Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, Investigative Operations Directorate, Operations Division, location is negotiable after selection.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Conducting proactive and/or reactive investigations to include but not limited to employees or organizations that pose a significant threat to national security through corruption or fraud. Planning, organizing, and conducting investigations regarding a wide variety of allegations involving extremely complex, difficult, or sensitive criminal or administrative investigations of major importance and high-level interest, along with misconduct allegations involving high-ranking officials of CBP. Mentoring and assisting in the professional development of less experienced or newly hired agents requiring developmental or technical assistance. Reviewing requests for case status changes in the OPR case management system (VeriTAS), verifies reporting and timeliness of information reported by field offices. Providing guidance to field regarding a wide range of investigative reports and significant incidents case documentation. Coordinating, preparing and briefing various cases, field activities, and other sensitive topics to a range of CBP and OPR leadership for Headquarters. 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. You must: Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 05/07/2025. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process. Medical Requirements: Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process. Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security. For more information regarding the medical screening process and requirements, check out our video and visit our website. Firearms Requirement: You will be required to carry a firearm and maintain firearm proficiency. This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child. Polygraph Examination: The Criminal Investigator position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination. Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package. Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package. Drug Testing: This job has been identified as "testing designated" under our Drug-Free Workplace Program. Therefore, you must satisfactorily complete a drug test prior to being hired. The agency will schedule, provide and pay for the drug test. Once on board, you will be subject to random drug testing. Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Temporary Assignment: To meet agency needs, this position will be filled on a temporary basis not-to-exceed (NTE) six months, with possible extension(s) for an additional 6-month extension. You may be returned, at any time, to the position you held prior to this temporary promotion or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay, and that the return is not subject to the procedures found in 5 C.F.R. §§ 351, 432, 752, and 771. If you are currently at the grade level of the position announced, this action will result in a reassignment, and you may be returned at any time to a same or similar position held prior to this temporary assignment. If you currently hold a grade level higher than the grade being announced, this action will result in a change to lower grade, and you may be returned at any time to the position held prior to this temporary assignment or to the same or similar position at the lower grade level. Your return will be based on a mobility agreement, agency rotational policy or a directed reassignment. Your Official Duty Station is negotiable to the locations listed below, but you will be expected to spend the majority of your time in person in Washington DC. Sierra Vista, AZ Tucson, AZ Yuma, AZ El Centro, CA Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA Washington, DC Miami, FL Chicago, IL Indianapolis, IN Bangor, ME Detroit, MI Newark, NJ Buffalo, NY Champlain, NY New York, NY San Juan, PR Alpine, TX Brownsville, TX Del Rio, TX El Paso, TX Laredo, TX McAllen, TX Bellingham, WA Seattle, WA This position starts at a salary of $124,531.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $161,889.00 (GS-14, Step 10) with promotion potential to $161,889 (GS-14 Step 10). The incumbent is responsible for taking senior investigator role in a proactive and/or reactive manner for investigations under the jurisdiction of CBP/OPR, to include, but not limited to the following: Conducting proactive and/or reactive criminal investigations involving CBP employees and related entities suspected of crimes affecting the administration of Customs and Immigration laws including, but not limited to, fraud, perjury, giving false, fictitious or fraudulent information, or other violations. Gathering and analyzing vital information, facts, evidence, and intelligence from a variety of sources including open sources, law enforcement databases and interviews, and interrogations of suspects and witnesses. Preparing detailed reports of investigation and briefings, presenting the results of ongoing investigations to OPR senior management, and the Office of the U.S. Attorney's Office. Serving as a senior case agent for inter-agency investigations, and leading teams of other Special Agents and law enforcement officers in investigations and operations by directing investigative activities, assigning tasks, and leading the investigation through completion. Operations Management - Program manager provides guidance to field offices regarding a wide range of investigative reports and critical incidents and briefs various sensitive subjects to a range of CBP and OPR leadership. Rigorous Law Enforcement Officer Special Retirement Coverage: This is a rigorous position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers under CSRS and FERS (5 CFR 842.803 and 5 CFR 831.903, Conditions for Coverage; 5 USC 8425(b) and 5 USC 8335(b), Mandatory Separation; and 5 USC 8412(d) and 5 USC 8336(c), Immediate Retirement). For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link. For further information on when an employee continues or discontinues coverage under the special retirement system for law enforcement officers, please see the CSRS and FERS handbook, Chapter 46 (CSRS pages 12-14, and FERS pages 41-43). If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, please contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180.