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Posted: February 16, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Supervisory Criminal Investigator

Forest Service

Department of Agriculture

Fresh

Salary

$125,776 - $160,040

per year

Closes

February 20, 2026

GS-14 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $104,604 - $135,987

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-13. Senior expert or supervisor.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job is for a senior leader in the USDA Forest Service's law enforcement team, where you'll guide complex criminal investigations across the country, review programs, and manage policies and operations.

It's ideal for someone with extensive experience in federal law enforcement who can handle high-pressure situations and lead teams effectively.

The role demands strong physical fitness and mental resilience due to fieldwork in tough conditions.

Key Requirements

  • At least three years of service in positions approved for Rigorous or Primary Law Enforcement retirement coverage
  • Prior law enforcement experience including enforcement of U.S. criminal laws through investigation, apprehension, or detection of offenders
  • One year of specialized experience at GS-13 level, such as directing large-scale national criminal investigations, conducting program reviews, and leading law enforcement policies and operations
  • Moderate to arduous physical fitness, including good vision, hearing, manual dexterity, and ability to handle firearms and inclement weather
  • Emotional and mental stability to manage exacting duties under trying conditions
  • Time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-13 for current federal employees seeking promotion
  • No physical conditions that pose a hazard to self or others

Full Job Description

This position will be filled with the USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations: The incumbent of this position serves as Developmental Assistant Director (Special Assistant to the Director and Deputy Director).

For additional information about the duties of these positions, please contact.

SM.FS.LEI_RECRUIT@USDA.GOV In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements.

Medical Requirements - The duties of positions in this series 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 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 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 to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying.

Due to the requirements of this position, applicants must have prior law enforcement experience that included the following activities: enforcement of criminal laws of the United States through investigation, apprehension, or detection of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against these criminal laws.

This experience must be reflected in the resume.

Selective Placement Factor: Must have at least three years of service in positions that have been approved for Rigorous or Primary Law Enforcement retirement coverage.

NOTE: To be eligible for Secondary Law Enforcement Coverage, you must 1) move directly from a federal Primary/Rigorous position; 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary/rigorous position, and; 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary/rigorous position.

Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-14: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level.

Specialized experience is defined as all of the following: providing direction and oversight for large-scale and complex criminal investigations of national scope; conducting law enforcement program reviews in support of the organization's mission; coordinating, leading and directing law enforcement policy, planning, managerial and operational activities; and conducting and managing large federal criminal investigations such as fraud and mismanagement of programs and operations.

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).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

  • Duties listed are at the full performance level.
  • The primary purpose of this position is to provide full performance investigative, training management, liaison, homeland security and/or physical security oversight assistance to the Director of LEI.
  • The incumbent is responsible for developing national policies and guidance for national investigations, training and enforcement programs affecting National Forest System Lands, and the arrest of persons responsible for criminal offenses.
  • Performs analyses and conducts investigations regarding a wide range of allegations received by the U. S. Forest Service (USFS) and crimes affecting National Forest System Lands or their administration.
  • Serves as a mastery-level troubleshooter on controversial issues or problems related to program activities with significant impact on policies and activities.
  • Provides regions with mastery technical advice and direction on investigation, enforcement and training related matters.
  • Establish and maintain effective communication through personal interaction and effective coordination of investigative matters with elected and appointed officials of the United States government and its states.
  • Serves as a liaison with the USDA Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination with investigating and assessing LEI employees’ security clearance violations.
  • Provides comprehensive leadership, allocates resources, and implements activities to accomplish USFS multicultural organization direction, and Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights requirements, goals, policies, and objectives.
  • Provides mastery level administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit.
  • Provides leadership, allocates resources, and implements activities to accomplish USFS multicultural organization direction, and Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights requirements, goals, policies, and objectives.
  • The incumbent oversees and reviews the priorities of investigative, training and enforcement assignments and the efficiency and effectiveness of these program areas conducted by agents within the USFS.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/16/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/16/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-WO-LEI-12883790-FS-LS