Office of the
Federal Public Defender
Western District of Pennsylvania
1001 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1500
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS
# 2023-06P (Pittsburgh, PA)
#2023-07E (Erie, PA)

CRIMINAL DEFENSE INVESTIGATOR

Posted: June 5, 2023
Closes: June 26, 2023

The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania is accepting applications for several Investigators. The Federal Public Defender represents individuals who have been charged with federal crimes in the federal district courts in Pittsburgh, Johnstown and Erie, Pennsylvania, and who are unable to afford the cost of counsel. Two positions will be stationed in the office’s Pittsburgh headquarters and one will be in the Erie Branch Office. Travel throughout the district’s three divisions is required.

Job Description: As a key member of the defense team, the Investigator reviews evidence, develops theories of defense and mitigation, locates and interviews witnesses, identifies experts, visits crime scenes, gathers, reviews, and analyzes records, serves subpoenas, prepares for court proceedings, and testifies in court when required. The Investigator works with the attorney to interview clients, document clients’ social history, and prepare mitigation summaries for plea negotiation and sentencing. The Investigator must be able to establish and maintain good working relationships with individuals and agencies (including prisons) that interact with this office, provide oral and written reports, and use technology including software, cameras, and other equipment.

Requirements and Qualifications: A minimum of five years of work experience is required, two of which must be in criminal investigation or information gathering. An applicant must be a high school graduate or equivalent; additional education may be substituted for some of the required experience. A variety of prior experience, including in non-legal fields and/or social work, paralegal or legal assistant training, would be helpful, as would experience developing and analyzing mitigation evidence for court proceedings.

This position requires considerable initiative, resourcefulness, creativity and drive; excellent writing skills, computer proficiency, the ability to communicate and work well with others, demonstrated interest in criminal justice, a commitment to obtaining justice for indigent persons, and the ability to perform each of the tasks associated with this position. The successful applicant will have the ability to analyze and evaluate facts, evidence, and related information; as well as possess tact, integrity, and discretion. This position may require travel, including overnight and out of state. Applicants must have a valid driver=s license, car and appropriate motor vehicle insurance. The ability to read, write and speak fluently in the Spanish language is preferred, but not required.

Salary and Benefits. These are full-time positions with salary and benefits based on qualifications and experience. The positions are in the excepted service and do not have the tenure rights of the competitive Civil Service, however, the positions carry regular government employment benefits including health and life insurance, retirement, and the Thrift Savings Plan. The starting salary range in Erie is $57,118 – 116,393 (JSP 9-14) and in Pittsburgh is $59,015 – 120,259 (JSP 9-14). Starting salaries are based on education and years of relevant experience consistent with federal guidelines and regulations. The positions are subject to mandatory Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit) for payment of net pay. The selected candidates will be subject to a background check as a condition of employment. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or a permanent resident applying for citizenship and eligible to work in the United States.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Our office values diversity, is committed to equity and inclusion, and aspires to create a culture of mutual respect, collaboration, openness, and humility that honors the people we represent. We believe representation is better when members of the defense team have diverse backgrounds and experiences. We seek an investigator who shares this belief and commitment. We embrace the unique contributions our employees can bring to the FPDO because of their backgrounds, social identities, and lived experiences. We are interested in applicants’ talent, intelligence, dedication, and persistence, and desire to see that all people are treated fairly and respectfully. The FPD seeks applications from a diverse group of qualified individuals in terms of race, ethnicity, nation of origin, culture, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual identity, education, opinions, age, languages spoken, veteran status, disability, religion, and socioeconomic circumstance. We especially encourage applications from members of the BIPOC community, people affected by the criminal legal system, and people from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.

Application Information. Qualified applicants should submit a letter of interest and a current and detailed resume as one file in Adobe pdf format to paw_employment@fd.org. Please reference “#2023-06P” to apply for a position in Pittsburgh or #2023-07E to apply for a position in Erie in the subject line of your email submission. Applicants interested in both locations must apply to each separately.

This Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women, LGBTQ and BIPOC applicants are encouraged to apply.
Hiring for this position is dependent upon availability of funding.
One or more positions may be filled from this posting.
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
No telephone calls please.