Criminal Investigator
What you'd do
This position is located within in the Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations (OI). OI's mission is to conduct criminal, civil, and administrative investigations into alleged violations of federal laws relating to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) programs, operations, and personnel to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in such programs and operations.
Major duties
Salary Range: GS-12 $89,508 - $145,468 GS-13 $106,437 - $172,980 The salary for each location may vary depending on locality. Locality tables may be found at 2026 General Schedule. The major duties of the full performance level (GS-13) are as follows: Serve as the lead agent in investigating high-profile, complex cases that encompass a broad range of criminal activities within the organization's jurisdiction, establishing contacts with various stakeholders to gather relevant evidence. Assist in conducting joint investigations with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, establishing and maintaining effective communication channels. Obtain information from individuals of diverse backgrounds and develop informants under challenging and sensitive conditions to enhance intelligence gathering. Act as the senior agent responsible for conducting interviews, surveillance, and examinations of records, managing sensitive investigations independently. Draft detailed investigative reports highlighting key findings and evidence to support potential legal actions, presenting cases to Assistant U.S. Attorneys for Grand Jury consideration. Higher grade level 1811s may receive biweekly and annual premium pay caps (refer to OPM website).
What you need to qualify
You must meet the Specialized Experience to qualify for Criminal Investigator, as described below. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. For the GS-12 level: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-11, in Federal Service. Qualifying specialized experience for the GS-12 level includes all of the following: Under limited supervision, independently performs a full range of investigative functions on assigned cases or portions of cases from planning and conducting fact-finding to reporting the results of investigations; Performs undercover and surveillance work under supervision; Independently conducts investigative interviews; Analyzes investigative facts to arrive at sound conclusions; Provides presentations to Assistant United States Attorneys in support of federal criminal prosecutions and civil actions; and Develops and maintains working relationships with law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local level. For the GS-13 level: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12, in Federal Service. Qualifying specialized experience for the GS-13 level includes all of the following: Independently conducts, or leads, the most significant and complex investigations that often involve multiple law enforcement agencies covering multiple judicial districts. These investigation could include criminal offenses committed by individuals, entities, or organized criminal enterprises, including financial crimes and fraud; Federal program, contract or grant fraud; and employee integrity offenses; Proficiency in the application of criminal, civil, and administrative laws, including false claims and qui tam actions; Demonstrates proficiency in utilizing investigative principles and techniques, including undercover operations, consensual monitoring, and other covert investigative techniques; Demonstrates extensive experience in legal procedures related to the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses; Experience in testifying in Federal criminal prosecutions; and Demonstrates extensive experience in consulting and working with U.S. Attorneys and other prosecutorial officials in preparation of cases for prosecution. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POSITION: Maximum AGE Requirement: An applicant must enter a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) law enforcement covered position or a Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) law enforcement covered position not one day later than his/her 37th birthday. Please note: Applicants appointed to Criminal Investigator positions in the Federal service must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to the position unless they previously served in a Federal civilian law enforcement position covered by special civil service retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement. This requirement may be waived only for veterans. However, the primary duties of these positions are classified as rigorous, and a waiver may be authorized by the head of the agency only in unusual situations. An age requirement waiver is not automatic. An individual who has passed the maximum entry age limit but previously served in a covered position, may be eligible for consideration and reinstatement of coverage if he/she will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered law enforcement service by the time he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 57. See OPM Retirement Handbook for further details. The Maximum Entry Age requirement (See Maximum Entry may be waived for applicants eligible for veterans' preference.) POSITION REQUIREMENTS FOR OIG CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS Incumbents are required to be able to perform the following duties: A. Firearm Use. All OIG criminal investigators are required to qualify with the U.S. DOL-issued firearms and accept assignments where firearms are necessary. In the exercise of OIG's statutory law enforcement authority, the use of firearms may sometimes be justified and required. B. Arrests. OIG criminal investigators make arrests, with or without a warrant, according to the circumstances. C. Search and Seizure. OIG criminal investigators execute warrants for search of premises or seizure of evidence. D. Surveillances. In conducting investigations, criminal investigators may establish and maintain surveillances of suspected criminal acts. E. Undercover Assignments. From time to time, criminal investigators assume undercover roles. F. Review of Records and Other Evidence. Many cases under investigation involve the review of a tremendous amount of records which the agent takes control of and transports for copying. G. Travel. Many criminal investigators travel frequently -- up to 50 percent of the time. Much of the travel is performed by automobile driven by the agent from 8 to 14 hours at a time to reach the destination. H. Security Detail: Criminal investigators assigned to the security detail may work 14 to 16-hour days consistently. I. Basic Law Enforcement Training: As a condition of employment, newly-hired OIG criminal investigators must have successfully completed the basic criminal investigator training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), unless waived by OIG because of proof of comparable special agent or law enforcement officer training.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.