Recent Graduates - College Graduates who have graduated from a qualifying educational institution/program within 2 years of their application and students scheduled to receive their qualifying degree no later than June 16, 2014. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have up to six years after degree completion to apply. Qualifying education includes recent graduates who have completed qualifying undergraduate and graduate degrees Recent Graduates Full Time
**Our work affects Every American...**
OIG exists as a statutorily created independent and objective unit within USDA, the purpose of which is to conduct audits and investigations; provide leadership and coordination to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness and prevent fraud in USDA's programs and operations; and keep the Secretary and the Congress informed as to deficiencies in such programs and operations. USDA's mission is to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. OIG, though independent, must work toward USDA's effectiveness to serve its statutory purpose.
The Assistant Inspector General for Investigations (AIG/I) is responsible for assisting the Inspector General in maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity in the programs and operations of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) through development, supervision, and performance of investigations and investigative activities. The AIG/I oversees the planning, development, supervision, and conduct of investigations into violations and suspected violations of criminal laws of the United States and rules and regulations relating to programs and operations of USDA.
An Investigations Region is responsible for planning, directing and supervising the performance of all criminal investigative and law enforcement activities relating to the Departments programs and operations within an assigned geographic area, and for coordinating with the AIG/I and the Assistant Inspector General for Audit (AIG/A) and their staffs to ensure audit and investigative cooperation in accomplishing the goals and objectives of OIG.
**WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:** Recent Graduates who are U.S. citizens who have completed a qualifying degree(s) (see qualifications tab of this announcement) within the previous two years by the date of application and students scheduled to receive their qualifying degree no later than June 16, 2014. Veterans precluded from applying due to their military service obligation have up to six years to apply.
U.S. Citizenship or National Resume and supporting documents (See How to Apply) Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Svc, or exempt Subject to favorable adjudication of a background investigation Must be eligible for the Recent Graduates Program (See Qualifications)
The incumbent will:
* Function as a criminal investigator assigned to an OIG Investigations Regional Office, Suboffice, or Resident Office.
* Perform selected investigative functions in connection with cases involving alleged or suspected violations of Federal criminal laws, rules, or regulations relative to any of USDA's programs and operations. Cases may include allegations of embezzlement and fraud involving USDA-funded programs; fraudulent claims for Federal benefits; bribery; conversion of government property; falsification of financial books, records, documents, and reports; kickbacks; mismanagement; and noncompliance with requirements of legislation and administrative rules and regulations.
* Analyze complaints or allegations to identify the issues involved and the types of evidence that will be needed in each case.
* Develop comprehensive reports of investigative findings, in sufficient detail and accuracy to aid in supporting possible prosecution and/or administrative action, for the ASAC's review.
* May assist team members in executing search and arrest warrants, preparing information to be included in testimony, serving as witnesses before grand juries and in trial courts, or participating and assisting in other legal proceedings in matters involving violations of Federal criminal statutes under OIG investigation.
**RECENT GRADUATE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY:**
In order to meet the Pathways Recent Graduates program requirements for this position you must have graduated from a qualifying educational institution or program within 2 years of your application.
ATTENTION VETERANS: A veteran, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108, who due to military service obligation, was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the individual's eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which the individual completed the requirements of an academic course of study.
PROGRAM COMPLETION AND CONVERSION ELIGIBILITY: Program participants MAY be converted, without a break in service, to a term, career or career conditional appointment upon completion of program requirements. To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must:
* Complete two continuous years of work experience acquired through a Recent Graduate Program;
* Complete 40 hours of formal interactive training;
* Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted;
* Meet any USDA and OIG specific requirements specified in the Participant's Agreement;
* Demonstrate successful job performance that results in a rating of record of at least Fully Successful and a recommendation for conversion by the first level supervisor; and
* Be recommended for conversion by the first-level supervisor.
**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS**
To qualify at the GS-09 level, you must meet the following:
**Education:** Applicants must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL. B or J.D., in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science or in a field of study directly related to this position. **(Must include official or unofficial transcripts to verify eligibility)**
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
**IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE**. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-admin.asp
Applications and required documentation (see below) will be reviewed to determine if applicants meet eligibility and job requirements. Qualified applicants will then be rated on the quality of experience, education, and training they possess relevant to the duties of the position and the extent applicants possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (or competencies):
* Knowledge of Investigative Principles
* Knowledge of operations, laws, regulations, and rules of evidence
* Ability to communicate effectively using written communication
* Ability to communicate effectively using oral communication
The questionnaire will assess your qualifications for the job, and will be used to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. Your ratings in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. Attempts to falsify information; inflate your qualifications or providing inaccurate information on federal documents may be grounds to adjust your rating or to not select you. Errors, omissions or providing inaccurate information on federal documents may affect your eligibility. If selected providing inaccurate information on federal documents could also be grounds for dismissing you from the position/agency. Please follow all instructions carefully.
You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this job announcement. We are available to assist you during normal business hours. Applying online is highly encouraged. If applying online poses a hardship, please contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hard copy application packages must be submitted no later than noon on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on an as-needed basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
**Note:** To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account,
https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login , select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload, complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following 1195537. Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.If you cannot apply online:
1. Click the following link to view and print the assessment questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire, and
2. Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the assessment questionnaire http://www.opm.gov./forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf and
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to 1-478-757-3144. Your 1203FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
* Resume clearly describing your education and experience related to this position as described in the “Major Duties,” “Qualifications,” and “How you will be evaluated” sections of this announcement.
* Responses to the on-line Occupational Questionnaire
* If you are a veteran and you are claiming veteran’s preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. For competitive service positions, active duty service members expecting to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days: you may be granted tentative preference by submitting a “certification” document in lieu of a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214. This “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of the submission of the certification. Veteran’s preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran’s preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
* If you are claiming 10-point veteran’s preference based on service-connected disability, in addition to the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), you must also submit an SF-15, “Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference, plus the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. For more information on veterans’ preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/.
* You must submit a copy of your college transcripts. You must submit with your application evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcripts; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty.
You may track progress of your application package via your USAJOBS account. The questionnaire will assess your qualifications for the job, and will be used to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration, possible interview and selection. We will notify you, via your USAJOBS account, of the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. Log in to your USAJOBS account at https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login to check your application status. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 40 days after the deadline for applications. The Federal service offers a comprehensive benefits package. Explore the benefits offered to most Federal employees at https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits.
* Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
* E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies to use the E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form 1-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS 'E-VERIFY' system. Under the system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.
* This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.
* This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
* Position has promotion potential to the next higher level once all legal and regulatory requirements are met to include management’s certification of the continuing need for performance of duties at the higher grade level.
* Selectee is entitled to Law Enforcement Availability Pay at the rate of 25% of base pay.
**CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT**
* Selectee must pass a pre-employment complete physical examination and sustain the physical standards of health required of Federal criminal investigators.
* Position is a drug testing designated position, which requires a pre-employment drug test. Appointment to the position is contingent upon a negative drug test result. Selectee will be subject to random drug testing after appointment.
* Selectee must be able to qualify for and maintain a top secret security clearance
* Selectee must have and maintain a reputation for integrity, reliability, trustworthiness, impartiality and good judgment.
* Selectee must successfully complete the Criminal Investigator Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center or have successfully completed other comparable training which has been approved by the Office of Inspector General
* Selectee must qualify to carry and use Government authorized firearms as part of assigned duties, and maintain such qualifications.
* Selectee must possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle
* Selectee will be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450), under provision of Title V of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, before appointment and annually from that point forward
* Selectee must be a minimum age of 21 and a maximum age of 37 for original entry into a law enforcement position.
* Position is subject to irregular unscheduled hours, personal risks, exposure to all kinds of weather, and arduous exertion under adverse environmental conditions.
* Selectee may be required to relocate (change of official duty station) at the direction of management.