Career Opportunities
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
POSITION: Inspector, FS-1811-05/04/03 (GS-11/12/13 equivalent)
ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: FS-05-13
Promotion Potential: FS-01 (GS-15 equivalent)
Opening Date: July 1, 2005
CLOSING DATE: September 5, 2005
Number of Positions: Multiple
$38,636 - $116,517
LOCATION: Washington, D.C. and numerous field offices abroad
Area of Consideration: Status Only
I. A Career in the Foreign Service:
A. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Inspector General (OIG) is seeking journeyman level 1811 criminal investigators, called “Foreign Service Inspectors”, to serve in positions located in countries where USAID is operating. The OIG’s headquarters is in Washington, D.C.; currently, the OIG has field offices located in: Budapest (Hungary); Cairo (Egypt); Dakar (Senegal); Manila (Philippines); Pretoria (South Africa); Baghdad (Iraq); and San Salvador (El Salvador). As a Foreign Service Inspector, you will be required to combine your skills as a criminal investigator with the skills of a seasoned diplomat in order to accomplish the OIG’s mission of fighting fraud, waste and abuse in USAID programs and operations throughout the world. A Foreign Service career involves uncommon commitments and occasional hardships, as well as unique rewards and opportunities. A decision to enter this career must involve a firm dedication to public service and a strong desire to serve in the overseas environment. The Foreign Service strives to maintain diversity in the representation of gender, geographic region, race, and ethnicity.
B. Job Responsibilities: The USAID OIG investigative program is designed to facilitate the accomplishment of USAID’s mission to deliver prompt and effective foreign assistance programs in support of U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives worldwide. To this end, Foreign Service Inspectors conduct, and report on, criminal, civil and administrative investigations from offices in Washington, D.C. or regional offices located throughout the world. These investigations focus on suspected violations of Title 18, United States Code, as well as suspected violations of Title 31, Title 41, the Code of Federal Regulations, and other regulations pertaining to the operations of USAID. Investigations range from complex international contract procurement fraud investigations and high-profile employee misconduct investigations that involve political appointees and high-ranking career officials to routine administrative investigations.
USAID Foreign Service Inspectors also design activities to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse in USAID programs and operations. These activities include the development and orchestration of proactive case initiatives as well as delivering fraud awareness presentations to large groups of USAID employees, contractors, grantees, and recipients. Foreign Service Inspectors are expected to maintain liaison with high-ranking officials of USAID Bureaus at Headquarters and Missions overseas, as well as with officials from the Department of Justice and other law enforcement organizations located in the U.S. and abroad. He or she will develop and maintain close contacts with audit counterparts to review audit findings that could be indicative of conditions warranting investigation. Foreign Service Inspectors at the journeyman level will be expected to provide on-the-job training to less experienced Inspectors. The proactive and reactive activities of the OIG often receive Congressional and media
attention and help shape and improve the effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of USAID.
To accomplish their jobs, Foreign Service Inspectors must be able to use the full array of investigative techniques normally employed by civil service 1811s, including, but not limited to, witness interviews, subject interrogations, execution of search warrants, document analysis, issuance of subpoenas, undercover operations, surveillance, and the development and use of informants..
Successful applicants must be self-starters capable of doing independent investigative work in developing countries, at times under hardship conditions, and in a manner that is consistent with the U.S. Government’s diplomatic mission abroad. Backgrounds in accounting or law are particularly beneficial.
C. Conditions of Employment:
1. The incumbent must be willing and able to travel and work independently within foreign countries serviced by USAID.
2. The incumbent must be willing to do tours of duty in foreign countries where OIG has regional offices; a tour of duty generally consists of two years, but Inspectors are generally expected to serve two, two-year tours back-to-back.
3. The incumbent must be able to meet tenure requirements of the Foreign Service within five years of joining USAID OIG, as set forth in OIG Policy 2006, Chapter 12. Upon tenure, Foreign Service Inspectors automatically become commissioned Foreign Service Officers.
4. The incumbent must have completed successfully the basic criminal investigator course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, or the equivalent thereof.
5. Applicants for this position are required to qualify with and use firearms and other weapons as part of assigned duties and to maintain such qualifications. Because of the Lautenberg Amendment [18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)], applicants are ineligible for this position if at ANY time they have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence, unless such conviction was expunged, set aside, or the applicant received a pardon.
6. The incumbent must be able to successfully complete a full-field background investigation and obtain, and maintain, a top-secret security clearance. Prior to appointment, the applicant may be asked to complete a “Declaration for Federal Employment” (OF-306). The information collected on this form is used to determine an applicant’s suitability for federal employment. The applicant may also be asked to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in the application/resume. The applicant must answer all questions truthfully and completely. A false statement on any part of the declaration or attached forms may be grounds for not hiring the applicant, or for termination after being hired.
7. The incumbent must agree to work an average of two hours extra, per day, to meet the requirements of law enforcement availability pay (LEAP), as described in Title 5 U.S.C. §5545a (d) (1). Upon tenure, the incumbent will not qualify for LEAP, but will qualify for premium pay in the form of special differential at the current rate of 15% of salary.
8. Applicants must be United States citizens.
9. Applicants must possess a valid U.S. driver’s license upon appointment.
10. Applicants must pass a pre-employment medical examination.
11. Continuing employment in this position is contingent upon: (1) maintaining eligibility for a top-secret security clearance in a position which has been designated as critical-sensitive; (2) maintaining criteria outlined in Criminal Investigators’ Manual, Chapter 6, Health and Physical Fitness Program; (3) willingness to travel domestically and overseas as necessary; (4) willingness to carry and use a firearm in the execution of official duties; (5) compliance with the Lautenberg Amendment; (6) willingness to work the extra hours required under LEAP and/or Special Differential, and; (7) obtaining tenure as a foreign service officer within five years of joining USAID, as explained in OIG Policy 2006, Chapter 12.
Special Note: This position is covered under the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers. Applicants must meet the maximum age for entry into a “covered position” which is the date immediately preceding the applicant’s 37th birthday and must be able to retire at the mandatory age of 57 years with 20 years of service as an 1811 criminal investigator. In order to receive consideration, you must include your date of birth in your application package.
D. Basic Benefits:
1. Travel at Government expense of employees and their authorized dependents to and from posts of assignments abroad.
2. Basic orientation at time of entrance on duty and subsequent in-service professional training before the first overseas assignment.
3. Group life insurance and health benefits programs.
4. Accrual of annual leave ranging from 13 to 26 working days a year, depending on length of service with the U.S. Government.
5. Accrual of sick leave at 13 working days per year.
6. Locality pay authorized under certain circumstances.
7. Generous pension and Thrift Savings Plan similar to 401K benefits.
E. Benefits When Assigned Overseas:
1. Travel expenses of employee and their authorized dependents to and from posts abroad, including shipment of personal effects.
2. Government quarters, and furnishings, or housing allowance.
3. Cost of living allowance at posts where the cost of living is substantially higher than in Washington, D.C.
4. Salary differential, which is taxable, ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent of base pay at posts where there are unusual hardships.
5. Accrual of home leave at a rate of 15 work-days per year served abroad.
6. Paid round-trip transportation to a rest and recuperation area for employee and authorized dependents who are assigned to designated hardship posts.
7. Educational allowance for dependents under certain circumstances
8. Limited coverage for emergency medical expenses of employees and authorized dependents while based overseas.
II. Appointment:
A. In order to be eligible to receive a conditional offer of employment, applicants must have successfully completed the application assessment stages and have been placed on a rank-ordered list of eligible candidates. A final offer of employment is contingent upon the candidate successfully completing the medical, security, and suitability stages. Candidates who are offered employment are given probationary appointments as Foreign Service Career Candidates for a period not to exceed five years.
B. Medical Clearance: Foreign Service pre-employment hiring policy requires that candidates be medically cleared for worldwide assignment according to the needs of the Service. Family members are not required to obtain medical clearances prior to a candidate's entry on duty. However, family members must be medically cleared before they can travel at U.S. Government expense to the assigned overseas post. Family members, who, for medical reasons, are unable to accompany the employee on an overseas assignment, may be eligible for a separate maintenance allowance. Medical examinations may be performed by a family doctor, in which case USAID will reimburse the candidate. Alternatively, the examination may be conducted at the Agency's medical facility in Washington, D.C.
C. Background Investigation: Eligible candidates will be asked to submit forms required for a security clearance and suitability determination for appointment to the Foreign Service. The clearance process considers such factors as registration for the Selective Service, failure to repay a U.S. Government-guaranteed student loan, past problems with credit or bankruptcy, failure to meet tax obligations, unsatisfactory employment records, violations of the law, drug or alcohol abuse, or a less then honorable discharge from the armed forces. Investigations, which usually take several months, include current and previous contacts, supervisors and co-workers. These investigations are conducted by USAID Office of Security (SEC).
III. Tenure:
A. Foreign Service career candidates will be considered for tenure by a Tenuring Board after they have acquired a minimum of two years overseas experience in the Service. A career candidate who fails to perform satisfactorily may be separated at any time during their probationary period. Any employee who remains untenured after two reviews will be separated from the OIG. The appointment status of a career candidate who receives tenure will be changed from probationary to career.
B. The sole criteria for a positive tenure recommendation shall be the candidate’s demonstrated potential, assuming normal growth and career development, to serve effectively as an FS officer over a normal career span, with potential for promotion to class FS-1.
IV. Foreign Service Inspector Career:
Foreign Service employees will first be stationed in Washington, DC. Each year, employees will be given the opportunity to bid for available positions overseas. The OIG will try to accommodate employees’ personal preferences; however, program needs of the OIG, individual career development needs, and the need for assignment continuity will also be determining factors in making assignments overseas.
Salaries within the starting ranges for new employees will be determined at the time of a conditional offer of employment. The entry level salary for Federal Civil Service candidates appointed to the Foreign Service without a break in service will be at the rate, within the Foreign Service grade to which they are appointed, that is nearest to the base salary rate of their previous grade.
Performance is evaluated in writing annually by a supervisor. After one year in grade, the inspector is eligible to compete annually for promotion with other Inspectors at the same grade. Due to the limited number of yearly promotions available, panels select candidates based on published criteria and quality performance. In general, persons with good performance will receive a within-grade increase annually up through step 10 and biennially from step 10 through step 14 if they have not received an equivalent increase during that period.
V. Qualifications and Specialized Experience Requirements:
The following qualifications and specialized experience should be reflected in the application via resume or narrative autobiography.
- Incumbents must have experience in planning, conducting and coordinating complex investigations into contract procurement fraud, and/or other forms of white-collar crimes, as well as investigations into employee misconduct.
- The incumbent must have demonstrated experience in the application of Title 18, United States Code, as well as suspected violations of Title 31, Title 41, the Code of Federal Regulations, and other administrative regulations.
- The incumbent must have the ability to speak a foreign language, or the ability to learn to speak a foreign language, if he or she is appointed to serve tours of duty in Senegal or San Salvador.
- The incumbent must have demonstrated experience communicating effectively, orally and in writing.
- Status applicants applying at the FS-05 level (GS-11 equivalent), must have fifty-two (52) weeks of experience at the GS-9 level, or equivalent, that has equipped the applicant with the ability to initiate and conduct white collar fraud investigations, ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and conduct complex procurement investigations, ability to communicate in writing, including preparation of investigative reports, and the ability to communicate orally and work effectively with individuals and/or other agencies in order to conduct investigations.
- Status applicants applying at the FS-04 level (GS-12 equivalent), must have fifty-two (52) weeks of experience at the GS-11 level, or equivalent, that has equipped the applicant with the ability to initiate and conduct white collar fraud investigations, ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and conduct complex procurement investigations, ability to communicate in writing, including preparation of investigative reports, and the ability to communicate orally and work effectively with individuals and/or other agencies in order to conduct investigations.
- Status applicants applying at the FS-03 (GS-13 equivalent), must have fifty-two (52) week of experience at the GS-12 level, or equivalent, that has equipped the applicant with the ability to initiate and conduct white collar fraud investigations, ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and conduct complex procurement investigations, ability to communicate in writing, including preparation of investigative reports, and the ability to communicate orally and work effectively with individuals and/or other agencies in order to conduct investigations.
- College degrees are highly desirable to include classes in finance, accounting, or law. CPA certificates or law degrees are extremely beneficial, as is a foreign-language proficiency, particularly in French or Spanish
VI. How To Apply:
A. All applicants, including current USAID and USAID/OIG employees, must submit one of the following application forms:.
1. Resume and OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment or
2. OF 612, Optional Application for Federal Employment and OF-306
3. SF 171, Application for Federal Employment
B. Your application must contain all of the following information or it will be marked incomplete:
1. The announcement number you are applying for;
2. Full name, date of birth, social security number, complete mailing address and day and evening phone numbers, country of citizenship, veteran’s preference, if applicable, reinstatement eligibility, and highest federal civilian grade held;
3. High school - name city and state, date of diploma or GED; Colleges and universities - name, city, and state, major, type and year of any degrees received;
4. Job title, duties and accomplishments; employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, hours per week, salary; do not incorporate or attach position descriptions; indicate whether we may contact your current supervisor; and job-related training courses, job-related licenses and certificates, job-related honors, awards, and special achievements, computer software programs used, foreign language proficiency, academic honors, and extra-curricular activities in college.
C. Other Documents Required In Addition To The Application Form:
1. A two-to-three page, typed (double-spaced) narrative autobiography which discusses your:
(a) Personal background;
(b) Personal interests; hobbies and travel;
(c) Professional experience which was not included in the employment application; and,
(d) Motivation for applying for a Foreign Service Inspector career.
2. Applicants currently employed by the Federal Government must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal (dated within the last 18 months).
3. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that his/her application is complete. The personnel office will not be responsible for soliciting additional information from applicants. Application packages should be submitted to:
U.S. Agency for International Development
Office of Inspector General, M/PS, Room 8.07A, RRB
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20523-8700
Attn: Personnel Services
4. If you need a copy of the vacancy announcement, please call (202) 712-4189. Applications must be postmarked by the closing date and postmarks will be accepted up to five days after the closing date. Candidates who fail to submit all of the foregoing documents cannot be evaluated for further consideration.
5. As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or/are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service law.
D. Other:
1. Security Clearance: This position requires a top secret security clearance. Upon selection, applicants must provide sufficient information to support the investigation.
2. Drug Testing: This position is subject to drug testing, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' guidelines, as required under Executive Order 12564. Prior to appointment, all applicants tentatively selected will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use.
3. PLEASE NOTE: INITIAL EMPLOYMENT RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.
E. Equal Employment Opportunity:
In selecting personnel for appointment to USAID OIG positions, there will be no discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, politics, marital status, physical handicap, age, or membership or non-membership in an employee organization. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
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