City and County of San Francisco

1251-NTERNAL AFFAIRS & BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR

Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  • 2 years of professional experience in employment or administrative investigative work.
  • Valid California Class 'C' Driver's License required at appointment.
  • Hands-on experience with California public safety hiring standards and administrative labor inquiries.
  • Demonstrated expertise in applying POST Commission Regulations and maintaining confidentiality.

Responsibilities

  • Coordinate complex pre- and post-conditional offer background investigations.
  • Conduct interviews and gather evidence for internal affairs and misconduct allegations.
  • Prepare and document comprehensive written suitability evaluations and actionable recommendations.
  • Maintain secure and confidential investigative records and case files.
  • Collaborate with HR and legal counsel to ensure compliance with regulations.

Benefits

  • Flexible or non-traditional work hours as needed for investigations.
  • Exposure to a variety of cases, enhancing investigative skills and experience.
  • Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities linked to regulatory compliance.
  • Opportunity to work within a dynamic law enforcement environment focused on public safety.
Full Job Description
Under the direction of the Chief Probation Officer, the Internal Affairs & Background Investigator coordinates and conducts complex, highly confidential pre- and post-conditional offer employment background investigations, as well as administrative internal affairs investigations involving sworn and non-sworn personnel within the San Francisco Adult Probation Department (SFAPD). The incumbent ensures strict compliance with relevant California statutes (Government Code 1031, Penal Code 13510) and Commission Regulations (1953, [redacted]), while upholding Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights (POBR/POBAR) protections (Gov. Code 1[redacted]) for sworn personnel and maintaining uncompromising standards of integrity, confidentiality, and due process. IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE The ideal candidate is a seasoned, highly objective investigative professional with demonstrated expertise in California public safety hiring standards and administrative labor inquiries. They combine rigorous investigative thoroughness for background vetting with executive presence, emotional intelligence, and diplomatic tact for complex internal affairs inquiries. Key core competencies include: 30 Regulatory & Statutory Expertise: Hands-on experience applying POST Reg. 1953 background dimensions (integrity, impulse control, stress tolerance, financial responsibility), pre- to post-conditional offer protocols, CA Gov. Code 1031 peace officer minimum standards, and Penal Code 13510 frameworks. 30 Investigative Rigor & Data Analysis: Proficiency in non-coercive structured interview methodologies, evidence preservation, and data audit trail analysis (e.g., body-worn camera footage, probation case management logs) to author clean, detailed, and legally defensible investigative reports. 30 POBR & Labor Relations Acumen: Flawless execution of administrative interrogations and inquiries while upholding statutory protections under Gov. Code 13300 et seq. (written notifications, representation, recording rules, interrogation time limits) with absolute, unbiased neutrality. 30 Emotional Intelligence & Discretion: Exceptional composure and de-escalation skills when interviewing stressed, reluctant, or adversarial subjects, alongside strict confidentiality in managing sensitive personnel records and findings. EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES In accordance with Civil Service Commission rules, the representative duties assigned to this classification include, but are not limited to, the following primary functions: 1. Background Investigations 30 Develop and manage secure workflow processes for conducting pre- and post-conditional offer background investigations to assess employment suitability per POST Commission Regulations. 30 Review candidate application packages and secure necessary legal releases to access criminal history, employment, credit, driving, and educational records. 30 Conduct thorough field-based investigations, including criminal history checks, employer and personal reference interviews, home visits, and site verifications. 30 Perform official background updates for current personnel as mandated by CA Government Code 1031 and Penal Code 13510. 30 Analyze and document discrepancies or adverse findings, preparing comprehensive written suitability evaluations and employment recommendations. 30 Construct, organize, retain, and safeguard confidential background files in accordance with Commission Regulations 1953(e) and 1959(e). 2. Internal Affairs Investigations 30 Receive, screen, log, and document all allegations of staff misconduct, policy violations, or administrative infractions involving sworn and non-sworn personnel. 30 Lead impartial, confidential internal inquiries utilizing structured interviews, physical/digital evidence collection, surveillance, and case management audit trail reviews. 30 Ensure all administrative investigations adhere strictly to due-process standards and POBR protections (Gov. Code 1[redacted]), maintaining proper chain of custody for all evidence. 30 Research relevant statutory provisions, case law precedents, civil service rules, and department policies to guide investigative strategies. 30 Author clear, detailed, and legally defensible formal internal affairs reports documenting factual findings, conclusions, and actionable recommendations for corrective discipline or criminal prosecution if warranted. 30 Maintain comprehensive, secure investigative records, evidence logs, narrative summaries, and case files. 30 Collaborate with Human Resources, County Counsel/Legal, Executive Leadership, Civil Service Commission, and oversight bodies. 30 Testify as an official witness in administrative hearings, civil litigation, and criminal proceedings regarding investigative findings and methodologies. WORKING CONDITIONS 30 Field-based assignments requiring travel for home visits, employer interviews, and community site verifications. 30 Frequent handling of highly confidential, legally sensitive, and complex personnel documents. 30 Requirement to work flexible or non-traditional hours, including weekends or evenings, as investigations dictate. Qualifications Education: Possession of a Bachelor9s degree from an accredited college or university. Experience: Two (2) years of professional experience performing employment or administrative investigative work in a government or contract investigative agency. Education Substitution: Additional qualifying experience as described above may substitute for the required Bachelor9s degree on a year-for-year basis (30 semester units / 45 quarter units is equivalent to one year). License & Certification: Possession of a valid California Class 'C' Driver9s License required at the time of appointment. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: 30 California Government Code 1031 peace officer employment standards and Penal Code 13510 fitness standards. 30 POST Commission Regulations 1953 and [redacted], specifically regarding background dimensions and confidential file handling (1953(e), 1959(e)). 30 30 Internal affairs investigative workflows, administrative labor rules, and evidence chain of custody best practices. Ability to: 30 Design, implement, and maintain secure, confidential investigative workflows. 30 Accurately interpret and apply complex statutory, legal, and civil service regulatory frameworks. 30 Conduct thorough, impartial investigations through objective evidence gathering, structured interviewing, and analytical report writing. 30 Engage professionally and tactfully with departmental staff, oversight commissions, legal counsel, and public stakeholders. 30 Maintain strict discretion, political acumen, and composure in sensitive, confidential, or crisis situations. Desirable Qualifications: 30 Completion of a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) approved Background Investigator course. 30 Demonstrated experience utilizing digital evidence, body-worn camera footage, and audit logs in administrative inquiries. 30 Proven track record presenting complex investigative findings before Civil Service Commissions, legal entities, or appellate bodies. Additional Information Selection Procedures The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements and assessment of candidates9 job-related knowledge, skills and abilities. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to evaluate candidate qualifications. This typically includes an oral interview and/or a written or performance exercise. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the Department needs will be invited to continue in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements are not guaranteed advancement in the selection process. Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco: 30 Information About the Hiring Process 30 Conviction History 30 Employee Benefits Overview 30 Equal Employment Opportunity 30 Disaster Service Worker 30 ADA Accommodation 30 Right to Work 30 Copies of Application Documents 30 Diversity Statement How to Apply: Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time, but not before September 11, 2026. 1. Your application MUST include a resume. To upload, please attach using the "additional attachments" function. 2. 3. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Mailed, hand delivered or faxed documents/applications will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. For best practices on the application process, please visit Apply for Jobs in the City and County of San Francisco Best Practices Guide. Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and updated. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses ([redacted].org, [redacted].org, [redacted].com, [redacted].com, [redacted].org, [redacted].org, [redacted].org, [redacted].com, [redacted].org, [redacted].org, [redacted].org, [redacted].org, [redacted].edu, [redacted].info, and [redacted].com). Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [redacted] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

About City and County of San Francisco

The City and County of San Francisco is a consolidated city-county government in the state of California. The government was established in 1850 and is responsible for providing a wide range of services to the residents of San Francisco, including public safety, transportation, housing, and social services. The government is led by a mayor and a board of supervisors, who are responsible for setting policy and overseeing the various departments and agencies that make up the government. San Francisco is known for its progressive policies and has been a leader in areas such as environmental protection, LGBTQ rights, and healthcare.
Learn more about City and County of San Francisco
Size
38,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1976

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