Criminal Investigator

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM seeks a Criminal Investigator to lead major investigations involving VA property, patients, visitors, and staff.

The role requires handling sensitive information, applying Title 18 authorities, and coordinating with federal and state agencies. Responsibilities include conducting investigations into fraud, bribery, larceny, and other offenses; gathering and analyzing data; obtaining evidence; and

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree (or LL.M if related).
• Time-in-Grade requirements may apply to current federal employees applying for this vacancy.
• SF-50 documentation demonstrating time-in-grade eligibility must be provided.

Responsibilities

• Investigate suspected major offenses against VA patients, visitors, staff, and U.S. government property.
• Coordinate and conduct joint investigations with federal/state agencies (e.g., FBI, US Marshals).
• Evaluate complaints and information to determine investigative merit and evidentiary value.
• Prepare complete, legally accurate reports and cases for prosecution.

Skills

Criminal investigations

Evidence collection

Legal rights & searches

Education

Ph.D. or doctoral degree or 3 years of graduate education

Job description

Summary

This position is based at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque - NM - within a specialized VA environment where operational security is crucial due to the presence of serious criminal activity. These activities may include complex fraud schemes - large-scale substance diversion - organized prostitution operations requiring surveillance - and multi-state efforts to unlawfully target VA property - Veterans - or personnel onsite.

Summary

This position is based at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque - NM - within a specialized VA environment where operational security is crucial due to the presence of serious criminal activity. These activities may include complex fraud schemes - large-scale substance diversion - organized prostitution operations requiring surveillance - and multi-state efforts to unlawfully target VA property - Veterans - or personnel onsite.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/25/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement.

In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

This position has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR): The duties of positions in this series require moderate to 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 - and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily.

Sufficiently good vision in each eye - with or without correction - is required to perform the duties satisfactorily.

Near vision - corrective lenses permitted - must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters.

Hearing loss - as measured by an audiometer - must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000 - 2000 - and 3000 Hz levels.

Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible - and involve activities under trying conditions - applicants must possess emotional and mental stability.

Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard to himself/herself - or others is disqualifying.

In addition to meeting the IOR above - you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: 1) reviewing and monitoring criminal activities; evaluating indicated trends and informing management of results; 2) gathering and examining intelligence from confidential sources - using state-of-the-art expertise in criminal investigations involving sensitive and complex investigations; 3) preparing complete - legally accurate - truthful - and sound criminal complaints and/or warrant applications to ensure personnel safety - mission readiness - and national security meet mission objectives. OR: Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M - if related. OR Combination: A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience as described above that equates to 100%.

For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• The single focus of the Criminal Investigator is the investigation of suspected major offenses against Veterans Affairs (VA) patients - visitors and staff and U.S. government property and assets and the potential prosecution of criminals
• The Senior Criminal Investigator reports to the Chief of Police
• Major duties and responsibilities include: Performs criminal and non-criminal investigative duties with emphasis on white-collar crime Plans and conducts investigations of alleged violation of Title 18 - United States Code - including fraud - bribery - larceny - embezzlement - collusion - conflict of interest - as well as the violations of Title 18 which involve VA/VHA employees Evaluates complaints and information to determine investigative merit Gathers - analyzes - and reports on complex financial - observational - and other information to establish its evidentiary value and sufficiency Obtains evidence - explains constitutional rights - performs search and seizures - and makes arrests Prepares and reviews reports - makes recommendations - and prepares cases for prosecution Collects enough evidence to support a court case against a criminal and explains to juries the significance of evidence as it relates to proof that a crime was committed Coordinates and conducts joint investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of criminal laws with other federal and state agencies such as the FBI - US Marshalls - etc
• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday-Friday - 8:00AM to 4:30 PM (On-call) Compressed/Flexible: No authorized Telework: This position is not authorized for telework
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Criminal Investigator/PD99720S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
• Physical Requirements: This position is rigorous and physically demanding - meets the definition of a "Rigorous Position" contained in 5 CFR 842.802 - 1)Having direct contact with - and frequently pursuing and detaining - persons who are suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States
• 2) Carrying a firearm and exposure to hazards or danger
• 3) interviewing witnesses - interrogating suspects - and giving Miranda and other rights warnings when appropriate
• 4) Working long periods without a break - which may require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving considerable walking - long periods of standing - frequent bending or lifting - and occasional climbing
• and - 5) Being on-call 24 hours a day
• The incumbent must meet certain physical qualifications and shall maintain a high standard of physical condition - enabling the incumbent to work long and/or irregular hours under adverse conditions.