Investigator (Direct Hire)

Investigator (Direct Hire)

Department: Department of Homeland Security

Location(s): Atlanta, Georgia, Hanover, Maryland, Las Vegas, Nevada, Dallas, Texas, Herndon, Virginia, Springfield, Virginia

Salary Range: $76463 - $118204 Per Year

Job Summary: Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting America's transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Major Duties:

• These vacancies will be filled through DHS/TSA's Direct-Hire Authority pursuant to TSA MD 1100.30-26. Under the Direct-Hire Authority, category grouping and Veterans' Preference does not apply. Investigations (INV) promotes the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of TSA's people, programs, and resources through objective criminal and administrative investigations. This investigator position is located in INV Field Operations (FO). Duties include but are not limited to: Plans, conducts, documents, and finalizes administrative cases. Utilizes a broad knowledge of investigative techniques and sources to develop a strategy for each separate case. Receives additional guidance from the supervisor at the outset of assignments that involve unfamiliar issues or unusual techniques. When criminal investigations are determined necessary, refers cases as appropriate and follows up on status of investigation. Provides administrative support in conducting investigations. Performs a wide variety of administrative and operational functions such as gathering and assessing information to determine facts. Incumbent is responsible for gathering information, identifying and analyzing issues & allegations necessary for discovering evidence, coordinating & conducting interviews, researching standards, and reporting the findings of a thorough, complete investigation or inquiry. Conducts fact-finding, interviews witnesses and suspects on administrative cases involving allegations against non-supervisory and supervisory TSA employees, contractors, regulated parties and individuals with a nexus to the investigation. Consults senior investigators, as needed, to overcome technical and nuanced barriers impacting investigative objectives. Implements accepted methodology, procedures, precedents, and techniques to a broad scope of administrative investigations. Performs investigative activities in accordance with administrative laws, DHS, and TSA regulations. Incumbent applies some discretion to select the most appropriate approach in the application of complex techniques and contributes to developing new solutions to achieve investigative goals. Participates in cross-organizational or interrelated investigations that include interagency and intergovernmental teams to ensure discrepancies, in findings, are resolved and confirms the investigation is supported by evidence sufficient to Investigations' standards. Performs intra- and interdivisional requests for investigative assistance, to include interviews, physical and electronic surveillance, and other support functions in furtherance of administrative, civil, and criminal investigations throughout the United States and Outside of the Continental United States. Applies the relevant jurisdictional precedent, or legal standard, in gathering and interpreting evidence material to the trier of fact. Facilitates and prepares, sworn statements, affidavits and serves administrative subpoenas and other official investigative correspondence. Prepares accurate, concise, and comprehensive reports of investigation for presentation to Division management officials and/or other adjudicating entities. Provides practicable assistance to criminal investigators in administrative and criminal investigative activities as needed. The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (H Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.

Qualifications: To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11/12): A. Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-G or GS-9 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as: Applying knowledge of investigative techniques to independently conduct investigations; Conducting fact finding interviews with witnesses or subjects of investigation; and Preparing written reports of findings. OR B. Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related OR C. Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements, and may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the position; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the position; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position. To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as: Planning and conducting investigations using advanced investigative techniques; Conducting independent investigative research utilizing analytical methodologies to identify links, patterns or trends; and Preparing written memoranda, summaries or reports of findings that include recommended actions and findings. Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. 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. 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. Please see the Required Documents section for resume requirements. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

How to Apply: Note: There will be application cut off dates; the first cut-off date is 11:59 pm (EST) January 15, 2026. Additional application packages will be reviewed and issued to management on an as-needed basis. If hiring needs change during the open period, this announcement may be closed without any further notice. All of the following must be received in our office by 11:59 PM EST (Eastern Standard time) by the initial cut-off date or on the closing date of this announcement. If we do not receive all required information by the closing date, your application may not be considered. 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. To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. Your application must include: Resume Applicable supporting documents (see Required Documents Section) To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. We encourage you to apply online. If you have any questions, please see Agency Contact Information for further assistance. Veterans 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 documentation that is required, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Application Deadline: 2026-09-30