Summary *PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL EMPLOYEES AND STUDENT COOPERATIVES, UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, UNITED STATES POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE AND POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION CAREER EMPLOYEES. OTHER APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Responsibilities The USPS OIG is seeking a highly qualified applicants to fill an Entry Level Criminal Investigator vacancy within the Office of Investigations, Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office (MAAFO), in Richmond, VA location. The successful candidate must demonstrate the potential to conduct federal criminal, civil, and administrative investigations. Bring your skills and voice to our team! Candidates will be evaluated on the skills they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and/or the experience, education and training that reflect the applicant's ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Only those candidates who meet all qualification and eligibility requirements and who submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, will be considered. The USPS OIG uses a Pay Banding system which is equivalent to the Federal GS scale. Grade and salary determinations will be made based upon a candidate's education and professional experience. This position is being advertised at the Journey Band level GS 7 - 9 equivalent grade level. The salary range for this position is $59,739 - $85,971 and includes locality. Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) is authorized. LEAP will not be part of compensation until successful, completion of the 12-week training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), or equivalent federal law enforcement academy. Promotion potential to the next GS equivalent level at management's discretion. Relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation Authorized: No Please note that the duties and responsibilities associated with this position may vary based upon the agency's needs at the time of hire. The following description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations. Applicants must be highly motivated and demonstrate the potential to conduct federal criminal, civil and administrative investigations. Travel Required 50% or less You may be expected to travel for this position. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS You must meet ALL of the minimum qualifications listed below. Eligible applicants must possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or must provide proof of receipt of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution prior to the start date of employment Must be a current USPS-OIG employee or Student Cooperative, USPS, USPIS or PRC career employee Demonstrated potential to conduct Federal criminal, civil, and administrative investigations Submit latest performance appraisal (FY 2025) with at least a satisfactory performance rating. If a performance appraisal is not available, you must submit a written statement stating the reason it is not available; Student Cooperative's must submit a management recommendation letter from current supervisor In accordance with applicable laws, the applicant selected for this position must: Must successfully complete the 12-week Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP). Maintain eligibility to operate motor vehicles. Must be at least 21 years of age and not have reached 37th birthday at the time of initial appointment to law enforcement position. Qualify and maintain authorization to carry firearms, including no current or previous domestic violence convictions. Maintain physical, mental and emotional standards and requirements necessary to perform law enforcement assignments. Work unscheduled irregular hours with the possibility of personal risk. As a law enforcement officer, you will be required to work on an unscheduled basis in excess of the 40-hour work week. These positions require substantial overtime to include holidays, weekends, and nights. You must be readily accessible to perform this unscheduled work. To ensure your availability, you will receive extra compensation in the form of Law Enforcement Availability Pay, which is calculated at a flat rate of 25 percent of base salary. Must be willing to relocate at the direction of management. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS Advanced academic degree Knowledge of Postal Service Operations Prior or current law enforcement or military experience Applicants that do not meet the minimum qualification requirements will not be considered. EVALUATION FACTORS Your resume MUST clearly demonstrate how your experience, knowledge, and/or skills meet EACH evaluation factor. Your resume must contain sufficient detail for the evaluator to determine that you meet the requirement. Do not assume that your job title, position, or employer alone demonstrates that you meet an evaluation factor. Failure to demonstrate that you meet ALL of the evaluation factors will result in a score of zero (0), an ineligible status, and you will NOT be referred for further consideration. Include specific duties, responsibilities, and major accomplishments relevant to the position requirements in your resume in each of the following evaluation factors. Demonstrated knowledge of various law enforcement/investigative techniques and procedures Ability to effectively present information, both orally and in writing, to convey ideas and concepts regarding complex and/or sensitive issues. Demonstrated ability to work with a team and develop and maintain effective working relationships with others from within and outside an organization. Education Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation here: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home and/or https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation Special Instructions for Candidates with Foreign Education: Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in U.S. education programs. You must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. credential evaluation service to interpret equivalency of your education against courses given in U.S. accredited colleges and universities. For further information visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications. Additional Information Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the USPS OIG. We offer a broad array of benefits programs: As a result of the passage of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 (PSRA), USPS employees (including USPS OIG) and retirees will transition from the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program to the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program effective January 1, 2025. Detailed information about eligibility and enrollment will be provided upon hiring. For more information, visit the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program website at https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/pshb/. We offer Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Long-Term Care Insurances with Flexible Spending options as well.For more information about these programs visit: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/Guide-Me/Federal-Employees/ Retirement and Thrift Savings. For more information about these programs see https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/ and tsp.gov/. Flexible Work Schedules. USPS OIG offers a range of family-friendly flexibilities including flexible work schedules, telework and employee assistance programs. Leave and Holidays. In addition to eleven (11) paid holidays each year, you will earn thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave and thirteen (13) to twenty-six (26) paid vacation days each year depending on your years of service. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Status: Exempt (Nonexempt employees are entitled to overtime pay; Exempt employees are not). This agency provides Reasonable Accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations during any part of the application and/or hiring process, please contact us by sending an email to jobs@uspsoig.gov. The decision on granting an accommodation request will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to our website at: https://www.uspsoig.gov/frequently-asked-questions
