Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) (Open Continuous Announcement)

US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) seeks energetic professionals for positions at GL-5, GL-7, and GL-9 levels. Open continuous until 09/30/2027; qualification requirements must be met at application.

The ATF emphasizes data gathering, investigations support, and crisis response as part of its crime reduction mission. Applicants must meet education or experience requirements at the respective grade levels, and successful completion of medical, polygraph, and

Qualifications

• Three years of progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least the GS/GL-04 performing duties.
• Unable to update after submission; ensure you meet all qualifications at the time of application.
• Graduate education at GL-7 or higher may substitute for experience as described.

Responsibilities

• Assisting in criminal investigations by gathering evidence, conducting record and database searches.
• Participating in searches, seizures, and arrests; preparing reports for routine investigations.

Skills

Gathering data

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree (ANY FIELD)

Job description

This is an open continuous announcement until 09/30/2027. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is looking for energetic, innovative, solution-oriented professionals to help the ATF team succeed in our responsibilities to reduce violent crime and protect the public.

All qualification requirements must be met at the time of application. No updates will be allowed to your application.

GL-5

You qualify for the GL-5 grade level if you have three years of progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least the GS/GL-04 performing duties such as

• Gathering pertinent data
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing.

OR

A bachelor's degree or successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in ANY FIELD leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Conferred date must be listed on your unofficial or official transcripts.

GL-7

You qualify for the GL-7 grade level if you possess: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing all of the following duties:

• Assisting in criminal investigations by gathering evidence, conducting record and database searches
• Participating in searches, seizures, and arrests
• Preparing reports for routine investigations

OR

Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university in any field. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.

OR

A bachelor's degree in any field with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). To qualify for SAA, you must meet one of the following:

1. A grade point average of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
2. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in the applicant's major field of study, or those courses in the applicant's major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
3. Rank in the upper one-third of the applicant's class in the college, university, or major subdivision.
4. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.

GL-9

You qualify for the GL-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, performing all of the following duties:

• Serving subpoenas, arrest, and search warrants
• Conducting interviews, interrogations of suspects and witnesses
• Providing status reports of ongoing criminal investigations to higher level management

OR

A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in any field; a J.D. or an LL.B. degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours.

NOTE

Your resume must indicate how you meet the qualifications above, otherwise, you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Combining Experience and Education

To combine your education and experience, you must convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages. The combined total of your percentage of education and experience must equal at least 100% in order to qualify. If your education is currently described in quarter hours, convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying the quarter hours by the fraction 2/3. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, divide the number of graduate semester hours by 18. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, you must divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by the required number of months of experience. Add your percentages of education and experience. The two percentages must total at least 100%. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Drug Testing

You must satisfactorily complete a drug test prior to being hired. More information on the ATF Drug Policy can be found here.

Medical Examination

Individuals must meet the established medical standards and/or physical requirement for the position, proving they are medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely.

Polygraph Examination

You will be required to successfully complete a polygraph examination. Applicants who have significant responses or who manipulate the polygraph process will be removed from the hiring process. Researching polygraph is unnecessary and highly discouraged, as many websites recommend methods that, if employed, may be deemed as a manipulation of the polygraph process.

Polygraph Reciprocity

ATF may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of an ATF polygraph exam.

Background Investigation

You will be required to undergo a background investigation prior to employment. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions, the use of illegal drugs 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.

If you are a current or former Federal employee:

1. You must submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent agency form. Do not submit an award SF-50, these do not contain sufficient information about your appointment. Your SF-50 should list the full position title, series, grade and step,organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status.
2. An SF-50 showing 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. Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
   1. Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
   2. Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
   3. SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old