Career
Opportunities > Diversion Investigator - Overview
DIVERSION INVESTIGATOR
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.
DIVERSION INVESTIGATOR: A CHALLENGING CAREER FIELD
A Diversion Investigator (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 and other
pertinent acts, as well as international treaties and conventions. DIs
conduct 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, and narcotic treatment programs.
Most recently,
there has been a growing push to investigate diversion of controlled
substances involving the use of 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.
Frequently, DIs are involved in investigations aimed at the most
serious registrant violators of controlled substances laws and
regulations. These registrants have a documented or suspected history of
diversion of drugs/chemicals into the illicit market. DIs collect and
analyze information developed during their investigation and consult with
supervisory personnel to determine if criminal prosecution is warranted.
DIs work closely with DEA Special Agents and state and local law
enforcement officers who provide assistance in making undercover purchases
and executing search warrants. DIs also work closely with attorneys for
DEA, the United States Attorneys Office and state and local prosecutors.
DIs are required to testify as to the results of their investigations
during criminal trials, Grand Jury proceedings and administrative
hearings.
The job of a DEA Diversion Investigator involves maintaining
liaison with all levels of the drug and chemical registrant population.
DIs will often answer questions registrants have concerning their
responsibilities under the CSA.
Many DIs also become involved in their
office’s demand reduction and community out-reach 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.
Back to top
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 of 2.95 or higher) for all completed undergraduate
courses, 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
field of 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 by the 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 experience or degree
-
Pharmacology/Pharmacist experience or
degree
-
Computer skills/experience
-
Military Service
-
Law Enforcement experience or degree
Back to top
RECRUITMENT
Typically, DIs are recruited through competitive or merit
promotion procedures. However, two additional programs are being utilized
to recruit special skills.
-
Veteran's Recruitment Appointment (VRA). Eligibility
for this program requires an honorable discharge from active duty
United States military service within the last 3 years.
-
Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP). This is a
two-year training program, open to all qualified candidates, offering
Federal benefits as well as promotion opportunity. Employees will be
eligible for conversion to career-conditional status upon completion
of the program.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Candidates:
-
must
successfully complete an extensive panel interview process, which requires a
full disclosure of
past drug use*; the personal interview assesses such facts 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
-
must be
willing to accept assignments anywhere in the U.S., based on the needs of
the agency
-
are required to sign a mobility statement to this
effect prior to an offer of employment
-
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
-
must
also successfully complete a medical examination
-
may be
subject to a pre-employment polygraph examination screening
-
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
-
must be aware that irregular working hours may be
required
-
must be able to travel. Depending on the duty
location, the work may be require frequent travel for periods of up to
several weeks
*Drug
Questionnaire - DEA requires that all applicants complete a drug
questionnaire as part of their application process. Please complete the
attached questionnaire and submit it with your application package.
"Applicants who are found, through
investigation or personal admission to have experimented with or used
narcotics or dangerous drugs, except those medically prescribed, will not
be considered for employment with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Exceptions to this policy may be made for applicants who admit to a
limited youthful and experimental use of marijuana. Such applicants may be
considered for employment if there is no evidence of regular, confirmed
usage and the full-field background investigation and results of the other
steps in the process are otherwise favorable."
Back to top
SALARY AND 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) at www.opm.gov.
-
DIs can generally progress to
a senior level (GS-13) within 4 to 6 years. Management, foreign
assignments, and other senior level opportunities (GS-14 and above)
are available through competitive procedures.
-
The Federal benefits package is extensive and
comprehensive. Benefits include paid vacation (annual leave), holidays
and sick leave, overtime pay or compensatory leave (as required), and
medical and life insurance. The Federal government also offers a
competitive retirement package.
TRAVEL/TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES
-
DIs are located at DEA offices across the United
States and overseas.
-
DIs 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 DI 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
|