What are the responsibilities and job description for the Criminal Investigator position at DOT, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL?
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.
Qualifications:
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.
To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience includes:
- Securing facts and developing evidence in support of ongoing investigations
- Conducting interviews,
- gathering, reviewing and discerning evidence for use in charging defendants criminally
- preparing fact-based written summaries in fraud and/or safety cases, with defendants having been charged or civil fines or penalties having been levied.
Your resume will be evaluated based on the following competencies:
GS-11
- Knowledge of Investigative Principles and Case Development
- Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills
- Written Communication Skills
- Research and Information Gathering
- Interviewing and Investigative Support Skills
GS:12
- Investigative Planning & Case Management- Develops comprehensive investigative plans that clearly identify allegations, targets, legal posture, and investigative strategy.
- Investigative Evidence Collection & Analysis- Correlates evidence from multiple sources to substantiate or refute allegations
- Interviewing, Testimony & Interpersonal Skills- Conducts structured and effective interviews to elicit accurate and relevant information.
- Written Communication- Produces well-organized, grammatically correct, and professionally formatted documents
- Law Enforcement Operations & Compliance- Demonstrates knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and investigative authorities.
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.
Applicants must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Responsibilities:
GS 11- Major Duties
- Prepares investigative case plans identifying allegation type, subjects/targets, evidence requirements, information sources, coordination needs, and investigative strategies; modifies plans as new information emerges.
- 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.
GS-12 Major Duties
- Independently plans and conducts criminal, civil, and administrative investigations involving allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, and other violations affecting Department of Transportation (DOT) programs and operations.
- Establishes and documents DOT nexus, jurisdiction, and program impact of alleged violations.
- Develops investigative case plans identifying allegation type, subjects/targets, evidence requirements, information sources, coordination needs, and investigative strategies; modifies plans as new information emerges.
- Coordinates investigative activities with supervisors and appropriate law enforcement or regulatory agencies to ensure effective case development.
- Collects, analyzes, and evaluates evidence from multiple sources, including financial and business records, to determine relevance, reliability, and admissibility.
- Conducts interviews and interrogations of witnesses and subjects; develops investigative leads through document analysis, intelligence gathering, and surveillance.
- Conducts authorized electronic and physical surveillance; serves subpoenas and executes searches, seizures, and arrests in accordance with applicable legal authorities.
- Documents investigative actions and maintains accurate, timely records within the official case management system.
- Prepares clear, concise, and legally sufficient written products, including reports of investigation, summaries, affidavits, subpoenas, memoranda, surveillance reports, and interview summaries.
- Prepares investigative cases for presentation to prosecutors and management officials and provides testimony in judicial or administrative proceedings as required.
Salary : $81,186