Criminal Investigator

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Portland, OR seeks a Senior Criminal Investigator to lead investigations of suspected major offenses against VA patients, visitors, staff and VA property, with potential prosecution.

The role operates in a federal environment requiring firearms qualification and physical readiness. Applicants must meet GS-11 qualification standards or education substitutions, and be prepared for demanding schedules, security clearances, and interagency collaboration with

Qualifications

• 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 in investigation of major crimes.
• Education may substitute for required experience per federal standards.
• Time-in-Grade requirements apply for current federal employees.
• Transcripts must be submitted with application materials.

Responsibilities

• Investigate major offenses against VA patients, visitors, staff, and VA property.
• Coordinate investigations with Federal, State, and local agencies.
• Gather, analyze, and report evidence to establish its evidentiary value.
• Explain constitutional rights, perform searches, and make arrests.
• Prepare and review reports and recommend prosecution.
• Work schedule typically Monday–Friday; may include irregular hours and shifts.

Skills

Criminal investigations

Forensic evidence

Interagency liaison

Legal knowledge

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education

LL.M. in related field

Tools

Federal investigative methods

Job description

Summary

The single focus of the Senior 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement - 09/28/2026. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: To meet the minimum qualifications for this position at the GS-11 level - you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have 1 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 - that equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: investigating serious crimes and complex misdemeanors; utilizing an extensive array of standardized - optional - and innovative investigation procedures - techniques and methods to detect - investigate - and resolve crimes and other activities that are beyond the scope or requirements for solutions associated with standard patrol assignments; acting as liaison officer and facilitating the investigations of other Federal - State - and local law enforcement personnel involved in the investigation and disposition of major crimes; collecting and using forensic evidence to solve crimes and support court cases against criminals; analyzing - evaluating - and advising on law enforcement delivery systems and operations - as well as assessing the productivity - effectiveness - and efficiency of the activities and operations; and - coordinating and/or participate in a taskforce or other team to conduct highly complex - difficult and sensitive criminal - civil and administrative investigations involving alleged misconduct - criminal activity and/or corruption. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M. in field a directly related to this position being filled (such as criminal law - criminal justice - etc.). This education must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college - or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above may be used to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Firearm Requirement: VA Police Officers are required to carry agency-approved firearms while on duty on VA property. Officers must achieve and maintain qualification/certification with the agency-approved firearms as condition of gaining and continuing employment as a Police Officer. Applicants must be able to possess firearms under the terms of the Gun Control Act of 1968 - as amended (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9). ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Required to attend an 8-10 week course at the VA Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock - Arkansas (if not already completed). Satisfactory completion of this course is a condition of continued employment. Must attend and successfully complete the 12-week Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) (if not already completed). Satisfactory completion of this course is a condition of continued employment. Scheduling and attendance of CITP is at the needs of the agency and FLETC class availability. A medical examination is required. The duties of these positions require moderate to arduous physical exertion and/or duties of a hazardous nature. The following medical requirements apply to all applicants: good near and distant vision - ability to distinguish basic colors - and ability to hear the conversational voice. Applicants and employees must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of the position without risk to themselves or others. Applicants and employees must possess emotional and mental stability. A psychological examination is required. In most instances - a specific medical condition or impairment will not automatically disqualify an applicant or employee. A medical condition or impairment is disqualifying only if the condition - for good medical reason - precludes assignment to or warrants restriction from the duties of the specific position. For some positions - the loss or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Reasonable accommodation shall also be considered in determining an applicant's ability to perform the duties of a position. A character investigation will be conducted on applicants selected for employment. The purpose of such an investigation is to secure evidence of the candidate's honesty - integrity - general character - and loyalty to the U.S. Government. As a condition of employment - must qualify to be issued a firearm and semi-annually with assigned firearm - annually with an expandable Straight Baton (MEB) - maintain a valid State or Commonwealth Driver's License and pass annual physical and psychosocial assessments. Applicants must be able to possess firearms under the terms of the Gun Control Act of 1968 - as amended (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9). 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 Senior Criminal Investigator is the investigation of suspected major offenses against Veterans Affairs (VA) patients - visitors and staff and the potential prosecution of criminals
• This position works in a unique VA environment where the continual existence and level of serious crimes are on par with crimes such as homicide - involve an extensive supply chain fraud network - large scale drug diversion - prostitution rings requiring surveillance - and/or sophisticated multi-state schemes to steal from or harm VA property - Veterans - or personnel visiting or working at a VA property
• The 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: Monday - Friday
• 6:00am - 2:00pm PST Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position
• Position Description/PD#: Criminal Investigator/PD99720S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
• Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion - such as long periods of standing - walking - bending - stooping - reaching - crawling - and similar activities
• Performance of work may take place in attics - crawlspaces - walls - ceilings - and other limited access spaces - or in rough terrain
• The work may require some common characteristics and abilities of physical agility and dexterity to work in confined spaces and to move or lift moderately heavy objects
• The work environment involves frequent exposure to moderate risk situations - some discomforts - unpleasant working conditions - and adverse weather conditions e.g
• hot - cold - dry and wet
• Safety or security precautions sometimes are necessary - and the position may have to use appropriate clothing or gear
• May be required to work long and irregular hours - on weekends - holidays - or at night - and change shifts and duty hours to conduct extensive criminal investigations
• Medical Requirements: 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.