Automotive Enforcement Investigator

Summary
This assignment is a 1-year non-reimbursable assignment.
This assignment is with US Department of Transportation - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
This job is open to

• Federal employees - Competitive service
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
• Federal employees - Excepted service
  Current excepted service federal employees.

Clarification from the agency
This detail opportunity is for current competitive and excepted service employees only. If
you are not a current federal civilian employee you will not be eligible for this position. DHS Joint Duty Assignments do not apply to members of the Military service or contractors.
Duties
This staff member serves as an Automotive Enforcement Specialist in the Import and Certification Division The Automotive Enforcement Specialist is a member of the Import and Certification Division (ICD) of the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC). The Division is responsible for regulating the importation of motor vehicles and automotive equipment to ensure compliance with all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The Division also detects and prevents non-compliance with Federal statutes and regulations it enforces through inspection, investigation, and analysis. When non-compliance is discovered, the Division has the authority to initiate several enforcement actions options.
This assignment will entail working on a multi-agency task force operating in Michigan. There will be travel to Michigan to do site visits, facility and vehicle inspections.
To fulfill the mission of the Agency, the Division partners with the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) providing subject matter expertise and investigative support concerning the importation of motor vehicles and automotive equipment. The Division receives referrals from CBP of violation activity that the Division has the authority to enforce.
The Division directly regulates importers of motor vehicles not certified as compliant with all applicable Federal statutes, regulations, and motor vehicle safety standards providing oversight. The Division provides that oversight first by administering a comprehensive set of Federal regulations and statutes required for the importation and conformance of motor vehicles by those importers, and by registering those entities that import and conform those vehicles. The Division ensures that the importers it registers or "RIs" provide all the services and conduct all the necessary modifications required by statute and regulation.
The Automotive Enforcement Specialist is responsible for providing oversight on behalf of the Division by conducting investigations when non-compliance by an RI is suspect. The Automotive Enforcement Specialist will conduct investigations into non-compliance activities of any other regulated entities when non-compliance is discovered or alleged.
Division investigations and subsequent enforcement actions can be extremely complicated, multidimensional, and sensitive. The investigations can be conducted jointly with other agencies including but not limited to CBP, US Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG), US Department of Justice (DOJ), foreign regulatory and law enforcement agencies, state attorneys general, state departments of motor vehicles, state and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies.
Additionally, the Division, when funding is available, conducts compliance monitoring in the form of field inspections and site visits. The field activity ensures registered importers (RIs) and other regulated entities are operating within compliance and imported vehicles and automotive equipment are in full compliance with applicable Federal statutes, regulations, and standards.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• Must be a current permanent Federal employee
• Must have supervisory approval to apply to the Joint Duty Assignment. DHS 250-2 Application Form under "required documents" section.
• Must NOT have any pending/outstanding disciplinary actions
• Must have achieved a minimum of "meet expectations/proficiency" on latest performance appraisal/evaluation
• Must be currently at the grade level of the detail. *No Temporary Promotion Opportunity*
• The program does not apply to members of the Military service or contractors.

Qualifications
Qualifications required:
An Automotive Enforcement Specialist in the Import and Certification Division is responsible for initiating, developing, and managing extremely complex investigations. The investigations can have a far-reaching impact on regulated entities, consumers of imported vehicles and automotive equipment, and the Automotive Industry.
The incumbent will know or gain knowledge to be a Division resource in the following Federal statutes and regulations:
• 49 USC Chapter 301; and
• 49 CFR Parts 591 through 594.
The incumbent will also know or gain knowledge on the Department and Agency policies concerning guidance documents, the enforcement process, and ensuring due process.
The incumbent must possess or gain a comprehensive understanding of the Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to apply enforcement of Federal statutes and regulations. The incumbent must have the ability to apply investigative techniques to meet the legal requirements for conducting investigations that will withstand judicial scrutiny. The incumbent must become highly proficient in the Federal statutes and regulations governing the importation and certification of motor vehicles and automotive equipment.
The incumbent must have some knowledge of Industry practices regarding the importation, sale, and transfer of new and used motor vehicle equipment, and become highly proficient in the practices of regulated entities, and how they interact with motor vehicle dealers, distributors, and auction houses. The incumbent must become proficient in the importation process and how the role of regulated entities play in them. The incumbent must have a working knowledge of the documentation used in the importation, sale, and transfer of motor vehicles and become highly proficient in the examination of those documents.
The incumbent must be able to exercise superlative judgment and have excellent problem-solving skills to improvise and adapt to challenges, some formidable, that occur in the investigation and enforcement processes. Superior communication skills are imperative.
The incumbent must have the training and skills to work short term investigations, gather, and organize evidence, and prepare the necessary reports and documentation for subsequent enforcement actions, if necessary, with little supervision. The incumbent must have strong skills in the organization, direction, and coordination of extraordinarily complex and controversial long term investigative projects. The incumbent must be able to assume the role of "Case Agent," "Case Manager," or "Primary," assuming responsibility for large scale investigations.
The incumbent must have the ability to collect and organize evidence, coordinating other Division, OVSC, or Agency staff members to support the investigation and preparation of the documentation to support any subsequent enforcement actions.
The incumbent must have superior writing skills to provide investigation reports, enforcement memoranda, evidence documentation, and briefing reports to senior officials. The incumbent must have a working knowledge of photography for collecting evidence and know how to present photographic evidence.
The incumbent must have a driver license, and government travel credit card.
Please read the following important information to ensure we have everything we need to consider your application:
It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this Joint Duty assignment opportunity announcement.
Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Your application will be rated based on your resume.
Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:

1. Job Title (Include series and grade of Federal Job)
2. Duties (Be specific in describing your duties)
3. Name of Federal agency
4. Supervisor name, email, and phone number
5. Start and end dates including month and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)

Education
EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution for this position.
Additional information
**DHS does not offer any additional benefits beyond that which the Federal employee is already receiving.
If the position requires a security clearance, employees must have a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance to placement AND must maintain that level of clearance while performing in the position.
Selected applicants for a JDA are requested to fulfill the items below during the JDA:

1. Complete the DHS Training Course 15 days prior to the arrival to the JDA.
2. Complete the DHS Joint Duty Assignment Progress Plan to include:
   
   • Phase 1: Establish assignment objectives within the first 30 days of the JDA.
   • Phase 2: Complete a self-assessment of the duties performed at the mid-point of the JDA.
   • Phase 3: Complete a final review within the last 30 days of the JDA.

• Benefits
  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.
  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.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using a job questionnaire based on the competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this Joint Duty Assignment.
If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination will be made. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.
Note: DHS continues to take necessary steps to keep our workforce safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. If you receive a final Joint Duty Assignment offer to onboard, please complete the onboarding requirements and/or forms and submit them electronically in an expeditious manner. Your start date may be delayed if the action above is not completed.

• Benefits
  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.
  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.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  1. Resume: Do not include any personally identifiable information (PII) i.e., home address, social security number, or date of birth. Your resume must clearly demonstrate you have experience which meets the requirements of this position as outlined in the "Qualifications" section.
  2. SF-50: Submit a copy of your official SF-50 (no text version) or other official "Notification of Personnel Action" document which shows the following information:
  
  1. Your appointment in the Federal service
  2. Tenure
  3. Grade and Step
  4. Full performance level
  
  If your SF-50(s) does not provide the information needed to make a final determination for qualification, you will be found ineligible for the position.
  3. DHS Joint Duty Assignment Application Form signed by your supervisor. Please click on the following link to access the required form DHS Form 250-02.
• How to Apply
  All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/01/2023 to receive consideration.
  
  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and other supporting documents, and complete the questionnaire.
  2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
  
  To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus ...