Entry Level Criminal Investigator - Northeast Area Field Office (NEAFO)

Summary

The USPS OIG is seeking a highly qualified applicant to fill our Entry Level Criminal Investigator vacancy within the Office of Investigation, Northeast Area Field Office (NEAFO), the New York, NY location. The successful candidates must demonstrate the potential to conduct federal criminal, civil and administrative investigations. Bring your skills and voice to our team!

Duties

Help

Candidates will be evaluated on the skills that they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and the experience, education and training that indicate 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 the required information by 11:59 PM EST on Friday, November 13, 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 $67,394 - $96,989 includes locality pay. 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.

Applicants must be highly motivated and demonstrate the potential to conduct federal criminal, civil and administrative investigations.

This is the trainee level in the area of criminal investigation. Work assignments are selected to provide training in the analytical evaluative aspects of the work and in the appropriate use of investigative methods. The training emphasizes developing an understanding of the relationships of the concepts underlying the specialty area. It is directed toward the recognition of incipient needs or problems and the identification, analysis and solution of problems.

Assignments are pre-selected to combine performance of productive work with supervised on-the-job training in both the judgmental and methodological aspects of the work. Assignments involve learning and developing investigative abilities by observing more senior agents conducting investigations. Participates in approximately 14 weeks of basic formal classroom training. This is a primary criminal investigator position.

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.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be able to pass a drug screening. Note a physical is required for 1811 criminal investigator positions.
• Must be able to pass a background investigation
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Top Secret security clearance
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a government-issued credit card
• Selectee is subject to random drug testing
• May be required to successfully complete a 12-month probationary period

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

You must meet ALL of the minimum requirements.

• Eligible applicants must possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Have 2 years of experience with a law enforcement agency
• Demonstrated potential to conduct federal criminal, civil, and administrative investigations
• Must have received a satisfactory performance rating on your most recent performance appraisal (Fiscal year 2025). If a performance appraisal is not available, you must submit a written statement stating the reason it is not available. (You must submit a copy of your latest performance appraisal or written statement)

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
• Prior USPS OIG Student Cooperative

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 your major accomplishments relevant to the position requirements in your resume.

1. Demonstrated knowledge of various law enforcement/investigative techniques and procedures
2. Ability to effectively present information, both orally and in writing, to convey ideas and concepts regarding complex and/or sensitive issues.
3. 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://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).

For further information, please refer to our website at: https://www.uspsoig.gov/frequently-asked-questions

Expand Hide additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.