General Schedule Position Classification Standard		Classification Programs Division
Draft Job Family Standard for Administrative Work in the Investigation, Enforcement, Inspection, and Compliance Group, GS-1800
Release Date:  December 2001 - DRAFT		Section Fifteen of Thirty-One

Contents

FACTOR 4 COMPLEXITY

This factor covers the nature, number, variety, and intricacy of tasks, steps, processes, or methods in the work performed; the difficulty in identifying what needs to be done; and the difficulty and originality involved in performing the work. The primary components of this factor are:  Nature of Assignment, What Needs To Be Done, and Difficulty and Originality Involved.

Note: In the text below, factor level description is abbreviated as FLD.
Factor 4 illustrations are located in Appendix F4.

Level 4-2:  Investigation Work - Administrative, 75 Points

General Investigation, GS-1810
Wage and Hour Investigation, GS-1849 Illustration(s)
Equal Opportunity Investigation, GS-1860 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of a variety of classroom and on-the-job training duties in:

• the enforcement and application of complex and ever-changing laws and regulations;
• applying court decisions;
• conducting interrogations of often hostile and uncooperative subjects; and
• taking sworn testimony, developing, evaluating and making determinations of possible violations.

What needs To Be Done - The employee makes decisions regarding what needs to be done based on choosing the sequence of steps for conducting an investigation and selecting the methods and techniques used to gather the appropriate evidence.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee learns to assess and determine facts from incomplete or conflicting data.

Level 4-2:  Investigation Work - Criminal, 75 Points

Criminal Investigation, GS-1811 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Assignments involve a variety of classroom and on-the-job training duties in the investigation, apprehension, interviewing, interrogation, and processing of suspected criminals who have violated Federal laws.

What needs To Be Done - The employee makes decisions regarding what needs to be done based on choosing the sequence of steps for conducting an investigation and selecting the methods and techniques used to gather the appropriate evidence.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee's actions vary from assignment to assignment, depending on the situation and the type of criminal violation investigated. Generally, actions involve preparing reports of findings or submission of recommendations to a higher level investigator or supervisor.

Level 4-2: Enforcement Work, 75 Points

Customs Patrol Enforcement, GS-1884 Illustration(s)
Border Patrol Enforcement, GS-1896 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of assignments that are developmental and involve classroom and on-the-job training in controlled work situations. Assignments provide practical experience in:

• enforcing and applying of laws and regulations;
• interpreting precedent court decisions;
• conducting interrogations; and
• taking sworn testimony.

What needs To Be Done - The employee completes assigned tasks generally consisting of the more simple and routine aspects of the work. The assignments are typically predetermined to provide practical experience and exposure to situations and problems.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee learns to assess and determine facts from incomplete or conflicting data.

Level 4-2:  Inspection Work, 75 Points

Fish and Wildlife Inspection, GS-1813 Illustration(s)
Immigration Inspection GS-1816 Illustration(s)
Customs Inspection GS-1890 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of a variety of related steps, processes, and duties intended to orient new employees to various aspects of the work. The assignments provide specific types of practical experience and exposure to operating situations and problems.

What needs To Be Done - The employee:

• interviews travelers, importers and exporters, witnesses, or complainants for basic facts;
• analyzes and summarizes data; and
• answers factual questions concerning Federal and State laws, international agreements and procedures.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee learns to assess and determine facts from incomplete or conflicting data.

Level 4-2:  Compliance Work, 75 Points

General Compliance, GS-1801
Mine Safety and Health Compliance, GS-1822 Illustration(s)
Agricultural Compliance, GS-1850 Illustration(s)
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Compliance, GS-1854 Illustration(s)
Import Compliance, GS-1889 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of assignments designed to orient new employees when the facts are clear, undisputed, closely related to one another, and readily available from a few sources. Typical assignments involve isolated tasks or structured procedures, such as:

• interviewing employees, employers, witnesses, or complainants for basic facts;
• analyzing and summarizing data; and
• answering factual questions concerning program objectives, jurisdiction, and procedures.

What needs To Be Done - The employee makes decisions to resolve obvious discrepancies by additional factfinding or reviewing supplementary documents. The application of laws or regulations is clear-cut by either a direct application of regulations or reference to well-established precedents.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee's actions are predetermined and differ according to the informational sources or the specific factual situation.

Level 4-3:  Investigation Work - Administrative, 150 Points

General Investigation, GS-1810 Illustration(s)
Wage and Hour Investigation, GS-1849
Equal Opportunity Investigation, GS-1860 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of investigating individuals, business owners, or organizations that have allegedly violated Federal laws.

What needs To Be Done - The employee makes decisions regarding what needs to be done depending upon the analysis of the subject and issues involved. The course of action may have to be selected from many alternatives.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee's work involves conditions and elements that must be identified and analyzed to discern relationships.

Level 4-3:  Investigation Work - Criminal, 150 Points

Criminal Investigation, GS-1811 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of the investigation, apprehension, interviewing, interrogation, and processing of suspected criminals who have violated Federal laws.

What needs To Be Done - The employee determines actions to be completed based on the analysis of the subject and issues involved in the interrogation and the nature and extent of criminal activity. The course of action may have to be selected from many alternatives.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee encounters few or no controversial issues, facts are relatively easy to research; e.g., accessible records, bank accounts, and documents such as birth and marriage certificates.

Level 4-3:  Enforcement Work, 150 Points

Customs Patrol Enforcement, GS-1884 Illustration(s)
Border Patrol Enforcement, GS-1896 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of the detention or apprehension, interview or interrogation, and processing of violators of Federal laws.

What needs To Be Done - The employee determines:

• the type of illegal activity encountered;
• operating methods of the violator;
• degree of difficulty in establishing facts; and
• protection of the individual's civil rights.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee must adapt procedures and instructions based on the geographical location of the area of responsibility and continuously devise alternate techniques to keep pace with the criminal element.

Level 4-3:  Inspection Work, 150 Points

Fish and Wildlife Inspection, GS-1813 Illustration(s)
Immigration Inspection, GS-1816 Illustration(s)
Customs Inspection, GS-1890 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of the full range of inspection, identification, and compliance activities related to the enforcement and administration of laws and regulations governing the import and exports of products, and goods, and fish and wildlife.

What needs To Be Done - The employee conducts inspections and identifications of documents, species, and/or products using physical searches and technology to identify nature and extent of violations; what products, goods, or fish and wildlife are involved; and determine the appropriate course of action from several alternatives.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee has wide latitude in handling assignments in matters that are non-routine, require immediate action, or must be handled individually.

Level 4-3:  Compliance Work, 150 Points

General Compliance, GS-1801
Mine Safety and Health Compliance, GS-1822 Illustration(s)
Agricultural Compliance, GS-1850 Illustration(s)
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Compliance, GS-1854 Illustration(s)
Import Compliance, GS-1889 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of:

• a variety of inspection and audit functions on assigned cases or studies that range from planning through factfinding to reporting results; and
• conventional problems that can be resolved through the analysis of facts, the selection and application of appropriate legal and regulatory guidelines, and the application of a variety of standard inspectional techniques and procedures.

What needs To Be Done - The employee establishes facts and links them to appropriate elements of proof to demonstrate compliance or noncompliance with particular legal or regulatory provisions.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee recognizes distinctions between legal and factual issues to determine:

• which of several related policies, regulatory provisions, and legal precedents apply;
• which and how many records to examine or persons to interview; and
• when sufficient information has been gathered to substantiate findings.

Level 4-4:  Investigation Work - Administrative, 225 Points

General Investigation GS-1810 Illustration(s)
Wage and Hour Investigation GS-1849 Illustration(s)
Equal Opportunity Investigation GS-1860 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of developing and following leads and evaluating evidence concerning alleged or suspected violations. Work involves the full-cycle of problem identification, analysis, definition, and solution.

What needs To Be Done - The employee initiates contact with Federal, State and local officials, lending institutions, medical facilities, educational institutions, business organizations, and individuals to:

• obtain facts, statements, and explanations of actions pertaining to the investigation;
• establish sequence of events and gathers background and related case information;
• examine records, books, payrolls, reports, correspondence, and other data of consequence;
• verify, corroborate, and establish factual relationships; and
• confirm the accuracy and authenticity of evidence.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee exercises judgment and originality to investigate cases that involve multiple issues, subjects, and a variety of records. The cases are unusual and the employee must be innovative in case approach and methodology. Interprets and evaluates conflicting information.

Level 4-4:  Investigation Work - Criminal, 225 Points

Criminal Investigation, GS-1811 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of developing and following leads and evaluating evidence concerning alleged, suspected, or known violations. Work involves the full cycle of problem identification, analysis, definition, and solution where the evidence is fragmentary or difficult to develop and link.

What needs To Be Done - The employee:

• resolves contradictory evidence and testimony through factfinding, interviews, and surveillance to support a legal/administrative decision; and
• analyzes links of sketchy information and establishes relationships to criminal activity.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee exercises judgment and discretion since investigations are sensitive and could create publicity or embarrassment for the agency if incorrectly pursued. Difficulties encountered include jurisdictional problems involving international coordination and working with fragmentary and conflicting evidence.

Level 4-4:  Enforcement Work, 225 Points

Customs Patrol Enforcement, GS-1884 Illustration(s)
Border Patrol Enforcement, GS-1896 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of a variety of assignments in detecting and preventing smuggling of commercial trade goods, aliens, narcotics, and controlled substances, and developing intelligence analysis.

What needs To Be Done - The employee:

• develops intelligence by reviewing and analyzing trends from various shifts and other internal and external sources;
• uses various interrogation techniques and watches suspects for reaction and nervous behavior;
• assesses incomplete or conflicting data; and
• determines facts from disparate information.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee:

• makes on-the-spot decisions about matters of:
• citizenship;
• criminal activities;
• right of entry;
• fraud and misuse of documents;
• conspiracy; and
• other similar violations of immigration, naturalization, commercial trade laws, and other Federal laws;
• quickly applies court and other legal decisions; and
• makes determinations for immediate or deferred action.

Level 4-4:  Inspection Work, 225 Points

Fish and Wildlife Inspection, GS-1813 Illustration(s)
Immigration Inspection, GS-1816 Illustration(s)
Customs Inspection, GS-1890 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of the full-range of inspections and inspection-related investigations and compliance activities related to the enforcement and administration of laws and regulations governing the admission of travelers or import of cargo and wildlife.

What needs To Be Done - The employee performs detailed inspections and investigative work that involves:

• interviewing citizens;
• verifying documents' authenticity;
• identifying products;
• researching legal documents;
• writing reports; and
• coordinating inspection-related activities of multiple Federal agencies at port of entry sites.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee's decisions are often complex and involve choices requiring interpretation between clearly recognizable situations, potentially precedent-setting matters, and those cases in which the facts and evidence may be obscured by conflicting testimony, documents, or other facts.

Level 4-4:  Compliance Work, 225 Points

General Compliance, GS-1801
Mine Safety and Health Compliance, GS-1822 Illustration(s)
Agricultural Compliance, GS-1850 Illustration(s)
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Compliance, GS-1854 Illustration(s)
Import Compliance, GS-1889 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of the full-range of duties associated with an inspection or compliance program including audits, reviews, inquiries, inspection-related investigations, negotiations, and public information or educational outreach. Variables encountered include:

• the type and condition of equipment and facilities;
• the physical environment;
• the technical capabilities of the staff;
• the attitude of owners and staff toward regulatory, safety, and health programs; and
• circumstances under which the violations occur.

What needs To Be Done - The employee's inspection or review focuses on compliance issues that require analysis of complex policies, practices, and operations. Typically these reviews are of organizations having several branches or subsidiaries or having several functions performed by different components.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee encounters difficulties in establishing facts, unraveling inconsistencies, and interpreting documents to assess compliance. Decisions consider the variety of activities, the facts reviewed, and the obstacles encountered that cast doubt on the validity of compliance. Establishing facts may be complicated because:

• important records have been destroyed or falsified;
• witnesses are uncooperative or have been intimidated; or
• facts are in conflict or must be obtained from especially voluminous data.

Level 4-5:  Investigation Work - Administrative, 325 Points

General Investigation GS-1810
Wage and Hour Investigation GS-1849
Equal Opportunity Investigation GS-1860 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of the most significant and complex cases that are multi-jurisdictional, nationwide, or international. Cases encompass the full-range of violations relative to the laws administered by the agency.

What needs To Be Done - The employee:

• initiates contact with:
  • Federal, State and local officials;
  • civic and business leaders;
  • officials of lending institutions and medical facilities; and
  • other organizations and individuals related to matters under investigation;
• obtains and examines a variety of materials to determines facts such as:
• books and reports;
• financial transactions and records;
• signed statements; and
• explanations of actions or other evidence;
• establishes the sequence of events and background or related information to determine:
• appropriate interviews;
• the extent/scope of the investigation;
• personnel involved; and
• verifies, corroborates, and establishes the relationships of all facts and evidence to establish their accuracy and authenticity.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee encounters exceptional difficulties in conducting investigations because:

• evidence must be pieced together from other investigators throughout the agency or other agencies;
• complexities may arise in identifying illegal patterns and practices in order to develop and prove intent;
• subjects of investigation may be well-recognized individuals or organizations; and
• there may be public, media, or congressional interest.

Level 4-5:  Investigation Work - Criminal, 325 Points

Criminal Investigation GS-1811 Illustration(s)

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of the prevention, detention, investigation, apprehension, interrogation, and processing of suspected or convicted criminals or organizations that are involved in substantive and conspiracy-type violations with nationwide or international implications. Investigations reveal actual or potential threats or challenges to major segments of national welfare, natural resources, and/or the security of the citizens of the United States.

What needs To Be Done - The employee conducts investigations of extreme scope, complexity, and sensitivity. The investigations typically involve:

• important crime figures;
• criminal activities carried out under the cover of legitimate organizations;
• diversions of legitimate financial interests to finance illegal activities; and
• organized fronts carrying out illegal operations through several unrelated activities.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee encounters exceptional difficulty in conducting investigations resulting from:

• the complex structure and diversified interests of the organization under investigation;
• widespread use of fictitious identification which may be obtained through public corruption or other means;
• the necessity to piece together evidence from other sources, throughout the country, and often from foreign countries;
• precedent and conflicting court decisions; and
• use of forensic laboratories and/or other means needed to verify information.

Level 4-5:  Compliance Work, 325 Points

General Compliance, GS-1801
Mine Safety and Health Compliance, GS-1822 Illustration(s)
Agricultural Compliance, GS-1850
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Compliance, GS-1854 Illustration(s)
Import Compliance, GS-1889

Nature of Assignment - Work consists of especially complex investigations, reviews, or monitoring compliance program activities for a region.

What needs To Be Done - The employee's assignments involve unique problems and combinations of complicating factors that limit the applicability of the guidelines and procedures normally used and create uncertainty regarding the approach that will produce the best results. The employee's decisions are complicated by the size of and numerous interrelationships within and among the organizations, activities, and operations for which they are responsible. Decisions may also be complicated by the need to resolve significant legal or regulatory issues.

Difficulty and Originality Involved - The employee's cases often involve new patterns or approaches in emerging industries or innovative strategies for avoiding compliance. The breadth of planning, coordination, and the depth of analysis necessary to resolve highly complex or unusual problems characterize assignments at this level. The compliance or enforcement cases serve as models for future cases of the same or similar type or impact on the policies and practices of major corporations or industries.