Summary

Investigations will typically involve violations of the Department's programs and regulations with respect to illegal transportation of hazardous materials, aviation safety, contract and grant fraud and motor carrier safety. Results of investigations may form the basis for withholding funds from a state, criminal or civil prosecution by the Department of Justice; administrative personnel actions by DOT; or changes in practices and/or procedures by DOT.

This job is open to

• Federal employees - Competitive service
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.

Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees serving under a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service; former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; applicants eligible for appointment under special appointing authorities(Sch A; VEOA, etc.); special selection priority consideration under either the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Transition Assistance (ICTAP) Program for well-qualified displaced or surplus candidates within the local commuting area.

Duties

If selected for this position, you will serve as the principal advisor to the Special Agent in-Charge and be responsible for directing and supervising a staff of criminal investigators in the accomplishment of investigative activities aimed at uncovering suspected fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in programs of the DOT as well as a variety of proactive investigations. In addition, you will be responsible for providing professional leadership and technical and administrative supervision to subordinate employees. You will establish and maintain liaison with officials within DOT and other federal departments; determine the scope and depth of investigations; review reports of investigations; and represent the agency in meetings. Investigations require frequent travel and may occasionally require undercover surveillance work.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizen.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Pre-employment drug testing and physical exam required.
• You will be required to serve a one year supervisory probationary period.

Qualifications

Candidates must have one (1) year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal service. Non-government experience should be of similar complexity. Examples of specialized experience includes: leading and/or supervising others; conducting complex and sensitive investigations with tact and discretion, securing facts and developing evidence; maintaining liaison with other law enforcement bodies; conducting investigative interviews, record searches, and obtaining sworn statements; preparing written reports of investigations and summaries.

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.

Federal Time-In-Grade (TIG) Requirement for General Schedule (GS) Positions: Applicants must have served at least 52 weeks at the GS-13 or higher grade (or equivalent in an alternate pay system) within the Federal Civil Service to be considered for referral. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

Additional information

Applicants must not turn 37 years of age before 30 days after the closing date of this announcement. Or, if you are age 37 through 56 you must be eligible to retire at age 57 with 20 years of covered law enforcement service.

In most jurisdictions, you must be at least 21 years of age to carry a firearm. This is a primary position that meets meets the early law enforcement retirement provisions of both the Civil Service and the Federal Employees Retirement Systems.

If selected for this position, you must successfully complete a pre-employment medical examination and drug test and will be subject to favorable adjudication of an employment suitability determination.

You will be required to satisfactorily complete the criminal investigator training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center if selected and not yet completed.

Applicants who have already successfully completed the basic Criminal Investigator Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center or its equivalent will be given higher consideration for this position.

Because you will be required to qualify to carry and use a government-authorized firearm as part of your assigned duties (and maintain this qualification) you are ineligible for this position if, at any time, you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, unless the conviction was expunged, set aside, or you received a pardon.

Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): eligibility for an increase to salary of 25% for unscheduled duty in excess of the 40-hour workweek.

Candidates will be asked to fill out a Declaration for Federal Employment (Optional Form 306). Individuals selected for positions will be required to certify that their application materials are accurate when they enter on duty.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET QUALIFICATIONS BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT.

All status candidates must submit a copy of their most recent SF-50, and/or a copy of the last SF-50 that indicates they have competitive status.

Any male applicant who was born after December 31, 1959, and who is subsequently selected for this position must certify that he is registered for the military selective service by the date he is to enter on duty. False certification may result in termination after appointment.

Best qualified candidates will be responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel expenses in conjunction with any required interviews, unless they are already employed by the Office of Inspector General at the U. S. Department of Transportation.

• Benefits
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  Review our benefits
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. Applicants who meet the qualification requirements will be further evaluated on their responses to the on-line announcement questions. Eligible applicants will receive a numerical rating based on their responses to the application questions for this position submitted on-line via WWW.USAJOBS.GOV. These responses must be substantiated by your on-line resume. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.

• Benefits
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  Review our benefits
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  Resume:
  
  • Your resume must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
  • If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
  • For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete and you may not receive consideration for this position.
  • For additional information see:
    
    • What to include in your resume
    • Resume Writing
  
  FEDERAL APPLICANTS: For consideration as a federal employee, you must submit a SF-50 that verifies your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and eligibility as a federal applicant. DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility. For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. We recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50, current SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50. Pay adjustment raise SF-50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks' time-in-grade requirements. https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/service/SF-50/
  Merit Promotion - All current Federal employees must submit a recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, current grade level and full performance level of the position held. All reinstatement eligibles/former Federal employees must submit a SF-50 documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, grade level and full performance level of the position.
  Non-competitive eligibles - must submit proof of eligibility (i.e., SF-50 documenting the full performance level of a position held on a permanent basis).
  SCHEDULE A - To receive consideration for Schedule A appointment, you must submit your certification from a licensed medical professional; or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.
  The letter must be printed on the licensed medical professional's letterhead and must include a signature or it is invalid.
  DD-214/ VA Benefits Letter - To receive consideration, all veterans must submit a copy of their DD-214 (copy Member #4). If you are claiming preference due to a service-connected disability, you must submit your Vet Letter from the Department of Veteran Affairs documenting your status. If you are a current service member, in lieu of a DD-214, you may submit a statement from your military personnel center certifying the nature and dates of your service and expected date of separation.
  CTAP/ICTAP - If you are eligible under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), a copy of your certificate of surplus status, certificate of expected separation, or a specific Reduction-in-Force notice establishing your eligibility under CTAP/ICTAP. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet all qualification requirements for the vacant position to include any selective factors; meet the definition of best qualified (GOLD Category); and be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry.
  Supporting documents may either be uploaded or faxed to [redacted]. The requested information MUST be received by fax within 48 hours prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement (not including Saturdays, Sundays or government holidays). The requested information MUST be received by fax within 48 hours prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement (not including Saturdays, Sundays or government holidays).
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  Applications submitted via WWW.USAJOBS.GOV must be received before midnight eastern time on the closing date of the announcement. No extensions will be granted. If you fail to submit a COMPLETE on-line resume, you WILL NOT be considered for this position. Please make sure that the responses provided in the questionnaire are fully supported by your resume, that your resume is detailed and you have highlighted your most relevant experience for this position (to include starting and ending dates of employment for each position held), and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. If you fail to provide this information, it may result in you being rated "ineligible" or "not qualified" for this position.
  If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions will be rated ineligible.
  If applying on-line poses a hardship to any applicant, the Servicing Personnel Office listed on the announcement will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted on-line by the closing date. Applicants must contact the Servicing Human Resources Office PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE to speak to someone who can provide assistance for on-line submission. Requests for extensions will not be granted.
  PLEASE NOTE THIS VACANCY IS LIMITED T