Criminal Investigator

Position is located in the Office of Security & Law Enforcement (OSLE), Executive Protection Division (EPD), Office of Operations, Security and Preparedness, Veterans Affairs Central Office, Department of Veterans Affairs. This office coordinates the Department's emergency management, preparedness, security, and law enforcement activities to ensure the Department can continue to perform VA's mission essential functions under all circumstances across the spectrum of threats.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/10/2025. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level; for a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level; for a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level. 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. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade. 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 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include and are not limited to GS-13: Conducting executive protection service operations for top level civilian government executives or military dignitaries during all phases of operations. Operations may include major National Special Security Events (NSSE), Local and travel advance security details, motorcade movements, full threat assessment determinations, and all manners of coordination with other local, state, federal, and military executive protection teams. GS-12: Developing operational plans and determining investigative priorities of cases; interviewing and interrogating persons suspected of violations of law; Writing reports and conducting briefings of findings, results, or accomplishments for information or action relating to law enforcement activities and/or court cases; And meeting or corresponding with court officials and law enforcement personnel to discuss case-related materials as necessary. GS-11: Assisting in conducting investigations of alleged or suspected violations of law; Collecting and analyzing data from a variety of sources relating to investigations; Assisting prosecuting attorneys in preparation of technical aspects of cases for court. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience for the GS-11 level. Applicants may NOT substitute education for the GS-12 and/or GS-13 levels. To qualify based on education for the GS-11, you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify for the GS-11 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work in the office is usually sedentary. When conducting criminal investigations and/or undercover surveillance work, the employee Is subject to regular and recurring exertion such as extensive walking, long periods of standing, stooping, bending and climbing. Work also regularly involves extended duty hours and extensive duty travel to meet investigative mission requirements. The work requires the incumbent to be proficient In the use of firearms and other law enforcement equipment to protect him/herself and others In hostile environments. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.