Summary
This position is a Criminal Investigator in the Office of Investigations (OI), Office of Inspector General (OIG), at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The mission of the OIG is to provide independent and objective oversight of NSF to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of its programs and operations and to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
Duties
As a GS-1811-13 Criminal Investigator, you will be responsible for the following duties: Plan, organize, and conduct investigations of alleged or suspected violations of federal criminal, civil laws, and administrative regulations. Investigations can include allegations of sexual assault, stalking, grant fraud, contract fraud, and employee misconduct. Experience LEADING sexual assault investigations. Provide advice to case partner(s) and management regarding planning and timing of complex interviews and investigations. Plan, participate in, and organize interrogations, interviews, hearings, and conferences to resolve problems of considerable importance. Obtain, handle, and analyze physical, digital, and testimonial evidence in accordance with legal standards and agency policies. Ensure proper chain of custody and admissibility of evidence for judicial or administrative proceedings. Prepare clear, comprehensive, and cohesive investigative reports in a timely manner in accordance with established policies. Possess working knowledge of applicable rights and advisories, and ensure they are properly administered to witnesses and subjects in accordance with established policies and procedures. Utilize strong interpersonal skills to convey information clearly, appropriately, and professionally with investigators, management, prosecutors, partners, and stakeholders. Recognize, identify, and address undefined issues in assigned investigations, programs, and projects. Coordination with other appropriate participants to determine the nature and scope of the problems and the factors that will be instrumental in their resolution. Brief senior NSF management, investigative personnel, attorneys, and other interested parties regarding projects and programs. Exercise sound judgment and discretion in high-visibility, sensitive, or complex matters. Manage administrative requirements, including case documentation, reporting systems, and resource tracking. THIS POSITION REQUIRES UP TO 50% TRAVEL TO ANTARCTICA, BETWEEN ONE TO SIX MONTHS PER YEAR.
Requirements
You must be a U.S. citizen. Selectee will be required to have a background investigation prior to onboarding. Selectee may be required to serve a 1-2 year trial/probationary period. This position is subject to Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP). This position requires regular qualification with an issued firearm. This position has physical requirements that must be met prior to onboarding and maintained throughout the incumbent's employment. This position is subject to random drug testing. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID-compliant cannot be used as acceptable forms of identification for employment. You must meet all eligibility requirements within thirty (30) days of the date the announcement closes and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met. You will not need a clearance to accept this position, but you must be able to obtain a clearance if needed. If you are a current federal employee holding a General Schedule (GS) position, you must meet the time-in-grade requirements. You must answer all job-related questions in the questionnaire and any assessment that is included. All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Education
Education may enhance skills required for this position; however, no substitution of education for specialized experience may be made at this level.
How you will be evaluated
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Criminal Investigation Investigative Planning and Execution Effective Communication Decision-Making and Sound Judgment Documentation and Reporting IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume is missing the job title, duties, grade, or salary, or dates worked, you might not be referred for consideration to the hiring manager. To evaluate the quality of applicants for referral to the selecting official, a four-phase process will be used. Phase 1: Applicants' resumes and supporting documents will be reviewed by Human Resources (HR) to determine whether they meet the basic qualification requirements. Phase 2: Applicants who are minimally qualified may be advanced to a Structured Resume Review assessment conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs may review applicants' resumes to evaluate technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. Phase 3: Applicants who successfully pass the Structured Resume Review assessment may be advanced to a Structured Interview conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs may assess applicants' ability to demonstrate the required competencies for the position. Phase 4: A final score, which may combine the results from one or more assessments, may be used to identify the top-rated applicants. Applicants meeting the established cut-off score may be referred to the selecting official for consideration and may be required to participate in one or more additional interviews as part of the hiring process.