Criminal Investigator (GS-14 Special Agent Promotional Opportunity)

Criminal Investigator (GS-14 Special Agent Promotional Opportunity)

Department: Department of Homeland Security

Location(s): Salt Lake City, Utah, Seattle, Washington, Phoenix, Arizona, Los Angeles, California, San Francisco, California, Denver, Colorado, Washington, District of Columbia, Miami, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, Indianapolis, Indiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, Boston, Massachusetts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kansas City, Missouri, Albuquerque, New Mexico, New York, New York, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Portland, Oregon, Austin, Texas

Salary Range: $107446 - $139684 Per Year

Job Summary: This Job Opportunity Announcement is for current and permanent GS-13 (including temporary GS-14) and former GS-14 ICE employees seeking a promotion to a GS-1811-14 Criminal Investigator position. Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Office of Professional Responsibility, and Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs. Locations are within and outside the U.S.

Major Duties:

• This announcement will be used to fill GS-1811-14 supervisory and non-supervisory criminal investigator positions, as listed below, in various locations within the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Office of Professional Responsibility, and Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs. If you are a current and permanent GS-1811-14 Criminal Investigator, you are NOT required to apply to this USAJOBS announcement for consideration for a lateral position. Please note, a temporary promotion to a GS-14 position is not considered a permanent GS-14 position. Positions: Supervisory Criminal Investigator roles, including Group Supervisor, Resident Agent in Charge (RAC), OPR Resident Agent in Charge (RAC), Section Chief, OFTP Section Chief, Assistant Attache; Non-supervisory Criminal Investigator roles, including Program Manager, OPR Program Manager/Lead Instructor, OFTP Program Manager/Team Leader/Course Developer, OPR Special Agent. Selections will be based on the needs of the agency and availability of positions and funding. As a GS-1811-14 Criminal Investigator, at the full performance level, your responsibilities will vary based on the particular position listed above into which you are promoted. You will perform various duties such as: Serving as a first-line supervisor and/or overseeing the administration, management, and conducting of investigative activities or special operations within assigned foreign or domestic area of responsibility. Establishing guidelines and performance expectations for staff, actively observing and evaluating staff performance, providing feedback, and ensuring staff's adherence to departmental standards and goals. Planning and developing national and special investigative programs, making recommendations for the introduction of new programs, conducting pilot programs and accelerating existing programs, collaborating and liaising with related internal and external units, and serving as an authoritative expert in the program area. Developing and managing training and programs on topics such as investigative matters, intelligence collection, trend analysis, methods of detecting fraudulent documents, firearms/weapons, investigative or tactical techniques, and similar subjects for presentation to top agency officials and other key stakeholders. Conducting, leading, and reporting on investigations regarding criminal misconduct of ICE personnel, their associates, contractors, and any other entity under the investigative jurisdiction of ICE. By applying to this announcement, you will be considered for both supervisory and non-supervisory positions; you will also be considered for permanent promotions, temporary promotions, and detail positions. Some temporary promotions may be made permanent without further competition. Secondary Law Enforcement: For approved secondary covered positions under 5 USC 8331 (20) and 5 USC 8401 (17), previous experience in a primary (rigorous) law enforcement position (or equivalent experience outside the Federal Government) is a prerequisite. Law Enforcement retirement coverage (special law enforcement provisions) is extended only if the secondary covered position immediately follows service in a law enforcement position. FERS applicants must have completed three (3) years of service in a rigorous position (AKA primary) position and transfer directly from a covered position in order to continue Law Enforcement retirement coverage upon selection. Primary position means a position whose primary duties are: Investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States. Secondary position means a position that: (1) Is clearly in the law enforcement field; and (2) Is in an organization having a law enforcement mission; and (3) Is either - (i) Supervisory; i.e., a position whose primary duties are as a first-level supervisor of law enforcement officers in primary positions; or (ii) Administrative; i.e., an executive, managerial, technical, semiprofessional, or professional position for which experience in a primary law enforcement position, or equivalent experience outside the Federal government, is a prerequisite.

Qualifications: This Job Opportunity Announcement is for current and permanent GS-13 (including temporary GS-14) and former GS-14 ICE employees seeking a promotion to a GS-1811-14 Criminal Investigator position. By applying to this announcement, you will be considered for permanent promotions, temporary promotions, and detail positions. Some temporary promotions may be made permanent without further competition. Certain positions under this announcement are subject to additional screening requirements (i.e., national security polygraph); additional regulations apply to some positions based on location (i.e., international posts). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled. To qualify for the GS-14 grade level, you must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level or equivalent performing the following duties: Conducting a broad range of investigations and directly associated activities (e.g., enforcement actions, presenting investigative findings, preparing written legal documents) which required making evaluations of situations and complex decisions to combat illicit activities related to trade, travel, finance, and immigration. Contributing to investigations with increasing levels of independence, responsibility, and/or authority over the course of tenure as a special agent. Collaborating with and/or influencing law enforcement partners while performing assigned investigative activities. Holding roles on interagency, multi-jurisdictional, international, and/or inter-organizational inquiries and investigations. Demonstrating flexibility by navigating various environments, investigative programs, and/or temporary duty assignments. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. In addition to meeting the eligibility and qualification requirements, candidates must either have a prior passing score for the Supervisory Situational Judgement Test (SSJT) assessment, or complete and pass the SSJT in the specified timeframe as a requirement for placement on a Certificate of Eligibles. Candidates who do not meet the SSJT assessment requirements will be removed from further consideration. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NON-COMPETITIVE CANDIDATES: To be considered non-competitively, former GS-1811-14s must apply to this announcement and meet specialized experience requirements, as determined by a panel of subject matter experts (SMEs). Former or current GS-14s in other job series must apply and complete all assessments. Please note: The two-part "SA-14 resume" is NOT required. Ensure that your specialized experience is clearly reflected in your standard two-page resume. Supervisory Situational Judgment Test (SSJT) This pass/fail online assessment measures critical leadership and interpersonal skills; candidates have two (2) hours to complete it. Candidates who passed the SSJT from a prior SA-14 promotional announcement will NOT be required to re-take it. Candidates required to complete the SSJT will receive email invitations with a link to take the assessment on or about May 15, 2025. Anticipated SSJT timeframe: May 15 - May 26, 2025 A panel of subject matter experts is scheduled to meet in late June to review specialized experience for all candidates with a passing or prior passing SSJT result. Notification of results are anticipated after July. If you have questions regarding the assessments or assessment process, please email SAPromotion@ice.dhs.gov for further assistance. All dates listed in this section are subject to change. While every attempt will be made to adhere to the dates listed above, there may be instances in which a change is required. Issues encountered with assessment completion must be reported before the assessment window closes in order to be considered and/or addressed for this promotional cycle. Overseas Assignments Offer Various Allowances - Special Notes: ICE Assistant Attache These are overseas limited term assignments. The initial tour for this position may be up to three (3) years as designated by the U.S. Department of State, not to exceed five (5) years or maximum total ten (10) years. Upon completion of the assignment, selectee will return to the U.S. to a similar position and grade as that held prior to this assignment and/or apply to another position. This assignment may be terminated or extended at any time depending on the needs of the agency. Allowance of Post Hardship Differential Pay, Relocation Incentive Pay, Cost of Living, Danger or Retention pay may be included depending on overseas locations. Selectee must successfully complete pre-employment clearance and all phases of the pre-deployment process which include issuance of passport/and or visa (if applicable), medical clearance, mandatory pre-departure (if applicable), and security overseas training. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. Current or Former Political Appointees: 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. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/04/2026. The vacancy questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions. This provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section for additional information. All application materials must be in English. Email Addresses: Throughout the testing process, the email address associated with your USAJOBS.gov profile is used for all official notifications concerning your application. It is your responsibility to proactively search for communications in email (including spam or junk folders) and on USAJOBS.gov, to ensure assessment deadlines, scheduling instructions, or document submissions are not missed. Please check the email address on your USAJOBS.gov profile to be sure it is current (e.g., does not have an outdated personal email or dhs.gov address). Outdated email addresses must be removed and replaced with a new email address prior to submitting your application. Update your email address prior to submitting your application. Once your application is submitted and the announcement has closed, that is the email address that will be used for all future communications including instructions and invitations to complete assessments. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, contact the Human Resources Operations Center listed on this announcement at least one day prior to the closing date for further instructions. It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application. One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-04