Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Inspector General, Investigation Services, Investigations Operations Unit (IOU). IOU has a nationwide mission and is responsible for investigating information technology-based crimes and criminal activity that threatens the Department's administration of Federal education assistance funds and data. IOU is also responsible for providing digital forensics services to other OIG components.

Duties

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The Inspector General of the Department of Education (Department) heads an independent and objective organization responsible for audit, investigation, and other services related to programs and operations of the Department. The Inspector General provides leadership and coordination and recommends policies for activities designed, to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of programs and operations as well as to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in such programs and operations.

The Office of the Inspector General consists of the following seven components:

Immediate Office of the Inspector General
Investigation Services
Audit Services
Management Services
Technology Services
Legal Services/Counsel to the Inspector General
Enterprise and External Affairs

This position is considered a primary law enforcement position and is eligible for special law enforcement retirement coverage. IOU centralizes computer crime investigation and law-enforcement capabilities of digital evidence forensic analysis.

Criminal Investigators in IOU are computer crime investigators and receive specialized training in information technology, digital forensics, and the investigation of cyber-crimes and conduct all investigations of alleged computer and network crime for the OIG. This includes:

computer intrusions
denial of service attacks
the intentional destruction or altering of digital data, and
the exploitation of children by means of visual depictions.

This position required the incumbent to conducts investigations into intrusions of ED systems on fraud, waste, and abuse within Departmental programs, where a computer or other electronic means is used as a weapon, fruit, or instrumentality in the commission of a crime.

The incumbent will submit written investigative reports and make oral presentations for management and/or prosecutors to substantiate or disprove allegations in accordance with standards and timeframe.

The incumbent examines, verifies, and analyzes records, books, reports, correspondence, and other data of consequence related to transactions, actions, or allegations under investigation.

The incumbent independently provides expert forensic support through the scientific analysis of electronic evidence. Conducts complex computer forensic examinations that are consistent with those standards established by ED-OIG, the Council of Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), the Department of Justice as well as reflective of current trends and techniques within the law enforcement and professional communities. This may include the testing of forensic software and other appropriate automated analytical tools to meet diverse investigative requirements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

May be required to complete a background and fingerprint check.
You must be a U.S. citizen.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Services.
Subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
Statement of Employment & Financial Interest is required.
A pre-employment medical examination is required.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

This vacancy announcement will close after the agency receives 150 applications. If the 'cut-off' number is reached during the day, the vacancy announcement will close the same day at 11:59 p.m. ET.

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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) in federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position (see description below).

Specialized Experience for the GS-13:

One year of specialized experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing the three (3) following duties or work assignments:

Experience in demonstrating advanced skills in law enforcement techniques and computer forensic techniques.
Experience in analyzing records, complaints or allegations to identify issues in a case.
Experience in questioning or interviewing subjects, witnesses and victims to obtain and verify information.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

Knowledge of laws of evidence, rules of criminal procedures, and precedent setting court decisions required for gathering investigative evidence and conducting research and analysis for investigations.
Knowledge of and skill in court decisions and legal precedent in cases where 18 USC 1030 was used to charge criminal violations.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to interact and work effectively with others.
Skilled in use of computers and computer software including work processing, spreadsheets, email, and Internet search engines.
Knowledge of and skill in analyzing and organizing data and in presenting facts and analyses orally and in writing.
Knowledge of data and forensic analysis techniques, principles, theories, concepts, and practices applicable to data acquisition and analyses.

Selectee must meet the initial agency suitability determination before a final offer can be made.

Law Enforcement Availability: Applicants must agree to work an average of two hours extra per day to meet the requirements of law enforcement availability pay (LEAP) as described in Title 5 U.S.C. § 5545A(d)(1).

Applicants may be required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination by an Agency designated physician to determine if they are physically and medically qualified to perform the full duties of the position. Any physical condition which could hinder an individual's full, efficient and safe performance of his/her duties as a criminal investigator, or failure to meet any of the required physical or medical qualifications, will usually be considered disqualifying for employment, except when sufficient evidence is presented that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job efficiently and without hazard to themselves and others.

Medical Requirement: The duties of positions in this series require moderate 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, feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily. Applicant must be able to pass an Audiometer test. Hearing loss exceeding a 30-decibel average in either ear in the conversational and speech range (500, 1000, 2000 cycles) is disqualifying. Applicant should possess uncorrected visual acuity of no less than 20/100 in each eye, correctable to 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 in the other eye. Ability to read, without strain, printed material the size of typewritten characters is required. Glasses are permitted. Normal depth perception: depth perception to the correctable standard of 80 seconds of ARC is permitted.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level.

Additional information

Veterans' Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a Federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email sro_recruiting@ed.gov to schedule a session with a career counselor ("Veterans Counseling Session" should be placed in the subject line of the email).

Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment.

Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check.

Non-Essential: This position is considered non-essential for purposes of reporting to work during federal government closures.

Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency.

Employment Drug Policy: Applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis prior to appointment to screen for illegal drug use and will be subject to periodic random testing thereafter.

This position requires that the incumbent must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

Applicants must be a minimum age of 21 and not have reached their 37th birthday prior to the opening date of this vacancy announcement. If an applicant reaches his/her 37th birthday during the open period of this vacancy announcement, the application will be considered. Applicants who reach their 37th birthday prior to the opening date of this vacancy announcement will not be considered. Applicants who are currently or previously have been employed under a law enforcement position covered by 5 U.S.C. § 8336(C) or 5 U.S.C. § 8412(D) and applicants with documented veteran's preference are not restricted from applying regardless of age.

Firearms Requirement: Applicants for this position are required to qualify with and use firearms and other weapons as part of assigned duties and to maintain such qualifications. Because of an amendment to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9), which became effective September 30, 1996, and is referred to as the Lautenberg Amendment, applicants are ineligible for this position if at ANY time they have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence, unless such conviction was expunged, set aside, or the applicant received a pardon.

Agent Training: Applicant must have satisfactorily completed the Basic Criminal Investigative Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, or its equivalent.

Applicants eligible for selection preference under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) must meet the agency definition of "well qualified." At ED-OIG, this means a score of 85.0 or higher.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

As an ED employee, you will also benefit from our family-friendly work environment. As part of our commitment to maintain a work life balance, we offer excused leave for Parent/Teacher Conferences (3 hours); excused leave for annual health screenings (4 hours); and matching leave for community volunteer service. Other flexibilities that may be available to you include alternative work schedules.

You may be eligible to receive a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon.

You may be eligible to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program as a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive student loan repayments, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Office of Inspector General

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