Summary This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, District 5. This position serves as a Law Enforcement Officer, performing law enforcement duties including investigation, apprehension, arrest, detention, or prosecution of persons violating applicable laws, rules and regulations enacted to maintain order and justice, to protect and provide public safety to communities within Indian Country. Applicants will be reviewed every two weeks. Responsibilities Duties listed are at the full performance level at the GS-11. If selected at the lower level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to develop in the position. Investigating criminal activities, such as assault, homicide, robbery, vandalism, illegal possession of drugs/firearms, public intoxication, traffic incidents, and other activities. Enforcing Federal and Tribal laws applicable to Indian Country Collaborating with other law enforcement agencies, including state, tribal, and other federal agencies, on cases and other law enforcement activities of mutual interest Apprehending violators of Federal, Tribal and/or State criminal laws Applying for and executing search and arrest warrants Testifying and presenting evidence to grand juries in cases involving felony violations Training and developing lower graded law enforcement officers. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications GL-05: To qualify at the GL-05 level, you must have three years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04. OR Education: Four (4) year course of studying leading to a bachelor's degree. OR A combination of education and experience that totals 100% of the requirement above. NOTE: Successful completion of a Federal, State, county, or municipal police academy or comparable training course that included at least 40 classroom hours of instruction in police department procedures and methods, and local law and regulations, may be substituted for a maximum of 3 months of specialized experience or 6 months of general experience. GL-07: To qualify at the GL-07 level you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GL-05 grade level performing ALL of the following: 1) Assisting in conducting preliminary investigations; 2) Participating in traffic, boundary, trail, and/or hunting patrols to enforce federal laws; and 3) Executing arrest warrants OR Education: (1) Successful completion of one full year of graduate level education (18 semester or 27 quarter hours) OR Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, -or- (3) honor society membership. 1. Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum as recorded on their official transcript, or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society - Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor society. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. OR A combination of education and experience that totals 100% of the requirement above. GL-09: To qualify at the GL-09 level you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GL-07 grade level performing ALL of the following: 1) Requesting and presenting justifications for arrest warrants; 2) Conducting investigations of criminal activities; 3) Prosecuting and apprehending violators of law to ensure the protection and safe use of facilities and resources; and 4) Maintaining the lifespan of evidence from collection to proper disposal, upon completion of cases. OR Education: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree or a LL. B or J.D., in a related field of study OR a combination of specialized experience and education that totals 100% of the experience requirement. OR A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement above. GS-11: To qualify at the GS-11 level you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GL-09 grade level performing ALL of the following: 1) Investigating criminal activities to include locating and securing crime and collecting evidence; 2) Issuing citations and filing criminal complaints; 3) Collaborating with other law enforcement officers and agencies via the exchange of information and coordinated activities of mutual interest, as related to criminal cases; 4) Contacting and informing public land users of procedures, laws, and regulations to gain compliance; and 5) Providing feedback to bureau supervisors and employees on law enforcement protection issues. OR Education: 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or a L.L.M. in a related field of study OR a combination of specialized experience and education that totals 100% of the experience requirement. OR A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement above. FIREARMS REQUIREMENT: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child; or 8) convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. MEDICAL REQUIREMENT: The duties of this position 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 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 too himself/herself, or others is disqualifying. MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE LIMIT: 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. If you have an approved age waiver, please submit that with your application. NOTE: If you have previous law enforcement (LE) Federal experience, you must enter the number of MONTHS when you respond to the questionnaire. For example, if you have 5 years of Federal LE experience, you must enter 60 months, 4 years would be 48 months, etc. Otherwise, the system may screen you out. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Upon selection, employees holding a sworn law enforcement position must reside within 50 miles of their duty station unless a waiver is approved by the OJS Director or Assistant Director. A failure to comply may result in removal from a sworn law enforcement position. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date. Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date. Education If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION Additional Information All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2025 Salary Tables here. A recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized The full performance level of this position is GS-11. Promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed. CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 88 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee\guides/career\transition.asp . LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT: If applying under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, you must provide documentation to support your eligibility (SF-50) and performance (references and/or performance appraisal). Under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) two groups of individuals are eligible to apply under this announcement: current and/or former employees serving or who have served under time-limited competitive appointments at land management agencies. Land Management Agencies include: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service. Current appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND 3) must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service. Former appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; 3) must have separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND 4) must have performed at an acceptable level through the service period. Certain candidates may be eligible to apply under a special hiring authority including those for disabled individuals, Peace Corps employees, Foreign Service employees, veterans, etc. For more information, visit the following OPM websites: USAJOBS Information Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/; Vets Info Guide: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/. Former Federal Employees are required to indicate whether they received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) buyout in their previous employment with the Federal government, and are required to submit a copy of the applicable Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) regarding the VSIP. Most individuals who accept reemployment with the Federal government within 5 years of receiving the VSIP amount, must repay the gross amount of the separation pay prior to reemployment.
