Department: Department of Justice
Location(s): Chicago, Illinois
Salary Range: $165386 - $197200 Per Year
Job Summary: The Office of the Inspector General is one of the best places to work in the Department of Justice and is one of the premier inspector general offices in federal government. The Investigations Division (INV) investigates alleged criminal violations and misconduct that govern DOJ employees, operations, grantees, and contractors. Annually INV receives more than 13,000 complaints, opens approximately 250 investigations, and makes an average of over 90 arrests.
Major Duties:
Qualifications: To qualify for this position at the GS-15 grade level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level obtained in the public/private sector. (Specialized experience is paid or unpaid experience which has equipped you with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.) Examples of specialized experience include such duties as: supervising a team engaged in conducting comprehensive investigations encompassing allegations of criminal misconduct, serious administrative infractions or integrity violations involving individuals, groups, or large organizations. Types of investigations include violations of Title 18 United States Code, including fraud, bribery, larceny, embezzlement, collusion, conflict of interest, civil rights violations, contract fraud, and other Federal criminal violations. Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade level (or equivalent). Firearms: Criminal investigators are required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position. Maintaining firearm proficiency is mandatory. Motor Vehicle Operation: You must possess a valid automobile driver's license at the time of appointment. Age: Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. The day immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday will be the last day to be referred for selection consideration. However, the age restriction may not apply if you are a preference-eligible veteran or if you are currently serving or have previously served in a federal civilian law enforcement position covered by 5 U.S.C. § 8336(c) or 5 U.S.C. § 8412(d). Medical Examination: Individuals must meet the established medical standards and/or physical requirement for the position, proving they are medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently. A medical examination will be conducted. Any disease or condition that may potentially interfere with the safe and efficient performance of the job's duties or training may constitute grounds for medical disqualification. Medical qualification determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis. If additional medical information is recommended beyond that provided at the pre-employment examination, it is provided at the expense of the tentative selectee. Drug Testing: This job has been identified as "testing designated" under our Drug-Free Workplace Program. Therefore, you must satisfactorily complete a drug test prior to being hired. The agency will schedule, provide and pay for the drug test. Once on board, you will be subject to random drug testing. Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): As a law enforcement officer you will be required to work on an unscheduled basis in excess of the 40-hour work week. These positions require substantial overtime to include holidays, weekends and nights. You must be readily accessible to perform this unscheduled work. To ensure your availability, you will receive extra compensation in the form of Law Enforcement Availability Pay, which is calculated at a flat rate of 25 percent of base salary. FERS/CSRS Retirement Information: This position is under "secondary" law enforcement retirement coverage provisions. Law Enforcement Retirement: This position meets the criteria for the special retirement provisions under both Civil Service Retirement (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Transfer Requirement for CSRS: To be eligible for secondary coverage, an employee must transfer directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary position to a secondary position. Must be continuously employed in a secondary position since transferring from a primary position without a break in coverage exceeding 3 days. Except: a break in employment in secondary positions which begins with an involuntary separation (not for cause); voluntary breaks in service, which began prior to January 20, 1988. Transfer Requirement for FERS: To be eligible for secondary coverage, an employee: while covered under the retirement provisions moves directly (without a break in service exceeding 3 days) from a primary/rigorous position to a secondary position; AND completes 3 years of service in a primary/rigorous position, including any such service during which no FERS deductions were withheld; AND must be continuously employed in a secondary position or positions since moving from a rigorous position. Except: a break in employment in secondary positions that begins with an involuntary separation (not for cause). Employees subject to special retirement coverage for law enforcement officers must retire at age 57 upon completing 20 years of law enforcement service under the special retirement provisions. If these 20 years of service are not attained at age 57, mandatory retirement is required upon completion of 20 years of service ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). The CTAP/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 CTAP/ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP/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 (for scored examining) score 85 or better on established ranking criteria OR (for category rating criteria) rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is at: www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. ** PROBATIONARY INFORMATION: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - Your performance and conduct; - The needs and interests of the agency; - Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
How to Apply: The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/26/2026 to receive consideration. 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 assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The application process is as follows: To begin the application process, 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. To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at https://www.usajobs.gov. On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. ** This vacancy may be used to fill other similar and/or comparable positions throughout the agency within the stated duty station.
Application Deadline: 2026-03-26