Criminal Investigator, Not-to-Exceed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Commissioner, Washington DC.

Duties

Temporary/ Rotational Assignment: To meet agency needs, this position will be filled on a temporary basis not-to-exceed (NTE) one (1) year, with possible extensions for an additional four (4) years in one (1) year increments. You may be returned, at any time, to the position from which temporarily promoted, or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay. If you are currently at the grade level of the position announced, this action will result in a reassignment, and you may be returned at any time to a same or similar position held prior to this temporary assignment. If you currently hold a grade level higher than the grade being announced, this action will result in a change to lower grade, and you may be returned at any time to the position held prior to this temporary assignment or to the same or similar position at the lower grade level. Relocation Authorized Position: Relocation expenses will be paid in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation limits and agency policy. Typical duties include: Provides criminal investigative advisory support to Office of the Commissioner leadership on insider threats, criminal misconduct, and vulnerabilities affecting CBP operations, personnel, facilities, information, and leadership. Plans, conducts, and supports complex criminal investigations involving suspected violations of Federal law, including large-scale smuggling, public corruption, threats or violence against CBP personnel, and other high-impact crimes affecting CBP operations. Reviews and synthesizes intelligence, investigative information, law enforcement information, and case-related data to identify patterns, trends, vulnerabilities, emerging criminal risks, and potential impacts on CBP mission effectiveness. Supports protective security operations for the Commissioner during official travel, site visits, and engagements by conducting advance security assessments, route reconnaissance, and threat analysis related to insider threats and criminal activity. Prepares investigative reports, affidavits, evidentiary records, briefings, risk assessments, and investigative findings, while maintaining chain of custody and supporting prosecutorial entities during investigations and prosecutions. This position starts at a salary of $125,158.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $162,708.00 (GS-13, Step 10) with promotion potential to $162,708 (GS-13 Step 10). Secondary Law Enforcement Officer Special Retirement Coverage: This is a secondary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers under CSRS and FERS (5 CFR 842.803 and 5 CFR 831.903, Conditions for Coverage; 5 USC 8425(b) and 5 USC 8335(b), Mandatory Separation; and 5 USC 8412(d) and 5 USC 8336(c), Immediate Retirement). Employees in secondary positions must meet the following conditions in order to be eligible for special retirement provisions: (1) moved directly from a rigorous position to a secondary position without a break in service; (2) complete 3 years of service in a rigorous position; and (3) have been continuously employed in a secondary position or positions since moving from a rigorous position without a break in service exceeding 3 days. For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link. For further information on when an employee continues or discontinues coverage under the special retirement system for law enforcement officers, please see the CSRS and FERS handbook, Chapter 46 (CSRS pages 12-14, and FERS pages 41-43). If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, please contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180.

Qualifications

Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Participating in a protective security team, managing high-risk close protection missions, threat mitigation, and security transport protocols to guarantee security of protectee. Reviewing investigative information, intelligence, law enforcement data, case records, or evidence to identify criminal patterns, vulnerabilities, risks, or investigative leads. Preparing investigative reports, affidavits, case summaries, briefings, or other documentation to support investigations, prosecutions, or leadership awareness. Coordinating with CBP components, DHS elements, prosecutorial offices, or law enforcement partners to support investigative activities or advance criminal cases. Supporting surveillance, interviews, evidence collection, evidence processing, chain-of-custody activities, protective security, or operational readiness related to criminal investigations. 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. Mandatory Prerequisite for Secondary Administrative LEO Retirement Covered Position: This position has been identified as Administrative, that is, an executive, managerial, technical, semiprofessional, or professional position for which experience in a primary/rigorous law enforcement or firefighting position, or equivalent experience outside of the Federal government is a mandatory prerequisite, as defined by 5 CFR 831.902 (CSRS) and 5 CFR 842.802 (FERS). Note: if you currently serve in a permanent Secondary LEO Retirement covered position, you are exempt from this mandatory prerequisite. 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; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 10/13/2026. 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 Requirements Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process. Individuals must be medically and physically