Criminal Investigator

This Criminal Investigator position is with Customs and Border Protection (Department of Homeland Security) in Phoenix, AZ. Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, Investigative Operations Directorate, Field Investigations Division, located in multiple locations. This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Category Rating, Veterans' Preference and traditional rating and ranking do not apply to this Public Notice. Key duties: • Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is hiring for law enforcement jobs that have an exciting opportunity! Once onboarded, you'll first be assigned for up to one year to support the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. The law enforcement component of the D.C. Task Force is a partnership of over 20 federal and local agencies working together to make D.C. the safest city in America. Once the assignment ends, you'll transition back to support the CBP. Visit the D.C. Task Force page for more information. Joining Office of Professional Responsibility, Investigative Operations Division, Field Investigations Division will allow you perform variety of administrative, research, and investigative duties. This position starts at a salary of $65,545.00 (GL-09, Step 1) to $99,774.00 (GS-11, Step 10) with promotion potential to $142,199 (GS-13, Step 10). Location Negotiable After Selection - You must choose one of the following locations - Alpine, AZ; Sierra Vista, AZ; Tucson, AZ; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; San Franciso, CA; Miami, FL; Detroit, MI; Bangor, ME; Newark, NJ; Champlain, NY; San Juan, PR; Brownsville, TX; Del Rio, TX; El Paso, TX; Laredo, TX; McAllen, TX; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA. Typical work responsibilities include: Employing all of CBP's authorities and capabilities to lead and/or support investigations of crime, counterterrorism, and counter-intelligence activities in proactive and/or reactive manner. Conducting proactive and/or reactive criminal investigations involving CBP employees and related entities suspected of crimes affecting the business of CBP including but not limited to extortion, collusion, conspiracy, forgery, bribery, embezzlement, theft, and fraud. Conducting proactive and/or reactive criminal investigations involving CBP employees or related entities suspected of crimes affecting the administration of Customs and Immigration laws including but not limited to perjury, giving false, fictitious, or fraudulent information, human and/or narcotics trafficking/smuggling, and other federal, state, or local violations. Investigating individuals, businesses, employees, and criminal organizations that represent a significant threat to U.S. national security through the corruption or attempted corruption of CBP personnel and programs, to include foreign intelligence organizations and terrorist groups. Gathering and analyzing vital information, facts, evidence, and intelligence from a variety of sources including open sources, law enforcement and CBP specific databases, and through interviewing subject and witness employees. Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period. Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government Qualifications: Experience: You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Assisting in the investigation and arresting of individuals suspected of crimes. Gathering and analyzing facts, evidence, and intelligence. Serving search, arrest warrants. Preparing reports of routine investigations. Education Substitution: Successful completion of two or more years of full-time graduate education or a Master's (or higher) degree or an LL.B. or J.D from an accredited college or university, in a field of study related to law enforcement (e.g. criminal justice, homeland security, criminology, justice studies, law enforcement and judicial systems, forensic technology or forensic psychology). Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Independently conduct routine investigations, interviews, and/or interrogations. Assisting in arrests, taking affidavits from suspects and witnesses. Testifying in court as a witness to events- Conducting routine surveillance operations. Serving subpoenas and participating in the execution of search warrants Education Substitution: A Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M. degree may substitute for experience required at this level in a field of study related to law enforcement (e.g. criminal justice, homeland security, criminology, justice studies, law enforcement and judicial systems, forensic technology or forensic psychology). This education must demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. Combining Experience and Education: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise three years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 54 semester or 81 quarter hours. More information on this qualification standard is located here NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. 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. You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 09/02/2026. 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. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process. 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. Firearms Requirement: You will be required to carry a firearm and maintain firearm proficiency. This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child. Polygraph Examination: The Criminal Investigator position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination. Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package. Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package. 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. View the full announcement and apply on USAJOBS.gov.