Senior Criminal Investigator

Senior Criminal Investigator

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Fort Harrison, Montana

Salary Range: $74678 - $97087 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is a Criminal Investigator within the Police and Security Service at the Montana VAMC in Fort Harrison, Montana Region 3, District 2. The continual existence and level of serious crimes are on par with crimes such as homicide, involve an extensive supply chain fraud network, large-scale drug diversion, prostitution rings requiring surveillance, and/or sophisticated multi-state schemes to steal from or harm VA property, Veterans, or personnel visiting or working at a VA property.

Major Duties:

• Duties include but are not limited to: Performs criminal and non-criminal investigative duties with emphasis on white-collar crime. Plans and conducts investigations of alleged violation of Title 18, United States Code, including fraud, bribery, larceny, embezzlement, collusion, and conflict of interest. Plans investigative objective, scope, methods, and techniques. Participates in surveillance and electronic monitoring. Employs a methodology consistent with established criminal investigation techniques, renders detailed accurate statements, and reduces the information gathered into a clear, concise, and accurate report. Investigates violations with other agencies resulting in jurisdictional problems because suspects activities are the concern of other Federal investigative agencies. Coordinate's intelligence gathering operations and developing specific cases or complaints. Collects enough evidence to support a court case against a criminal. Explains to the jury the significance of evidence as it relates to proof that a crime was committed. Uses forensic collection equipment and techniques to identify, preserve, document and collects physical evidence for presentation in legal proceedings. Prepares collected evidence for presentation in legal proceeding. Confers with the U.S. Attorney's office or other outside law enforcement agencies as appropriate to dispose of or to proceed with a case. Gather's, analyzes, and reports on complex financial, observational, and other information in order to establish its evidentiary value and sufficiency. Evaluates complaints and to determine investigative merit. Conducts interviews and interrogations of suspects and witnesses and acquires sworn statements and information under oath as necessary. Recognizes and notifies the appropriate federal, state, or local authorities regarding criminal incidents and coordinates further investigations with the appropriate agencies. Coordinates and conducts joint investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of criminal laws with other federal and state agencies. Plans and conducts investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of criminal laws by utilizing investigative techniques and by applying the laws of evidence, rules of criminal procedures, and precedent court decisions concerning criminal activities. Investigates complaints, tips, develops leads, and obtains physical evidence. Seeks out and questions witnesses and suspects and takes testimony. Make arrests Obtains evidence, explains constitutional rights, and performs search and seizures. Use current state of the art information technologies to facilitate the collection, analysis and reporting of results of investigation. Gathers information and determines facts/evidence relationships. Consolidates ostensibly disparate facts, events and other types of intelligence material and develops information and applies guidelines and techniques for the detection, apprehension and persecution of persons attempting to violate or circumvent laws. Work Schedule: Varies Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Senior Criminal Investigator/PD99720S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Work Environment: The work environment involves frequent exposure to moderate risk situations, some discomforts, unpleasant working conditions, and adverse weather conditions e.g. hot, cold, dry and wet. Safety or security precautions sometimes are necessary, and the position may have to use appropriate clothing or gear. May be required to work long and irregular hours, on weekends, holidays, or at night, and change shifts and duty hours to conduct extensive criminal investigations. Requirement: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment.

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/18/2026. Individual Occupational Requirement 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 In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements, the applicant must also meet one of the following for the GS-11 level position: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Criminal Investigator, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes: Investigating serious crimes and complex misdemeanors. Utilizing an extensive array of standardized, optional, and innovative investigation procedures, techniques and methods to detect, investigate, and resolve crimes and other activities that are beyond the scope or requirements for solutions associated with standard patrol assignments. Acting as liaison officer and facilitating the investigations of other Federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel involved in the investigation and disposition of major crimes. Collecting and using forensic evidence to solve crimes and support court cases against criminals. Analyzing, evaluating, and advising on law enforcement delivery systems and operations, as well as assessing the productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency of the activities and operations. Coordinating and/or participating in a taskforce or other team to conduct highly complex, difficult and sensitive criminal, civil and administrative investigations involving alleged misconduct, criminal activity and/or corruption. Preferred Experience: Completion of VA Law Enforcement Training Academy NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. OR Education: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M. in field a directly related to this position being filled (such as criminal law, criminal justice, etc.). This education must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college, or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Required to attend an 8 - 10-week course at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas (if not already completed). Satisfactory completion of this course is a condition of continued employment. Must successfully attend and complete the FLETC Law Enforcement Criminal Investigator Training Program (FLETC CITP) Located in Glynco, GA. Satisfactory completion of these courses within the first year is a condition of continued employment. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS 11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and religion can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: This position is rigorous and physically demanding and meets the definition of a "Rigorous Position" contained in 5 CFR 842.802, 1) Having direct contact with, and frequently pursuing and detaining, persons who are suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States. 2) Carrying a firearm and exposure to hazards or danger. 3)Interviewing witnesses, interrogating suspects, and giving Miranda and other rights warnings when appropriate. 4)Working long periods without a break, which may require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving considerable walking, long periods of standing, frequent bending or lifting, and occasional climbing; 5) Being on-call 24 hours a day. The incumbent must meet certain physical qualifications and shall maintain a high standard of physical condition, enabling the incumbent to work long and/or irregular hours under adverse conditions. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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 the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation 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. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12951081. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. 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, 05/18/2026. 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. NOTE: 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. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. 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: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. 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. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume: Prioritize most relevant and recent experience Use concise, results focused language Align language from the job announcement Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies Remove outdated or unrelated experience Use the USAJOBS resume builder Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit

Application Deadline: 2026-05-18