Criminal Investigator

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Police Service (PS). The mission of the PS is to serve and protect Veterans, patients, employees, contractors, volunteers, affiliates, visitors, and others who frequent VA facilities. Safety and security are paramount to ensuring that the VA successfully serve and honor the men and women who are America's Veterans.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/08/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Investigating serious crimes and complex misdemeanors; utilizing an extensive array of standardized, optional, and innovative investigation procedures, techniques and methods to detect, investigate, and resolve crimes and other activities that are beyond the scope or requirements for solutions associated with standard patrol assignments; acting as liaison officer and facilitating the investigations of other Federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel involved in the investigation and disposition of major crimes; collecting and using forensic evidence to solve crimes and support court cases against criminals; analyzing, evaluating, and advising on law enforcement delivery systems and operations, as well as assessing the productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency of the activities and operations; and, coordinating and/or participate in a taskforce or other team to conduct highly complex, difficult and sensitive criminal, civil and administrative investigations involving alleged misconduct, criminal activity and/or corruption. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. See education section below. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's degree and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

• DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT: Applicants must possess a valid, unrestricted State driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. Applicants are required to pass agency Government Vehicle Drivers physical examination. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued driver's license.?
• FIREARM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: VA Police Officers are required to carry agency-approved firearms while on duty on VA property. Officers must achieve and maintain qualification/certification with the agency-approved firearms as condition of gaining and continuing employment as a Police Officer. Applicants must be able to possess firearms under the terms of the Gun Control Act of 1968, as amended (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9)).

ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. Required to attend an 8 - 10-week course at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas (if not already completed). Satisfactory completion of this course is a condition of continued employment.

2. Must attend Investigator I, II and III training (3 weeks each) at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas (if not already completed) plus the Criminal Investigator Training Program (59 days) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA. Satisfactory completion of these courses within the first year is a condition of continued employment.

3. A medical examination is required. The duties of these positions require moderate to arduous physical exertion and/or duties of a hazardous nature. The following medical requirements apply to all applicants: good near and distant vision, ability to distinguish basic colors, and ability to hear the conversational voice.

4. Applicants and employees must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others. Applicants and employees must possess emotional and mental stability. A psychological examination is required. In most instances, a specific medical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant or employee. A medical condition or impairment is disqualifying only if the condition, for good medical reason, precludes assignment to or warrants restriction from the duties of the specific position. For some positions, the loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation shall also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position.

5. A character investigation will be conducted on applicants selected for employment. The purpose of such an investigation is to secure evidence of the candidate's honesty, integrity, general character, and loyalty to the U.S. Government.

6. As a condition of employment, must qualify to be issued a firearm and semi-annually with assigned firearm, annually with an expandable Straight Baton (MEB), maintain a valid State or Commonwealth Driver's License and pass annual physical and psychosocial assessments. Applicants must be able to possess firearms under the terms of the Gun Control Act of 1968, as amended (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9).

Preferred Experience: Performing criminal and non-criminal investigative duties with emphasis on white-collar crime. Planned and conducted investigations of alleged violation of Title 18, United States Code, including fraud, bribery, larceny, embezzlement, collusion, conflict of interest, as well as the violations of Title 18 which involve VA/VHA employees. Preparing and reviewing police reports, made recommendations, and prepared cases for prosecution. Coordinating and conducting joint investigations relating to alleged violations of criminal laws with other federal and state agencies such as FBI, US Marshalls, etc.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Responsibilities:

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Performs criminal and non-criminal investigative duties with emphasis on white-collar crime.
• Plans and conducts investigations of alleged violation of Title 18, United States Code, including fraud, bribery, larceny, embezzlement, collusion, conflict of interest, as well as the violations of Title 18 which involve VA/VHA employees.
• Evaluates complaints and information to determine investigative merit; plans investigative objective, scope, methods, and techniques; gathers, analyzes, and reports on complex financial, observational, and other information in order to establish its evidentiary value and sufficiency.
• Uses current state of the art information technologies to facilitate the collection, analysis and reporting of results of investigation.
• Participates in surveillance and electronic monitoring.
• Makes arrests and carries firearms and non-lethal weapons such as OC spray.
• Plans and conducts investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of criminal laws by utilizing investigative techniques and by applying the laws of evidence, rules of criminal procedures, and precedent court decisions concerning criminal activities.
• Obtains evidence, explains constitutional rights, and performs search and seizures.
• Completes investigations referred to but declined for investigation by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and non-VA law enforcement agencies, of all serious crimes and felonies, which cannot be resolved through the initial efforts of the reporting officer and preliminary investigation.
• Investigates complaints, tips, develops leads, obtains physical evidence, seeks out and questions witnesses and suspects, takes testimony and arrests offenders.
• Gathers information and determines facts/evidence relationships, conducts multiple location surveillance over an extended time.
• Participates or coordinates surveillance activities.
• Prepares and reviews reports, makes recommendations, and prepares cases for prosecution.
• Employs a methodology consistent with established criminal investigation techniques, renders detailed accurate statements, and reduces the information gathered into a clear, concise, and accurate report that is forwarded to the Chief of Police, Assistant United States Attorney or State District Attorney's office.
• Utilizes an extensive array of standardized, optional, and innovative investigation procedures, techniques, and methods to detect, investigate, and resolve crimes and other activities that are beyond the scope or requirements for solutions associated with standard patrol assignments.
• Performs a variety of standard and nonstandard assignments in resolving a wide range of conditions or criminal/administrative activities typically requiring extensive research, interviewing, planning, observing, conducting stakeout operations, and executing investigative techniques, resulting in arrest of suspects and in some instances, changes in patrol operating procedures.
• Performs surveillance and monitors suspects. In conjunction with other agencies, requests, justifies, and obtains search warrants. Ensures 902 authorizations are in place to support investigative processes.
• Participates in conducting more complex and sensitive investigations as an equal team participant or case agent in charge of the investigation.
• The incumbent will be responsible for conducting oversight of the investigative assignments of journeyman level grade Criminal Investigators.
• Other tasks and duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full time. Monday through Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm. (May be called in after hours).
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Criminal Investigator/PD99720S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Salary : $85,447