Criminal Investigator

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center (CVAMC) is a two-division campus located in Cincinnati OH and Fort Thomas KY serving 15 counties in Southwest OH Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana with 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Bellevue KY; Florence KY; Lawrenceburg IN; Hamilton OH; Clermont County OH and Georgetown OH. The CVAMC also supports two off main campus locations in the Cincinnati area via an Eye Center and Mental Health Outreach Community Division.

Major Duties:

• 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.

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework per management discretion.
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 atand 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.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical exam required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Drivers License Requirement: Applicants must possess a valid unrestricted State drivers license have a safe driving record and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. Applicants are required to pass agency Government Vehicle Drivers physical examination. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs therefore; please do not submit a copy of your drivers license with your application package. If an interview is requested you may be required to provide a copy of your valid state-issued drivers license.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 02/05/2026.

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 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:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Criminal Investigator and that is typically in or related to the work of this 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.

• 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.

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a masters degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Arrest
• Criminal Investigation
• Criminal Law
• Forensics

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 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 applicants ability to perform the duties of a position.
5. A character investigation will be conducted on applicants selected for employment. The purpose of such an investigation is to secure evidence of the candidates honesty integrity general character and loyalty to the U.S. Government.
6. 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 Drivers 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).