Investigator (Direct Hire)

Duties

These vacancies will be filled through DHS/TSA's Direct-Hire Authority pursuant to TSA MD 1100.30-26. Under the Direct-Hire Authority, category grouping and Veterans' Preference does not apply.

Investigations (INV) promotes the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of TSA's people, programs, and resources through objective criminal and administrative investigations. This investigator position is located in INV Field Operations (FO). Duties include but are not limited to:

• Plans, conducts, documents, and finalizes administrative cases. Utilizes a broad knowledge of investigative techniques and sources to develop a strategy for each separate case. Receives additional guidance from the supervisor at the outset of assignments that involve unfamiliar issues or unusual techniques. When criminal investigations are determined necessary, refers cases as appropriate and follows up on status of investigation. Provides administrative support in conducting investigations.
• Performs a wide variety of administrative and operational functions such as gathering and assessing information to determine facts. Incumbent is responsible for gathering information, identifying and analyzing issues & allegations necessary for discovering evidence, coordinating & conducting interviews, researching standards, and reporting the findings of a thorough, complete investigation or inquiry.
• Conducts fact-finding, interviews witnesses and suspects on administrative cases involving allegations against non-supervisory and supervisory TSA employees, contractors, regulated parties and individuals with a nexus to the investigation. Consults senior investigators, as needed, to overcome technical and nuanced barriers impacting investigative objectives.
• Implements accepted methodology, procedures, precedents, and techniques to a broad scope of administrative investigations. Performs investigative activities in accordance with administrative laws, DHS, and TSA regulations. Incumbent applies some discretion to select the most appropriate approach in the application of complex techniques and contributes to developing new solutions to achieve investigative goals.
• Participates in cross-organizational or interrelated investigations that include interagency and intergovernmental teams to ensure discrepancies, in findings, are resolved and confirms the investigation is supported by evidence sufficient to Investigations' standards.
• Performs intra- and interdivisional requests for investigative assistance, to include interviews, physical and electronic surveillance, and other support functions in furtherance of administrative, civil, and criminal investigations throughout the United States and Outside of the Continental United States. Applies the relevant jurisdictional precedent, or legal standard, in gathering and interpreting evidence material to the trier of fact.
• Facilitates and prepares, sworn statements, affidavits and serves administrative subpoenas and other official investigative correspondence. Prepares accurate, concise, and comprehensive reports of investigation for presentation to Division management officials and/or other adjudicating entities. Provides practicable assistance to criminal investigators in administrative and criminal investigative activities as needed.

The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (H Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

1. You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
2. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
3. You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI).
4. Selective Service registration is required.
5. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance based on a Special Background Investigation (SBI).
6. Must successfully complete pre- and post-employment drug/alcohol test.

If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11/12):
A. Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-G or GS-9 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Applying knowledge of investigative techniques to independently conduct investigations;
• Conducting fact finding interviews with witnesses or subjects of investigation; and
• Preparing written reports of findings.

OR

B. Education:
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

or

3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree

or

LL.M., if related

OR

C. Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements, and may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the position; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the position; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Planning and conducting investigations using advanced investigative techniques;
• Conducting independent investigative research utilizing analytical methodologies to identify links, patterns or trends; and
• Preparing written memoranda, summaries or reports of findings that include recommended actions and findings.

Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Please see the Required Documents section for resume requirements.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Additional information

For details on locality pay rates, click here .

Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code, including regulations which apply to displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) of other agencies, and employment with TSA does not confer "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at: www.opm.gov/

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position.

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment , and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence.

More than one position may be filled from this announcement.

If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location - 240 hours, foreign duty location - 360 hours, or TSES position - 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.

Client-provided location(s): Atlanta, GA

Job ID: TSA-853470300

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Posted: 2026-01-03T20:14:41