Career Paths

Enforcement
Because of SSA’ unique impact on so many lives, SSA OIG is charged with protecting SSA consumers by protecting SSA’s brand under Section 1140 of the Social Security Act. Congress enacted this consumer protection tool to prohibit the use of SSA words, letters, symbols, and emblems in a misleading manner. Enforcement attorneys are responsible for bringing actions against companies and individuals who commit such SSA-related consumer fraud, including those engaging in SSA-related scams.

General Law
OIG attorneys provide independent legal advice and counsel to the Inspector General on a wide range of issues. For example, attorneys on the general law team provide legal advice in practice areas including federal information law, including matters related to the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act, federal records management, standards of ethical conduct, proposed legislation and regulations, contracts and federal procurement law, federal fiscal law, and federal personnel law, including the handling of all aspects of litigation arising from claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit System Protection Board. The team also handles subpoena enforcement, and other legal matters, including the legal implications of our audit work.

Chief Investigative Counsel
Attorneys in the Office of the Chief Investigative Counsel conduct a range of sensitive and complex oversight activities, including providing guidance, strategy, and advice to OIG agents, assisting in conducting complex criminal and administrative investigations, and assisting in the presentation of complex criminal cases to the Department of Justice.

Whistleblower Protection Coordinator
The Chief Counsel serves as the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator for more than 60,000 SSA employees. Under the Inspector General’s leadership, the Chief Counsel, in part, ensures that SSA OIG attorneys properly and timely educate SSA and SSA OIG employees about whistleblower rights, protections, and prohibitions.

Auditors conduct financial, information technology, and performance audits and evaluations of SSA’s programs and operations to ensure they are working effectively, efficiently, economically, ethically, and equitably. They also conduct short-term management and program evaluations and reviews on topics of interest to Congress. Auditors develop comprehensive plans to address audit objectives, identify criteria, and establish scope and methodology that will ensure a useful audit product completed in accordance with applicable standards, policies, and procedures.

Budget analysts develop the annual budget request, oversee and manage the organization’s annual spending, and coordinate contracts and other financial agreements.

Criminal investigators are duly sworn law enforcement officers who are trained to conduct investigations involving financial crimes, identity theft, misappropriation, employee integrity and threats against the agency and its employees. They receive rigorous federal law enforcement training. They conduct interviews, participate in surveillance and undercover operations, execute arrest and search warrants, and testify before grand juries, courts, and administrative hearings. In addition, criminal investigators work with prosecuting attorneys at the U.S. Attorney’s offices and with state and local prosecutors. They work closely with law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local level. They may also have additional responsibilities such as firearms, defensive tactics, and fitness instructors; digital investigative techniques; and task force participation.

A criminal research specialist assists the special agent with planning and gathering information for criminal and civil investigations. They manage, analyze, and evaluate reports of fraud, waste, and abuse of SSA programs. Criminal research specialists conduct case analysis to determine factual information. They manage the day-to-day operations of investigative projects within the field division. The Criminal Research Specialist works with the field division management on administrative issues as directed. They ensure that all equipment is maintained and serviced. They also perform other duties as required to ensure smooth administrative operations within the office and field division.

Human resources specialists recruit and onboard employees, conduct employee engagement activities, such as coordinating employee performance management efforts, administering employee training and professional development programs, and coordinating an employee awards and recognition program.

Audit
IT specialists in the Office of Audit plan, conduct, and report on complex audits, evaluations, and reviews of SSA’s information systems and assist other auditors in understanding more technical IT issues.

Business Intelligence and Analytics
IT specialists in the Business Intelligence and Analytics Division provide customized, innovative data-driven solutions to assist OIG in combating fraud, waste, and abuse of SSA funds. They explore, analyze, and visualize diverse datasets to help proactively identify targets of suspected large-scale Social Security fraud. IT specialists flag vulnerabilities in Social Security’s systems for audit review. They also enhance operational efficiency, refine strategic decision-making, and maximize the impact of the organization.

Development and Operations
IT specialists in the Development and Operations Division direct and oversee technology and business process integration, network administration, implementation of hardware and software, application development, cybersecurity governance, and other mission-support activities. They develop software application solutions and provide infrastructure support for multiple enterprise applications tied to OIG's mission and support activities. They provide end user support to OIG personnel and perform other IT support functions, such as hardware and software installations and maintenance. IT specialists oversee IT procurement and contracting, provide project management support, coordinate security assessment and authorization activities, and maintain OIG's IT policies and procedures.

Investigations
IT specialists in the Office of Investigations conduct computer forensics and various other computer and network IT-related activities relating to forensics to further investigative operations.

Investigative analysts assist criminal investigators in the planning, coordinating, and conducting civil, criminal investigations and qui tams, including those of an extremely complex nature. Analyzing data from a variety of sources to develop trends, patterns, profiles, estimates, studies, and tactical information utilizing established intelligence techniques. Assisting in interviews with program officials, health care providers, and other federal and state investigative staff. Conducting highly complex analyses which may impact other cases nationwide and include multi-jurisdictions.

Management analysts perform a variety of coordinative, consultative, liaison, and advisory services. They provide mission support services, such as report processing; recommendation tracking; coordinating and recording training; and coordinating responses to requests for information from SSA, Congress, or the public. Their work may include conducting analyses and evaluating information; preparing reports; database management; procuring equipment and supplies; and coordinating with management and other components.

Policy auditors draft, issue, and revise organizational policies, conduct internal quality reviews, and manage the enterprise risk management program, records management program, and continuity of operations planning.

Public affairs specialists develop and distribute informational materials to the public, Congress, media outlets, and other organizations. They produce web and social media content, as well as graphic materials such as newsletters, flyers, and brochures. They also coordinate outreach programs with SSA and other organizations.

Statisticians are responsible for providing guidance pertaining to the statistical accuracy, validity, and reliability of all statistical sampling and methodology for the Office of Audit. They work closely with audit teams nationwide to develop sampling plans and methodologies, estimation plans, surveys, and statistical projections, and assist other OIG components. Statisticians ensure that audit reports appropriately present the sampling or estimation methodology used and projections or estimates related to audit findings.

Writer/editors review, write, edit, and proofread a wide range of reports, correspondence, and other written products that may be highly technical in nature. They work closely with audit teams in the field nationwide in defining the message of each audit report. They ensure that products communicate audit findings and other information clearly, convincingly, and tactfully. They ensure that reports, documents, and correspondence are well written, appropriate in tone and style, professional in format and appearance, consistent with current policies and practices, free of grammatical errors, and otherwise meet the high standards set forth for written documents. Writer/editors research and validate facts as needed to ensure the appropriate length, sequence of the narrative, and tone of written products based on the objectives and intended audience.