Secretary and Congress and carries out its mission by issuing audit reports, evaluations, and management advisories with findings and recommendations to improve program delivery and performance.

It conducts investigations into whether Federal laws and regulations were followed and reports suspected civil and criminal violations to the Attorney General.

To qualify at the GS-07 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience at least to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes: work in a trainee capacity or other position where knowledge of basic investigative or analytical techniques and methods was applied to determine case resolution.

Education: Completed one full academic year of graduate education (Master's level) (18 credits) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position such as public policy, law, political science, business administration, finance, or public administration.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants that possess a percentage of the required specialized experience and a percentage of the required graduate level education such that, when the percentages of the required graduate education and specialized experience are added together, they equal 100%.

(Only graduate education and only professional experience equivalent to the GS-5 or higher is creditable.) OR Superior Academic Achievement: You possess a BACHELOR'S DEGREE that is qualifying for this position that meets the criteria for eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement provision through one of the following methods.

No more than 10% of academic credit can be based on pass/fail or similar non-traditional grading systems. TO CLAIM SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (S.A.A): YOU MUST HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

THE DEGREE MUST BE CONFERRED. YOU CAN NOT CLAIM S.A.A WHILE STILL PURSUING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE UNLESS YOU HAVE OBTAINED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE ALREADY.

THEREFORE, TO CLAIM S.A.A AND ALSO BE A PATHWAYS ELIGIBLE, YOU MUST HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE WITH A 3.0 GPA OR HIGHER CONFERRED AND PURSUING A POST-GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE OR ANOTHER DEGREE SUCH AS AN ASSOCIATE'S, BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S OR DOCTORATE.

* 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum * 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

(Grade-point averages will be rounded to one decimal place.

For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9) * Upper 1/3 ranking in graduating class (you must submit proof with your application) * National Scholastic Honor Society.

Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

(You must submit proof with your application) To qualify at the GS-09 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience at least to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service.

Examples of specialized experience includes: experience with document reviews, interviews, preparing written materials and reports; experience with researching legal documents and/or interviewing witnesses to verify facts and obtain specific pieces of information; securing signed statements, affidavits and documentary evidence; completing case reports for case records OR, a Masters or equivalent graduate degree in a related field, OR two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B or J.D., if related.

You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate education and experience.

GS-11: To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service.

Examples of specialized experience includes: experience conducting investigations and research; conducting subject-matter expert interviews; gathering documents and background information; conducting sophisticated document reviews; experience utilizing various investigative techniques to establish interrelationships of facts or evidence OR, Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field, OR, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.

You can also qualify based on a combination of education and experience.

NOTE: All applicants who do not currently or have in the past worked as a GS-1811 Criminal Investigator in a federal OIG office must clearly demonstrate in their on-line application, possession of the experience.

Applicants who fail to clearly and specifically address this factor in their on-line application will not receive further consideration for the announcement.

Your questionnaire will be evaluated based on the following competencies: Knowledge of Investigative Principles and Case Development Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills Written Communication Skills Research and Information Gathering Interviewing and Investigative Support Skills Applicants must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Major Duties:

GS-07 Major Duties Assists in developing cases for criminal, civil and administrative investigations by gathering evidence to establish violations of fraud, waste, abuse, and/or other suspected violations.

Drafts investigative case plans which includes: identifying the primary nature of the allegations (criminal, civil, administrative), specifying the focus of the investigation (subject/targets), considering coordination of investigative efforts with other authorities, projecting the type of evidence that will be required, determining possible sources of information and how to obtain the required facts, and projecting the investigative steps and strategies that should be employed.

Works with senior criminal investigators to revise case plan as needed to reflect significant changes in focus or direction.

Documents the details and progress of all investigations and ensures the information is kept current and maintained in the case management system.

Prepares drafts for a variety of written products which are grammatically correct and in the correct format such as investigative summaries, periodic reports, reports of investigation, subpoenas, affidavits, memorandums of activity, surveillance reports, and interview summaries.

Distinguishes pertinent facts from hearsay and other inadmissible or unreliable information. Develops leads through a variety of means.

Participates in interviews and interrogations of witnesses and targets of investigations with senior special agents. Assists in serving subpoenas and conducting searches, seizures, and arrests.

Participates in electronic or physical surveillance in order to gather intelligence to either refute or substantiate allegations.

Analyzes evidence collected from a variety of sources including financial and business transactions.

GS-09 Major Duties Develops cases for criminal, civil, and administrative investigations by gathering evidence to establish violations of fraud, waste, abuse, and/or other suspected violations.

Reviews allegations to assess DOT nexus and impact.

Prepares investigative case plans which includes: identifying the primary nature of the allegations (criminal, civil, administrative), specifying the focus of the investigation (subject/targets), considering coordination of investigative efforts with other authorities, projecting the type of evidence that will be required, determining possible sources of information and how to obtain the required facts, and projecting the investigative steps and strategies that should be employed.

Revises case plan as needed to reflect significant changes in focus or direction. Assists management in determining the depth and scope of investigations.

Documents the details and progress of all investigations and ensures the information is kept current and maintained in the case management system.

Assists in preparing cases for presentation to prosecutors or management officials.

Prepares drafts for a variety of written products which are grammatically correct and in the correct format such as investigative summaries, periodic reports, reports of investigation, subpoenas, affidavits, memorandums of activity, surveillance reports, and interview summaries.

Distinguishes pertinent facts from hearsay and other inadmissible or unreliable information. Develops leads through a variety of means.

Participates in interviews and interrogations of witnesses and targets of investigations. Assists in serving subpoenas and conducting searches, seizures, and arrests.

Participates in electronic or physical surveillance in order to gather intelligence to either refute or purport allegations.

Analyzes evidence collected from a variety of sources including financial and business transactions.

GS 11- Major Duties Prepares investigative case plans which includes: identifying the primary nature of the allegations (criminal, civil, administrative); specifying the focus of the investigation (subject/targets); considering coordination of investigative efforts with other authorities; projecting the type of evidence that will be required; determining possible sources of information and how to obtain the required facts; and projecting the investigative steps and strategies that should be employed.

Revises case plan as needed to reflect significant changes in focus or direction. Assists management in determining the depth and scope of investigations.

Prepares a variety of written products which are grammatically correct and in the correct format such as investigative summaries, periodic reports, reports of investigation, subpoenas, affidavits, memorandums of activity, surveillance reports; and interview summaries.

Coordinates investigative activities with a variety of law enforcement bodies. Interviews and interrogates witnesses and targets of investigations.

Assists in serving subpoenas and conducting searches and seizures.