Criminal Investigator
What you'd do
This position is a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent), GS-1811-12/13, working for the R9-Chief-Office of Law Enforcement. As a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent), you will serve as an investigator responsible for planning, directing, and independently conducting complex and highly sensitive investigations regarding laws, rules, regulations, and treaties administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Major duties
The Criminal Investigator conducts complex, high-risk investigations to protect wildlife resources and enforce Federal conservation laws. The role involves leading multiagency efforts, using advanced investigative technologies, and addressing sophisticated criminal activity affecting domestic and international wildlife trade. At the full performance level major duties include: Conducts investigations that may involve largescale undercover operations to infiltrate criminal networks, the development and use of confidential informants, and the collection and analysis of intelligence from multiple sources. Leads, organizes, and serves on multifunction teams to carry out extremely complex investigations and address significant conservation issues involving violations of Federal wildlife laws and related statutes. Performs a wide range of law enforcement activities on the most complex and sensitive cases, including executing raids, interviewing witnesses, interrogating suspects, making arrests, developing evidence for prosecution, testifying in court and before grand juries, and preparing detailed investigative reports. Creates and maintains strong working relationships with high level enforcement partners, including State law enforcement chiefs, U.S. Attorney personnel, Federal enforcement agents and supervisors, and local police chiefs and sheriffs. Builds partnerships with foreign, Federal, State, and local enforcement authorities, media representatives, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and private industry to obtain, exchange, and secure critical information and testimony. Physical Demands: The work requires frequent walking, stooping, bending, climbing, and extended periods of stationary surveillance. Duties may involve lifting moderately heavy items such as boxes or cargo containers. Work Environment: Work is performed in both office and outdoor settings with regular exposure to adverse weather, dust, noise, and similar moderate risks and discomforts. Surveillance duties may involve the use of aircraft, boats, and motorized vehicles. The incumbent is responsible for minimizing risk to self and others during assignments. Duty Station Locations: This position requires on-site presence. The selected applicant will be expected to report to one of the following Agency's offices, with the specific workstation to be determined by the Agency upon selection. A total of twenty-four (24) candidates may be selected - one (1) for each of the following locations: Albuquerque, NM Amherst, NY Anchorage, AK Atlanta, GA Billings, MT Bismarck, ND Brownsville, TX El Paso, TX Fremont, NE Hardeeville, SC Honolulu, HI Lander, WY Laredo, TX Madison, WI Memphis, TN Miami, FL Minneapolis, MN Pinetop, AZ Richmond, VA Sacramento, CA San Diego, CA Seattle, WA St. Peters, MO Sterling, VA Salaries will be set based on the geographic locality pay for the assigned duty station. Questions related to duty station placement should be addressed during the interview process. Promotion Potential: Promotion is at the supervisor's discretion and depends on satisfactory performance, the availability of higher-level work, and funding. The selectee may be promoted without further competition once all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
What you need to qualify
Only experience and education obtained by 07/29/2026 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position, you must possess the Minimum Qualifications. Minimum Qualification GS-12: One (1) year of full-time specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level (comparable to GS-11) in the Federal government. Specialized experience includes: 1) Applying standard investigative principles involving criminal and civil violations, to gather information, analyze facts, and conduct investigations involving possible violations of Federal wildlife laws; 2) Analyzing information to identify relevant facts, inconsistencies, and credibility issues; 3) Using established investigative techniques to interview subjects and witnesses, follow leads, work with informants, and review investigative or administrative records; 4) Conducting undercover activities and surveillance to obtain factual information and evidence, including situations involving multiagency coordination; 5) Preparing accurate investigative reports and properly collecting and preserving evidence. Minimum Qualification GS-13: One (1) year of full-time specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level (comparable to GS-12) in the Federal government. Specialized experience includes: 1) Independently planning and leading complex investigations, applying advanced criminal and civil investigative principles to cases involving multi-jurisdictional challenges and multi-agency task force operations; 2) Evaluating and synthesizing complex evidence to establish facts, identify discrepancies, and determine investigative direction in sophisticated wildlife related or multiagency cases; 3) Conducting or directing the full range of investigative techniques, including high risk interviews, informant development, and examination of complex records; 4) Executing or overseeing undercover and surveillance operations to gather admissible evidence in sensitive or sophisticated cases, including those involving large or multiorganizational investigative targets; 5) Preparing comprehensive investigative reports and ensuring proper documentation, preservation, and presentation of evidence. NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 or GS-13 grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the accomplishment record evaluation, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/" Cost of Living Allowance: In addition to the yearly salary, this position is entitled to a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) for eligible non-foreign areas limited to Alaska and Hawaii, as determined by the Office of Personnel Management (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates). This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and potential rate decrease. Positions that require the use of a Firearm: Applicants are ineligible for this position if ANY time they have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence, unless such conviction was expunged, set aside or the applicant receives a pardon. Probation/Trial Period Con't: The probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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