
Supervisory Criminal Investigator (Deputy Chief, Field Management Staff)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives See More Job Openings by This EmployerATF is a law enforcement agency in the U.S. Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals/criminal organizations, illegal use/trafficking of firearms, illegal use/storage of explosives, acts of arson/bombings, acts of terrorism, and illegal diversion of alcohol/tobacco products. We partner with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public through information sharing, training, research, & technology. Visit www.atf.gov
Duties
This position is located in the Office of Field Operations, Field Management Staff in Washington, District of Columbia.
The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Supervisory Criminal Investigator (Deputy Chief), Field Management Staff. The mission of the Field Management Staff is to support the Office of Field Operations by providing technical and administrative guidance on short- and long-range strategic plans, implementing and evaluating policies and procedures affecting field operations, developing staffing recommendations for the most effective use of resources, and supporting major investigations that exceed the resources of individual field divisions. Serving as an advisor to the Assistant Director (AD) and Deputy Assistant Directors (DAD) on broad issues impacting the Directorate and its relationship with other law enforcement agencies and the regulated industries.
As a Supervisory Criminal Investigator (Deputy Chief, Field Management Staff), GS-1811-15, your typical work assignments may include:
- Develops and implements FMS and Field Operations policies, practices and procedures.
- Conducts short- and long-range planning for overall FMS and Field Operations goals and objectives in response to changes in funding levels, policy changes or legislative changes pertaining to FMS and Field Operations programs and projects.
- Directs the development of appropriate measurements techniques and methodologies. Advises the Assistant Director and/or Deputy Assistant Director(s) on significant issues or matters pertaining to FMS and Field Operations programs and projects, e.g., the impact of new technology, new initiatives, etc.
- Represents the Bureau in interagency meetings, conferences and ad hoc committees on FMS and Field Operations issues and program initiatives with policy officials at the Department of Justice.
- Directs the coordination of projects and programs with management officials in other divisions within the Directorate, with management officials in other directorates at Bureau Headquarters, and with officials from the Department of Justice or other Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies.
- Provides technical assistance to the executive staff, senior level managers, and supervisor on criminal and industry operations involving violations of Federal law and regulations and performs extensive and sensitive liaison and coordination with high-level representatives of other Federal, State, and local agencies.
- Exercises full supervisory responsibilities and authority over Field Management Staff (FMS) personnel.
- $167,603 - $195,200/year
The time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
MOBILITY PLAN: New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement. The purpose of ATF's mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression, and achieve mission and business effectiveness. To accomplish these objectives, the mobility plan will facilitate the movement of employees through special short-term assignments or permanent reassignments throughout the Bureau. Applicants who decline to sign a mobility agreement, as required, will be removed from the hiring process.
Key Requirements:- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
- Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov
- May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
- Required to operate government owned vehicle.
- This is a non-bargaining unit position.
- Pass drug screening and subject to random drug testing.
- Employment and Financial interest may be required.
- Must display and maintain required proficiency with firearms.
- Must be able to maintain ATF physical standards.
GS-15 - You qualify if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-15 grade level in the Federal, State, or Local government or equivalent public or private sector experience, performing the following duties:
- Implementing and evaluating policies and procedures affecting field operations; AND
- Supporting major investigations that exceed the resources of individual field divisions; AND
- Reviewing criminal investigation case files and provides guidance and operational criminal investigative recommendations to support specific criminal investigations; AND
- Providing technical and administrative guidance on short- and long-range strategic plans.
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a Veteran Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under the VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.
Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in resume.
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/12/2025 to be considered. The application process is as follows:
- To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
- After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
- If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements
- Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found in your USAJOBS account under the Track this application link for the corresponding application.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit My Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement is closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. Your applications will appear on the Welcome page. Navigate to the job application and click Track this application to view your application status. The link will take you to the hiring agency application system, which has the most up-to-date status of your application. There you can review any notifications sent to you related to this application, including the invitation to take the USA Hire assessment. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means click here.