The Criminal Investigator at the Department of Veterans Affairs conducts investigations of major crimes such as fraud, larceny, and embezzlement within VA facilities. The role includes planning and executing investigations, collaborating with federal and state agencies, conducting surveillance, making arrests, and testifying in court. The position requires carrying firearms and ensuring the safety and security of VA property, personnel, and visitors.

Duties

Performs criminal and non-criminal investigative duties with emphasis on white-collar crime. Plans and conducts investigations of alleged violations of Title 18, United States Code, including fraud, bribery, larceny, embezzlement, collusion, and conflict of interest. Plans investigative objectives, scope, methods, and techniques. Participates in surveillance and electronic monitoring. 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. Investigates violations with other agencies resulting in jurisdictional problems because suspects' activities are the concern of other Federal investigative agencies. Coordinates intelligence gathering operations and develops specific cases or complaints. Collects enough evidence to support a court case against a criminal. Explains to the jury the significance of evidence as it relates to proof that a crime was committed. Uses forensic collection equipment and techniques to identify, preserve, document, and collect physical evidence for presentation in legal proceedings. Prepares collected evidence for presentation in legal proceedings. Confers with the U.S. Attorney's office or other outside law enforcement agencies as appropriate to dispose of or to proceed with a case. Gathers, analyzes, and reports on complex financial, observational, and other information in order to establish its evidentiary value and sufficiency. Evaluates complaints to determine investigative merit. Conducts interviews and interrogations of suspects and witnesses and acquires sworn statements and information under oath as necessary. Recognizes and notifies the appropriate federal, state, or local authorities regarding criminal incidents and coordinates further investigations with the appropriate agencies. Coordinates and conducts joint investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of criminal laws with other federal and state agencies. Plans and conducts investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of criminal laws by utilizing investigative techniques and applying the laws of evidence, rules of criminal procedures, and precedent court decisions concerning criminal activities. Investigates complaints, tips, develops leads, and obtains physical evidence. Seeks out and questions witnesses and suspects and takes testimony. Makes arrests. Obtains evidence, explains constitutional rights, and performs search and seizures. Uses current state-of-the-art information technologies to facilitate the collection, analysis, and reporting of results of investigations. Gathers information and determines facts/evidence relationships. Consolidates ostensibly disparate facts, events, and other types of intelligence material and develops information and applies guidelines and techniques for the detection, apprehension, and persecution of persons attempting to violate or circumvent laws. Work Schedule: May be required to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Schedules may include 8-hour, 10-hour, or 12-hour shifts depending on departmental needs. Overtime, on-call duties, and emergency response may also be required to ensure the safety and security of the community. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Criminal Investigator/PD99720S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/03/2024. 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. Individual Occupational Requirements Medical Requirements: The duties of positions in this series require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform the duties satisfactorily. Near vision, corrective lenses permitted, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz levels. Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible, and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying. 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: conducting criminal investigations, gathering and analyzing evidence, participating in surveillance operations, interviewing witnesses and suspects, preparing detailed investigative reports, collaborating with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and utilizing advanced forensic techniques to support criminal cases; management of complex cases involving violations such as fraud, embezzlement, and other white-collar crimes, as well as familiarity with federal laws, regulations, and court procedures. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem SolvingArrestCriminal InvestigationCriminal LawForensics 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. Other Significant Facts: Must meet the training and recertification in the use of firearms in accordance with the policies and procedures outlined in VA Directive and VA Handbook 0720, Program to Arm Department of Veterans Affairs Police. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting/carrying, 45 pounds and over; straight pulling, .5 hours; Pulling hand over hand, .5 hours; Pushing, .5 hours; Reaching above shoulders; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking, 4 hours; Standing, 4 hours; Crawling, .5 hours; Kneeling, .5 hours; Repeated bending, .5 hours; Climbing, legs only, .5 hours; Climbing, use of legs and arms; Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Ability to use and desirability of using firearms; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing without aid; Emotional stability under stress; Ability to run in pursuit of suspects. Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; Excessive heat; Excessive cold; Fumes, smoke, or gases; Slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working around moving objects or vehicles; Working closely with others; Working alone; Protracted or irregular hours of work; Intervenes in assaults, criminal acts, and disturbances. 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Contacts

• Address Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]