Law Enforcement Officer

These positions are with the Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations. The incumbent serves as a basic Law Enforcement Officer trainee and performs tasks related to law enforcement and investigate activities within the Forest Service programs. For additional information about the duties, please contact SM.FS.lei_recruit@usda.gov.

**Qualifications:**
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. SPECIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Physical Demands: Due to the physical and vigorous requirements of this position, the incumbent must meet the established medical and physical standards/requirements set forth by USDA as it's considered essential to perform the duties of this position, The work requires a person with good physical health and stamina to work under pressure, along with the ability to lift and carry heavy objects and have the physical agility and dexterity. Ability to operate specialized motorized equipment such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and snowmobiles may be required. Maximum Entry Age: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18 USC Section 1001). Firearms Requirement: The incumbent is required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position so they must meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlines in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. The incumbent must qualify semiannually with all weapons issued by the USDA and maintain proficiency. Specialized Experience Requirement: GL-1801-9: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as 3 out of 5 of the following: 1. Conducting investigations of misdemeanor offenses by securing crime scenes, collecting basic physical and documentary evidence, interviewing witnesses under guidance, and preparing portions of investigative reports. 2. Performing preliminary investigative tasks for felony cases-such as gathering initial facts, photographing scenes, and documenting observations-while applying established investigative methods and following direction from senior officers. 3. Participating in patrol activities to detect and enforce Federal laws and regulations related to resources, property, employees, and public use, issuing warnings or violation notices when appropriate and referring more complex matters to higher-graded staff. 4. Supporting enforcement actions by assisting with searches, arrests, and the transport of detained individuals, following established procedures and ensuring the safety and security of all involved. 5. Researching applicable regulations and policies to resolve routine questions and applying this guidance during developmental assignments, seeking supervisory direction when encountering unfamiliar or complex situations. OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., in related coursework such as Criminal Justice, Law, Forensics, Public Safety, etc., OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. GS-1801-11: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as 3 out of 5 of the following: 1. Leading full investigations of misdemeanor and felony violations on National Forest System lands, including long term cases; developed informants; conducted undercover operations; prepared complex investigative reports; and presented cases to the U.S. Attorney, including grand jury appearances. 2. Planning, directing, and executing law enforcement operations, including multi jurisdiction missions addressing timber theft, wildland arson, narcotics enforcement, and archeological resource protection, recommended fines, restitution, and administrative actions. 3. Serving as a technical specialist to prosecutors and resource managers by advising on case development, resource protection vulnerabilities, and preventive strategies; reviewed and approved law enforcement reports prepared by Forest Protection Officers (FPOs). 4. Managing cooperative law enforcement agreements and served as liaison with Federal, State, county, and tribal agencies to coordinate enforcement priorities, share intelligence, and align resources for complex operations. 5. Planning, coordinating, and leading emergency response operations-including search and rescue, crowd control, and incident support-while overseeing visitor and resource protection activities across assigned districts. OR a 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 an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). 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. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.