CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR

Duties

At the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) we are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) and value a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the communities we serve. As such, we welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds who share our commitment to public service.

• Serves as a Criminal Investigator and Technology Crimes Senior Special Agent and as an Agency authority on complex criminal, civil and administrative cases involving information technology.
• Serves as a SEC investigative authority on digital forensics collection and analysis and a technical expert regarding crime scene searches regarding electronic evidence.
• Performs the collection of digital evidence require to determine and attribute criminal activity, often requiring coordination with and Assistant United States Attorney and the use of search warrants and subpoenas.
• Consults with the Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC) to identify the need to coordinate and/or involvement with other law enforcement agencies, at the national or international level, on a significant number of the cases investigated.
• Designs and implements intrusion detection, analysis, penetration testing tools, and novel automated methods to recover evidentiary data from network-based systems penetrated by unauthorized parties.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen.
• Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in you not being considered for this position.
• Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
• This position has promotion potential to the SK-14.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a one-year probationary period.
• SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position.
• DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements.
• PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized.
• DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• This position is not in the collective bargaining unit.
• This position is eligible to request telework in accordance with the SEC 's telework policy.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-in-grade for this announcement is one year at the GS/SK-12 level for the grade 13.
Time-in-grade for this announcement is one year at the GS/SK-13 level for the grade 14.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. 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. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

1. Training Requirement: You must have successfully completed a basic law enforcement training program such as the Criminal Investigator Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, or military or other equivalent.
2. Age Requirement: There is a maximum entry age of the day before your 37th birthday (excluding preference eligible veterans) for entry into law enforcement office positions. This position is covered by the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement Officers [5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or 5 U.S.C. 8412(d)] and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. If you are over age 37, you must have been or currently be covered by the special retirement provisions and be able to complete at least 20 years of covered service by age 57.
3. Physical/Medical Requirement: The selectee may have to pass a pre-appointment physical examination and meet the physical requirements for this position as required by this agency. 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. Work may involve physically restraining others and defending oneself or others against physical attack.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement.

SK-13: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-12 grade level. Specialized experience includes all of the following: 1) conducting digital forensics acquisitions and analysis to identify and retrieve digital evidence relevant to OIG investigations; 2) planning, conducting and reporting on complex civil, criminal or administrative investigations involving suspected violations of fraud against the government, financial crimes, misconduct or illegal/inappropriate actions of agency staff; 3) coordinating the efforts with law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and national level as it relates to financial crimes investigations; and 4) advising other special agents and investigators on work assigned to support case activity.

SK-14: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-13 grade level. Specialized experience includes all of the following: 1) conducting digital forensics acquisitions and analysis to identify and retrieve digital evidence relevant to OIG investigations; 2) planning, conducting and reporting on complex civil, criminal or administrative investigations involving suspected violations of fraud against the government, financial crimes, misconduct or illegal/inappropriate actions of agency staff; 3) leading teams on investigations, search warrants, arrests, surveillance, undercover operations and related activities with guidance from senior agents; 4) coordinating the efforts with law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and national level as it relates to financial crimes investigations; and 5) advising other special agents and investigators on work assigned to support case activity.

Additional information

Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, please visit http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) are available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be well-qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP or ICTAP eligibles will be considered well-qualified when receiving an adjudicated score of 80 or higher.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT (LMWFA): The LMWFA provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. For more information, click here.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:

• Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
• Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
• Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
• Other Special Appointment Authorities

Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation for disability to participate in the application process at the SEC, submit the form for Reasonable Accommodation for Participation in Job Application Process here. Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. Click here for additional information.

The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by contacting the Legal and Policy Office in the Office of Human Resources at ElliottT@sec.gov.

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• Benefits

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  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.

Required Documents

You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:

• Required: Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
• Required: Your complete and comprehensive resume that includes a complete history of your work experience and the applicable employment dates with months and years. If you are a current or former Federal employee, it is recommended that your resume include thetitle, series, and grade (e.g. SK-0301-12) for all relevant Federal experience . To determine if you qualify for this position, OHR will review your work history that is relevant to the specific position for which you applied. If you are an external candidate selected for this position, OHR will review your complete work history to establish your starting salary.. If you are a current SEC employee selected for this position, the standard percentage increases will be applied (i.e., 6% for non-supervisory and 10% for supervisory positions) if your selection results in a promotion. If your selection results in lateral movement (i.e. no change in grade) you will maintain your current salary. If your selection results in a change in grade from an SK-15 to an SK-16 you will maintain your current salary.Note: Your resume must directly address the definition of specialized experience listed in the qualification section of this announcement and must NOT contain pictures. For external candidates: Information on how your resume will be used for pay setting purposes can be found here.
• Required, if you are a current or former Federal employee*: Your most recent Promotion, Within Grade Increase (i.e. WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or non-award Notification of Personnel Action (if applying as a current or former Federal Employee) must show you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. Note: If you are in the excepted service, your current agency must have an interchange agreement with OPM - for a list of agencies with current interchange agreements please click here.
• Required, if applicable: CTAP/ICTAP documentation (a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibility for priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.)
• Required, if applicable: VEOA documentation (DD-214, member 4 copy or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge.)
• Required, if applicable: Special Hiring Authority eligibility documentation (VA letter, Schedule A eligibility letter, Peace Corp letter, etc)
• Required, if applicable: Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act supporting documentation.

*SEC EMPLOYEES: OHR will verify your competitive service eligibility via the SEC's personnel database.

SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade; however, a selectee's initial pay is always set below the maximum rate of the range. Please click here for additional information.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

$122,649 - $238,592 per year