A CAREER OPPORTUNITY

The Drug Enforcement Administration

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) enforces the Federal drug laws of our nation. Formed in 1973, the DEA was built on the proud tradition of Federal drug law enforcement dating back to 1915, when our country’s first anti-drug laws were enacted. Its mission is to enforce the controlled substance laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal justice system individuals and members of organizations who are involved in the illegal cultivation, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances in the United States.

Following the passage of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA), the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, the predecessor agency of the DEA, recognized the need to establish a workforce dedicated to the investigation and regulation of legitimately produced controlled substances.

The DEA currently employs over 500 highly trained Diversion Investigators, who work in more than 80 offices throughout the United States and overseas.

The DEA offers you the opportunity to be part of the nation’s leading drug law enforcement agency. As you plan your career, consider the challenges and opportunities to make a difference in the anti-drug effort as well as the personal satisfaction to be gained as a DEA Diversion Investigator.

Additional information about the DEA and the Office of Diversion Control is available at www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov.

Diversion Investigator: A Challenging Career Field

A DI is a specialist responsible for addressing the problem of diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals and regulated chemicals from the legitimate channels in which they are manufactured, distributed and dispensed. The mission of a DI is to aid the pharmaceutical and chemical industries in complying with the CSA, other pertinent acts, as well as international treaties and conventions. When non-compliance is identified, DIs conduct in-depth investigations to uncover and investigate suspected sources of diversion and take appropriate criminal, civil and/or administrative actions.

In order to accomplish this mission, a wide range of work activities is employed. One such activity is the scheduled investigation of registered handlers of controlled substances. These investigations serve to deter diversion through evaluation of the registrants’ record-keeping procedures, security safeguards and general compliance with the CSA and implementing regulations. Legitimate handlers of controlled substances subject to investigation are drug manufacturers, distributors, importers and exporters, pharmacies (traditional and mail order), doctors, veterinarians, and narcotic treatment programs.

Most recently, there has been a growing push for diversion investigations over the internet. The rapidly changing environment and an increase in internet diversion of controlled substances has created a need for programs to target these sources of diversion. There are some programs already in place, but all are being greatly enhanced to meet this need.

The job of a DEA Diversion Investigator involves maintaining liaison with all levels of the drug and chemical registrant population. The Diversion Investigator will often answer questions registrants have concerning their responsibilities under the CSA.

Many DIs also choose to become involved in their office’s demand reduction and community outreach programs.

Foreign-based DIs are experts in legal and regulatory matters pertaining to narcotics, psychotropic substances, and regulated chemicals. They serve as advisors/consultants to foreign host governments in establishing anti-diversion programs.

Qualifications

General: You must be a U.S. citizen and possess a valid driver’s license.

Physical: Selected candidates are required to obtain a qualifying medical examination to determine physical and mental fitness and must be free of any impairment which would interfere with normal work performance. Distant vision should be 20/40 (uncorrected or corrected with glasses or contact lenses). Near vision should be 20/25 and must be sufficient to read Jaegar Type #2 at 14 inches (glasses or contact lenses permitted). Depth perception and ability to distinguish shades of color (color plate test) are essential. Candidates must be able to hear conversational voice at a distance of 20 feet with both ears. The use of a hearing aid is permissible.

Education: Successful candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree (any major) and meet one of the following Superior Academic Achievement Provisions:

• A grade-point average of “B” (a GPA or 3.0 or higher) for all completed undergraduatecourses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
• A grade-point average of “B+” (a GPA of 3.5 or higher) for all courses in your major fieldof study, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
• Rank in the upper third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor society) recognized bythe Association of College Honor Societies.

Note: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) was taken on a pass/fail similar basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honor society.

OR

One full year of graduate level education in an accredited college or university, or a Master’s degree, LL.B., J.D., LL.M., Ph.D.

OR

Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lowest grade level.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Skills: In addition to the minimal qualifications, credit may be given to those individuals who possess one or more of the following special skills.

• Investigative experience
• Proficiency in a foreign language
• Accounting experience or degree
• Chemistry
• Pharmacy
• Computer skills/experience
• Military Service
• Law Enforcement

- The DEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer -

Recruitment

Typically, DIs are recruited through competitive or merit promotion procedures. However, two additional programs are being utilized to recruit special skills.

• Veterans’ Readjustment Appointment (VRA). Eligibility for this program requires an honorable discharge from active duty United States military service within the last 10 years. A candidate for this appointment must have also served at least 180 consecutive days.
  
  
• Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP). FCIP is pending implementation. This will be a two-year training program, open to all ages, offering Federal benefits as well as promotion opportunity. Employees will be eligible for conversion to career-conditional status upon completion of the two-year program.

Conditions of Employment

• Candidates selected from a list of eligible applicants must successfully complete an extensive panel interview process, which requires a full disclosure of past drug use. The personal interview assesses such factors as interpersonal skills, problem solving, self-management, flexibility, teamwork and communication skills. A thorough background investigation and comprehensive suitability review will be performed to determine a candidate’s general character, honesty and suitability for this position.
  
  
• DEA Diversion Investigators must be willing to accept assignments anywhere in the U.S., based on the needs of the agency. Applicants are required to sign a mobility statement to this effect prior to an offer of employment.
  
  
• All new Diversion Investigator candidates will be screened by urinalysis testing for the presence of marijuana and other controlled substances and will be subject to random testing throughout their career.
  
  
• Diversion Investigator candidates must also successfully complete a medical examination.
  
  
• Diversion Investigator candidates may be subject to a pre-employment polygraph examination screening.
  
  
• DI trainees must successfully complete Diversion Investigator Basic Training, a formal 12-week training program. Following this training, those individuals who are selected from a competitive register will be required to complete a one-year probationary period of employment. Those individuals selected under VRA and FCIP will serve a two-year probationary period.
  
  
• Irregular working hours may be required.

Salary & Benefits

• Entry level salary is commensurate with your education and work experience.
  
  
• Compensation is at the GS-07/09 level. Actual salary rates for grade and step levels vary based on geographical location and are publicly available from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
  
  
• Diversion Investigators can generally progress to senior DI level (GS-13) within 4 to 6 years. Management opportunities (GS-14 and above) are available through competitive procedures.
  
  
• The Federal benefits package is extensive and comprehensive. Benefits include paid vacation, holidays and sick leave, overtime pay or compensatory leave, and medical and life insurance. The Federal government also offers a competitive retirement package.

Travel/Transfer Opportunities

• Diversion Investigators are located at DEA offices across the United States and overseas.
  
  
• Diversion Investigators have numerous opportunities to travel. Depending on the duty location, the work may require frequent travel for periods of up to several weeks.
  
  
• Diversion Investigators may apply for reassignments and promotions to vacant positions as they occur. Management will consider reassignments in terms of the employee’s individual career plan, demonstrated potential, and consistency with DEA’s requirements.

Training

DEA Diversion Investigator trainees must attend and successfully complete a formal 12-week Basic Training program conducted at the Justice Training Center, a DEA facility located on the FBI Academy Campus in Quantico, Virginia.

The 12-week training program familiarizes the trainee with the legitimate pharmaceutical and chemical industry. At the same time the program demonstrates some of the tactics and methodology employed to divert these legal drugs and chemicals into the illicit market. The training program consists of academic instruction and numerous complex practical exercises that will help trainees develop and sharpen their knowledge and professional skills needed in conducting effective diversion investigations.

Some of the topics covered are: Interviewing and Investigative Techniques Methods of Diversion Regulations and Records Legal (Law and Courtroom) Procedures Drug Manufacturing and Distribution Operations Drug Pharmacology and Identification Clandestine Laboratory Familiarization

Job Opportunities/Contact Information

Available openings vary each year based primarily on budget factors and the needs of the agency. For further information contact the Diversion Investigator Recruitment and Hiring Call Center at (202) 307-8846 or by mail at DEA Headquarters, ATTN: ODAS, (DI Hiring), Washington, DC 20537.

(for map text-equivalent, access www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov/offices_n_dirs/fielddiv/index.html)