Salary: $80,617.00 – $133,506.00 Annually
Location : CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CA
Job Type: FULL-TIME
Job Number: 1764 O 2024/12/13 C
Department: Public Safety
Opening Date: 12/13/2024
DUTIES
ANNUAL SALARY
$80,617 to $111,666; $80,701 to $117,992; and $91,308 to $133,506
NOTES:
- Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
- Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade position.
DUTIES
A Background Investigator is a civilian employee who conducts and compiles personal and professional background investigations for public safety candidates by interviewing employers, co-workers, neighbors, law enforcement officials, military personnel, members of the candidate’s family, and personal references; prepares reports on findings; makes recommendations as to background findings; and performs other related duties. Background Investigators in the higher pay grades may supervise or act as a head worker to staff involved in the above duties.
REQUIREMENT(S)/MINIMUM QUALIFICATION(S)
- Five years of full-time paid experience within the last ten years as a California peace officer that includes experience in background investigations for employment, internal affairs investigations, or in-depth investigations of criminal matters; or
- 900cumulative hours of paid experience within the last five years conducting background investigations for public safety positions while employed with the City of Los Angeles.
PROCESS NOTES
- A valid Class C driver’s license issued by California’s Department of Motor Vehicles is required at the time of filing and must be maintained through the course of employment. Applicants will be disqualified and not eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation (such as DUI).
- Upon appointment, Background Investigators employed by the Personnel Department will be required to provide an automobile, properly insured, for use in City service. Mileage will be paid in accordance with established rates.
- Some initial appointments are anticipated to be made on a part-time basis
- Work location is Downtown Los Angeles. However, Background Investigators in the course of performing field investigations will be required to drive to areas outside of downtown Los Angeles.
- Prior to appointment, a thorough and comprehensive Background Investigation will be conducted.
WHERE TO APPLY & APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications will only be accepted on-line. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the “Apply” icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at .
NOTE:
Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
This examination may close without prior notice at any time after a sufficient number of applications have been received. For administrative purposes, filing may close periodically and reopen the following day.
In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles who meet the minimum requirements, or are on a reserve list; 2) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs in the order that applications were received. Applications submitted during the filing period will be kept on file for two years in the event that additional applicants need to be tested to meet hiring needs.
SELECTION PROCESS
Examination Weight: Training and Experience Questionnaire – 100%
The examination for Background Investigator will consist entirely of a Training and Experience Questionnaire (T&E). In the T&E, the following competencies may be evaluated: Judgment and Decision Making; Attention to Detail; Fact Finding; Written Communication; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: confidentiality laws such as Officer Bill of Rights, ADA, HIPAA and principles and practices as they apply to personnel records and handling requests for information to ensure the integrity and privacy of candidates background investigation files; interviewing techniques; investigative techniques and concepts of background investigations; and other necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities. The T&E will be administered on-line. Candidates invited to participate in the examination will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the specific steps on how to complete the on-line T&E. Candidates who fail to complete the on-line T&E as instructed may be disqualified.
Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to https://per.lacity.org/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Background Investigator.
The Training and Experience Questionnaire for all candidates who meet the requirements, and in accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2 as stated above, will be submitted to an expert review panel for evaluation. The expert review panel will assign a numeric score to each candidate based on an assessment of each candidate’s qualifications as described on the candidate’s Training and Experience Questionnaire. Unsolicited supplemental information will not be submitted to the expert review panel.
NOTES:
- This examination is based on a validation study.
- As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at
- Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on the bulletin.
- A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.
- You may take this examination once a year (365 calendar days). Your name may be removed from the open competitive eligible list after 180 calendar days.
- Your rank on the employment list may change as scores of candidates from other administrations of this examination are merged onto one list.
- In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22 and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.
Notice:
If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage, as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.
THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN ONLY ON AN OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS
The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
There are many things to consider in a new employer. Visit the following webpage to view benefits the City of Los Angeles offers its employees:
01
To be PROPERLY AND PROMPTLY notified of the status of my application, I UNDERSTAND that I MUST provide on my City application, the following information:
-Working E-mail address
-Telephone Number
-Official social security number
I UNDERSTAND that I MUST provide a working email address on my application where I will receive notifications regarding the status of my application and the selection process.
I UNDERSTAND that important information regarding the status of my application and the selection process will only be sent via E-MAIL to the email address I provided.
I UNDERSTAND that it is MY RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that the email address I provided is a working email and that I will check my email regularly to ensure I receive any communication as it relates to the examination promptly.
I UNDERSTAND that the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department is NOT RESPONSIBLE for any lost or redirected emails and that it is MY RESPONSIBILITY to add info@governmentjobs.com to my email contact list to avoid email notifications related to this examination from being classified as “spam” or “junk” mail.
- I have read these statements to their fullest and will provide a working e-mail address on my application in order to receive status of my application regarding this examination.
02
I UNDERSTAND that I am required to describe, IN DETAIL, my appropriate qualifying experience in the Work Experience Section of my application.
I UNDERSTAND that, if qualifying with my City experience, that I MUST indicate my appropriate job classification in my work history and NOT ANY WORKING TITLE that I believe is designated to me.
I UNDERSTAND that if I attach a resume and/or cover letter IN LIEU of completing the Work Experience Section, my application is INCOMPLETE and WILL NOT be considered for this examination, and my application WILL NOT be further processed.
In addition to including my qualifying experience, I UNDERSTAND that I should list ALL jobs, regardless of duration, including part-time jobs, military service and any periods of unemployment during my entire work history.
- I have read these statements to their entirety and understand them completely and to their fullest.
03
I am currently:
- A City of Los Angeles employee having received a regular appointment.
- An exempt or emergency City of Los Angeles employee, but have civil service status.
- An exempt or emergency City of Los Angeles employee, without receiving civil service status.
- A City of Los Angeles employee in a temporary training position.
- A City of Los Angeles employee on a part-time basis.
- On a regular reserve list for the City of Los Angeles.
- Not employed with the City of Los Angeles.
04
Requirement #1: (Part 1 of 3)
I have the following amount of full-time paid experience within the last ten years as a California peace officer that includes experience in background investigations for employment, internal affairs investigations, or in-depth investigations of criminal matters:NOTE:You MUST provide detailed examples of this experience in the Work Experience section of this application. FAILURE to provide detailed examples may result in your DISQUALIFICATION from this examination.
- Between 1 to 59 months
- 60 months or more
- This statement does not apply to me.
05
Requirement #1: (Part 2 of 3)
In the text box below, please indicate the job title(s) and employer(s) in which you gained full-time paid experience within the last ten years as a California peace officer that includes experience in background investigations for employment, internal affairs investigations, or in-depth investigations of criminal matters.If this statement does not apply to you, please write “N/A”.NOTE:You MUST provide detailed examples of this experience in the Work Experience section of this application. FAILURE to provide detailed examples may result in your DISQUALIFICATION from this examination.
06
Requirement #1: (Part 3 of 3)
In the text box below, please describe in detail your experience within the last ten years as a California peace officer in background investigations for employment, internal affairs investigations, or in-depth investigations of criminal matters.If this statement does not apply to you, please write “N/A”.NOTE:You MUST provide detailed examples of this experience in the Work Experience section of this application. FAILURE to provide detailed examples may result in your DISQUALIFICATION from this examination.
07
Requirement #2: (Part 1 of 2)
I have the following amount of paid experience within the last five years conducting background investigations for public safety positions while employed with the City of Los Angeles.NOTE:You MUST provide detailed examples of this experience in the Work Experience section of this application. FAILURE to provide detailed examples may result in your DISQUALIFICATION from this examination.
- Between 1 to 899 hours
- 900 hours or more
- This statement does not apply to me.
08
Requirement #2: (Part 2 of 2)
In the text box below, please describe in detail your experience within the last five years conducting background investigations for public safety positions while employed with the City of Los Angeles.If this statement does not apply to you, please write “N/A”.NOTE:You MUST provide detailed examples of this experience in the Work Experience section of this application. FAILURE to provide detailed examples may result in your DISQUALIFICATION from this examination.
09
I possess a valid California driver’s license.
- Yes, I possess a valid California driver’s license.
- This statement does not apply to me.
10
Indicate your valid California driver’s license number and expiration date in the text box below:
11
RETAKE CLAUSE
I have taken this exam within the last year (365 calendar days).
- Yes, I have taken this exam within the last year.
- No, I have NOT taken this exam within the last year.
12
IMPORTANT NOTE:I have read the above questions carefully and answered each one accurately. I understand that if I do not provide correct information that my application will be disqualified and will not be considered further for this examination.
I understand that if I submit more than one application, my newest application will be considered and all others will be considered duplicates and will not be reviewed.
You should include in the work experience section of your application any jobs you wish to be considered as you will be unable to add or change your information after submission.
- Yes, I have read the above statements carefully and understand them to their fullest.
Required Question