Sexual Assault Criminal Investigator

Summary

This position is a Criminal Investigator in the Office of Investigations (OI), Office of Inspector General (OIG), at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The mission of the OIG is to provide independent and objective oversight of NSF to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of its programs and operations and to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

Duties

As a GS-1811-13 Criminal Investigator, you will be responsible for the following duties: Plan, organize, and conduct investigations of alleged or suspected violations of federal criminal, civil laws, and administrative regulations. Investigations can include allegations of sexual assault, stalking, grant fraud, contract fraud, and employee misconduct. Experience LEADING sexual assault investigations. Provide advice to case partner(s) and management regarding planning and timing of complex interviews and investigations. Plan, participate in, and organize interrogations, interviews, hearings, and conferences to resolve problems of considerable importance. Obtain, handle, and analyze physical, digital, and testimonial evidence in accordance with legal standards and agency policies. Ensure proper chain of custody and admissibility of evidence for judicial or administrative proceedings. Prepare clear, comprehensive, and cohesive investigative reports in a timely manner in accordance with established policies. Possess working knowledge of applicable rights and advisories, and ensure they are properly administered to witnesses and subjects in accordance with established policies and procedures. Utilize strong interpersonal skills to convey information clearly, appropriately, and professionally with investigators, management, prosecutors, partners, and stakeholders. Recognize, identify, and address undefined issues in assigned investigations, programs, and projects. Coordination with other appropriate participants to determine the nature and scope of the problems and the factors that will be instrumental in their resolution. Brief senior NSF management, investigative personnel, attorneys, and other interested parties regarding projects and programs. Exercise sound judgment and discretion in high-visibility, sensitive, or complex matters. Manage administrative requirements, including case documentation, reporting systems, and resource tracking. THIS POSITION REQUIRES UP TO 50% TRAVEL TO ANTARCTICA, BETWEEN ONE TO SIX MONTHS PER YEAR.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen. Selectee will be required to have a background investigation prior to onboarding. Selectee may be required to serve a 1-2 year trial/probationary period. This position is subject to Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP). This position requires regular qualification with an issued firearm. This position has physical requirements that must be met prior to onboarding and maintained throughout the incumbent's employment. This position is subject to random drug testing. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID-compliant cannot be used as acceptable forms of identification for employment. You must meet all eligibility requirements within thirty (30) days of the date the announcement closes and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met. You will not need a clearance to accept this position, but you must be able to obtain a clearance if needed. If you are a current federal employee holding a General Schedule (GS) position, you must meet the time-in-grade requirements. You must answer all job-related questions in the questionnaire and any assessment that is included. All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

Qualifications and evaluation

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Criminal Investigation Investigative Planning and Execution Effective Communication Decision-Making and Sound Judgment Documentation and Reporting IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume is missing the job title, duties, grade, or salary, or dates worked, you might not be referred for consideration to the hiring manager. To evaluate the quality of applicants for referral to the selecting official, a four-phase process will be used. Phase 1: Applicants' resumes and supporting documents will be reviewed by Human Resources (HR) to determine whether they meet the basic qualification requirements. Phase 2: Applicants who are minimally qualified may be advanced to a Structured Resume Review assessment conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs may review applicants' resumes to evaluate technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. Phase 3: Applicants who successfully pass the Structured Resume Review assessment may be advanced to a Structured Interview conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs may assess applicants' ability to demonstrate the required competencies for the position. Phase 4: A final score, which may combine the results from one or more assessments, may be used to identify the top-rated applicants. Applicants meeting the established cut-off score may be referred to the selecting official for consideration and may be required to participate in one or more additional interviews as part of the hiring process.

Education

Education may enhance skills required for this position; however, no substitution of education for specialized experience may be made at this level.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How to apply

Once you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation email. However, you can also see your application status any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account and looking at the "Applications" page. Click the position title to expand the display for each application in the list. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued, and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. Email is our preferred method of communication. Please use the email address above, OIG-HR@nsf.gov, to contact the HR Department. When NSF OIG completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining qualified candidates may be shared with additional federal agencies. Please opt in by emailing OIG-HR@nsf.gov if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.

Required documents

It is your responsibility to carefully review the list of required documents below and submit the necessary documentation based on your eligibility. Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two-page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history: Contact Information: Name and preferred contact method, including email address and phone number. Relevant Work Experience Job Title and Employer Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 -08/2022 or present) The number of hours you worked per week Series and grade for any Federal positions, and salary for non-Federal positions If work was completed as a contractor, please clearly indicate that If you are a current or former Federal employee: You must submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent agency form. Do not submit an award SF-50; these do not contain sufficient information about your appointment. Your SF-50 should list the full position title, series, grade, and step, organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status. Applicants are encouraged to submit multiple SF-50s to meet eligibility requirements. You must submit a copy of your most recent performance evaluation or appraisal, signed, showing your final rating. If a performance appraisal is not available, submit a statement explaining why one is not available. If you are a Veteran or a qualifying parent or spouse: When claiming a Veteran's Preference, you must submit your last DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) form, specifically the Member #4 Copy, indicating dates and character of service and discharge type. If you are a Veteran with a service-connected disability rating, you will need to additionally submit the SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veterans Preference) and a copy of your VA Letter stating your disability rating. If you are the qualifying parent or spouse of a disabled, deceased, or deployed Veteran, and are seeking a derived preference eligibility, you must submit appropriate supporting documentation, such as the Veteran's DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter, and/or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. See Veteran Family Preference for more information. For more information on each type of Veterans Preference, and the documentation required for each, see FedsHireVets. If you are applying for consideration under the Military Spouse Appointing Authority: Military spouses of the armed forces on active duty should visit the following site for information on required documentation: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spousesIf you are a person with a disability, claiming eligibility under Schedule A: You must submit "proof of a disability" documentation ("Proof of a disability" is a letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability). You must get this letter from your doctor, a licensed medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal, state, or local agency that issues or provides disability benefits. As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that the information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields. During the application process, you may have an option to opt in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency (or elsewhere) who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment" (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from federal service. All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date. IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH, OR ANY OTHER PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS. Need Help? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc. Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact OIG-HR@nsf.gov for assistance.

Additional information

Relocation expenses WILL NOT be paid. This is a non-bargaining unit position. This announcement may be used to fill similar positions in other organizations within the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies, including OIG offices. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM-approved qualifying conditions for the position; be physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receive a rating of at least "Very Good" on the questionnaire. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources. Veteran's Preference:If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the VA letter or other required documentation as specified on the SF-15.