Supervisory Criminal Investigator (Regional Special Agent in Charge)

Summary

This position is located in Lakewood Colorado, region 2 with the USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations. This position serves as the Regional Special Agent in Charge (SAC). As the top line officer for Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) in the Region. For additional information about the duties of these positions, please contact SM.FS.LEI_RECRUIT@USDA.GOV

Duties

• Duties listed are at the full performance level.
• Creates long-range policies to address unprecedented issues that require the generation of innovations, concepts, or principles leading to developments and changes that cross organizational lines.
• Develops, coordinates, and implements strategic plans to include the agency mission, goals, objectives, and implementation strategies.
• Assigns responsibilities for carrying out objectives, coordinates and directs the work among several organizational units, sets performance targets, and resolves differences where required.
• Serves as technical expert and exercises independent judgment to conceive, develop, and implement new outreach strategies designed to reach and engage a variety of stakeholders.
• Serves as agency spokesperson at public meetings, formal and informal briefings, workshops, and press conferences on extremely technical and complex program activities.
• Addresses problems where experience, data, and guidelines are very limited or point in conflicting directions; or where problem solutions are of special urgency or likely to be particularly controversial.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Due to the requirements of this position, applicants must have prior law enforcement experience that included the following activities: enforcement of criminal laws of the United States through investigation, apprehension, or detection of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against these criminal laws. This experience must be reflected in the resume. NOTE: To be eligible for Secondary Law Enforcement Coverage, you must 1) move directly from a federal Primary/Rigorous position; 2) complete 3 years of service in a primary/rigorous position, and 3) must be continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a primary/rigorous position. Selective Placement Factor: Must have at least three years of service in positions that have been approved for Rigorous or Primary Law Enforcement retirement coverage. 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. Due to the requirements of this position, applicants must have prior law enforcement experience that included the following activities: enforcement of criminal laws of the United States through investigation, apprehension, or detection of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against these criminal laws. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-14: You must have one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level. Specialized experience is defined as a 3 or more of the following: 1. Planning, directing, and coordinating complex criminal investigations and associated administrative support functions, ensuring investigative operations are strategically aligned with mission priorities and cross-jurisdictional requirements. 2. Providing direction and expert guidance to subordinate staff on complex and sensitive criminal investigations and/or administrative activities, while maintaining national or regional reporting systems to ensure timely notification and coordination among law enforcement units. 3. Overseeing and conducting follow-up on investigative and administrative processes; formulating, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, plans, standards, and procedures necessary to execute a comprehensive, integrated law-enforcement program. 4. Conducting difficult, complex, and highly sensitive investigations requiring the development of new or substantially modified investigative methods, coordinating multiple jurisdictions and investigative teams, and developing detailed implementation plans and monitoring progress to completion. 5. Analyzing and evaluating investigative data and materials involving complex allegations, novel issues, or high-risk problem areas, and providing authoritative advice and innovative recommendations to prevent, resolve, or mitigate operational problems and reduce conflicts. For the GS-15: You must have one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level. Specialized experience is defined as a 3 or more of hte following: 1. Independently planning, coordinating, and directing policy, planning, managerial, operational, and administrative activities, applying expert, in-depth knowledge of investigative and administrative support operations; leading and overseeing criminal investigations and associated administrative functions to ensure mission alignment and operational effectiveness. 2. Providing direction and expert guidance to subordinate staff on complex and sensitive criminal investigations and/or administrative support activities, while maintaining national and regional reporting systems to ensure timely incident notification and coordinated response among law-enforcement units. 3. Overseeing follow-up on investigative and administrative processes, serving as a liaison to Federal, State, local, and departmental law-enforcement agencies, and formulating and recommending policies and procedures that enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and integration of investigative and administrative programs. 4. Conducting or leading interdisciplinary teams on complex special projects and directing and managing the activities of subordinate staff to achieve program goals, meet performance standards, and ensure consistent application of investigative and administrative policies. 5. Ensuring compliance with a wide range of Departmental, Federal, and organizational requirements, and developing internal administrative controls, guidance, and procedures that strengthen program accountability, operational integrity, and organizational performance. 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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There are is no education requirement for this position. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: 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. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. SPECIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Physical Demands: Due to the physical and vigorous requirements of this position, the incumbent must meet the established medical and physical standards/requirements set forth by USDA as it's considered essential to perform the duties of this position, The work requires a person with good physical health and stamina to work under pressure, along with the ability to lift and carry heavy objects and have the physical agility and dexterity. Ability to operate specialized motorized equipment such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and snowmobiles may be required. Maximum Entry Age: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18 USC Section 1001). Firearms Requirement: The incumbent is required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position so they must meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlines in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. The incumbent must qualify semiannually with all weapons issued by the USDA and maintain proficiency.

Grade: GS 14 to 15. . Apply by 2026-11-06 on USAJOBS.