Find The RightJob.
Criminal Investigator
Summary
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia's mission is to enforce the criminal laws of the United States and the District of Columbia, represent the interests of the United States in civil litigation, and respond to the public safety needs of the community by leading an effective, well-coordinated law enforcement effort that contributes to the overall goal of improving the quality of life in the District of Columbia.
Learn more about this agency
This job is open to
The public
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Clarification from the agency
CTAP, ICTAP, all U.S. Citizens and Nationals
Duties
The Criminal Investigator performs complex investigative work and supports prosecutions for the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. This is a primary law enforcement position with full federal law enforcement authority for matters investigated and prosecuted by the USAO for the District of Columbia, under Public Law 91-358 and by designation as a Special Deputy United States Marshal.
If selected for this position, you will join the Criminal Investigation Unit, a well-respected team comprised of special agents and investigative analysts, responsible for providing support to the U.S. Attorney's Office for District of Columbia, focusing in the areas of criminal investigations and law enforcement.
Typical work assignments will include:
- Planning, leading, and coordinating criminal investigations involving suspected violations of federal law and the DC Criminal Code.
- Investigating allegations of criminal activity involving individuals, businesses, and corporations.
- Reviewing and analyzing information, records, and evidence to establish elements of D.C. and federal criminal offenses.
- Executing search warrants and arrest warrants; collecting, preserving, and documenting evidence; and obtaining information and testimony from witnesses and victims.
- Using a variety of investigative techniques and coordinating with regional and federal law enforcement agencies to develop leads, locate evidence, and support criminal investigations.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
This position is also being announced to applicants under Merit Staffing procedures under 26-DC-12980855-MP.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be a United States Citizen or National to apply for this position.
- Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
- All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
- Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
- A probationary period may be required.
- If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
- Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents).
- You must meet all qualifications requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- As needed, additional selections may be made using this announcement.
- You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (Sensitive Compartmented Information) security clearance.
- You must possess a valid automobile driver's license at the time of appointment.
- You must qualify with and carry a firearm.
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying:
To qualify at the GS-12 level, you must possess:
Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing (5) of the (6) duties listed below:
- Using a wide range of investigative methods to identify and investigate criminal violations;
- Identifying, seizing and preserving evidence;
- Testifying in local and/or federal courts and before local and/or federal grand juries;
- Conducting investigations involving one or more of the following: fraud, bribery and/or public corruption, national security related offenses, cybercrimes, money laundering, violent crimes, domestic violence and sexual offenses;
- Drafting search warrants and other complex written investigative documents with little or no supervisory assistance; and/or
- Obtaining and utilizing legal process such as search warrants, arrest warrants, subpoenas, and 18 U.S.C. 2703(d) orders.
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.
If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.
Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(g)(91)).
Candidates who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not qualified for this position. Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001).
Firearms Qualification: Must qualify with and carry a firearm. The incumbent will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position and maintain firearm proficiency. The incumbent must satisfactorily complete (or have previously complete) firearms training as applicable.
Motor Vehicle Operator's License: Incumbent must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment and will be required to operate a motor vehicle in accordance with applicable OPM regulations and related requirements of the Department of Justice.
Financial Disclosure: This is a covered position under Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations, part 2634, which requires the incumbent to file an initial and annual OGE- 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, through the supervisor to the District Ethics point of contact.
Physical Requirements: Performance of above duties 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 incumbent may perform the duties satisfactorily.
Incumbent must possess sufficiently good vision, with or without glasses, in each eye: in order that he/she may perform the duties satisfactorily. Near vision, glasses permitted, must be acute for reading of printed materials the size of typewritten characters.
The ability of the incumbent to hear the conversational voice and whispered speech is required. Any hearing impairment may be compensated for by use of a hearing aid.
Since the duties of the position are exacting, responsible, and involve work performed under arduous and dangerous conditions, incumbents must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition, which would cause the applicant to be a hazard to himself/herself or to others, will disqualify him or her.
Physical Demands: While some portion of the work is sedentary and done while seated at a desk or table, most requires physical dexterity; moderate physical exertion such as walking, bending, long periods of standing, recurring stooping, and running or carrying equipment or evidence weighing up to 100 pounds. Work regularly involves extended duty hours and occasional travel.
Work Environment: The work is performed in a variety of settings: the U.S. Attorney's Office, the business premises of potential subjects, offices or other federal and local agencies, and courtrooms. Field work outdoors involves protracted and irregular hours of work with periods of excessive heat, cold, humidity, dryness, and dampness. The incumbent may be exposed to smoke, difficult walking surfaces, and close proximity to dangerous objects and moving vehicles.
NOTICE: This is a primary investigator position covered as a rigorous/primary position under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) 5 U.S.C. 8366 or Federal Employee's Retirement System (FERS) special retirement provision (5 U.S.C. 8412(d)).
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.
Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Justice requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a clearance as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive/High-Risk position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP 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 satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility, click here.
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your 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 satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. Additional information about CTAP eligibility, click here.
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, based on your adjudication decision. 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: Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our 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 you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Promotion Potential (Career Ladder) Statement: This position is being filled at the (GS-12) level with promotion potential to the (GS-13). Promotion or assignment into this career ladder position does not guarantee future advancement. Advancement to the (GS-13) is not automatic and depends on the individual's ability to perform the higher-grade duties, the availability of a sufficient quantity of higher-grade work that would constitute a major duty, and management's decision to assign these higher-grade duties to the employee.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Decision Making
- Flexibility
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
- Reasoning
- Self-Management
- Stress Tolerance
- Teamwork
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12980854
Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures and placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified.
Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
Highly Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job;
Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.
Names of all candidates in the best qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration (unless a sufficient number of qualified veterans are found - in which only those names will be initially certified). Candidates within the best qualified category who are eligible for veteran preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.
Required Documents
Note: Failure to submit a resume or supporting documentation may result in elimination for further consideration. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Resume: Your resume showing relevant experience, job titles, duties, dates (must include MM/DD/YY for full consideration) of employment and work schedule for each (part-time XX hours per week or full-time). Limit your resume to 2 pages. Only resumes 2 pages in length will be accepted to determine eligibility and qualifications. For more information, view the following link: USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirement
- A complete Assessment Questionnaire
- CTAP/ICTAP Documentation
- A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate, notice of disability annuity termination, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
- A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action'', documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;
- A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
- Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
- Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable:
- In order to verify your Veterans' Preference entitlement, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); or if you are a current Active Duty member you must submit a certification on appropriate military branch letterhead that indicates:1) your service dates, 2) expected discharge or release date from active duty with a release/discharge date no later than 120 days from the closing date of this announcement, and 3) the character of service (e.g., Honorable); or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.
- In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower if a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" dated October 2013 and all the required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.
- Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.
- Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? 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. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
- Position title;
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
- Agency; and
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
- Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
- Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
- Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
- Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status:Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Staff Acquisition at SAG-E-Appeals@opm.gov or to obtain an alternative application.
Agency contact information
601 D Street, NW
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.
To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.
Overview
- 1811 Criminal Investigation
- Credentialing
- Suitability/Fitness
- National security
© 2026 Qureos. All rights reserved.