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Background Investigator, Investigator 2 (Salem/Hybrid) Job Rotation or Developmental Opportunity for ODOC, BOPPPS, and OCE employees only

Headquarters – Salem/Hybrid

Oregon Department of Corrections

Are you a highly organized professional with a passion for investigative work and skilled at navigating sensitive conversations with professionalism? The Employee Services Division is actively recruiting for an Investigator 2 job rotation or developmental opportunity. This Investigator 2 rotation provides a hands-on opportunity to apply analytical thinking, interviewing skills, and sound judgment to impactful hiring decisions.

This position is a job rotation anticipated to last 6 months, though may be extended or decreased due to business need. This rotation available for current regular status employees of the Oregon Department of Corrections, Oregon Corrections Enterprises, or Oregon Board of Parole, Probation, and Post-Prison Supervision with their current manager's approval (applications submitted without manager approval WILL BE declined).

Candidates who do not meet the minimum qualifications for this classification may be considered as a developmental. Developmental candidates are not eligible for Work-Out-of-Class differential.

About the Job – Your Role

The Background Investigator is a critical member of the DOC’s Recruitment Team within the Employee Services Division. Our division supports the agency’s mission by recruiting, hiring, and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce. As part of this team, you will help shape the future of DOC by conducting thorough pre-employment background investigations for Correctional Officer applicants across the state.

In this position, you will be responsible for gathering, verifying, and evaluating sensitive information to determine an applicant’s suitability for employment. Your investigative work directly supports the department’s goal of hiring individuals who reflect DOC’s values of integrity, accountability, and professionalism.

Key responsibilities but not limited to:

• Conduct comprehensive background investigations, including reviewing employment history, criminal records, military service, and driving history.
• Research and verify information using a variety of databases, including criminal justice systems and internal HR tools.
• Interview applicants, references, former employers, and other relevant parties to validate applicant-provided information.
• Prepare detailed written reports summarizing findings and making recommendations regarding applicant suitability.
• Collaborate closely with recruiters, hiring managers, and institution leadership across multiple DOC facilities.

This position is represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). This position may be eligible for Police & Fire (P&F) benefits through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), as defined by statute.

Minimum Qualifications

Your application materials will be reviewed to verify that you have:

• Two (2) years of recent (within the last five years) investigative experience which included gathering facts, collecting evidence, examining records, and conducting interviews to verify or disprove claims of suspected law violations. OR
• Two (2) years of recent (within the last five years) investigative experience within an institutional setting which included conducting AIC interviews to gather facts, collecting evidence, performing searches, and documenting violations of administrative or criminal regulations for the purpose of disciplinary or other reports.

College-level courses in law enforcement, criminal justice, law, accounting, auditing, or a closely related field may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to one year of the required experience.

Requested Skills

• Demonstrated experience conducting investigations including interviews, managing a large case load and report writing.
• Skilled in conducting structured interviews (in person, phone, or virtual), assessing credibility, and identifying inconsistencies.
• Experienced in using databases such as WebLEDS, OJIN, National Testing Network, and other government or internet-based tools for background research.
• Extensive working knowledge of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) to compare crimes and statutes from other states for similarities with Oregon laws.
• Demonstrated experience gathering, analyzing, and verifying personal, professional, financial, and educational records, including contacting private organizations and government agencies to obtain and confirm information.
• Experience assisting applicants with accessing and navigating electronic systems such as eSOPH during the hiring or background investigation process.

Preferred Skills

• LEDS Certification
• Experience with eSOPH system

Special Qualifications

• Valid Driver’s license

Application Information

• In the Work Experience section of your application make sure to include the dates and duties of all relevant positions and details to support how you meet these attributes. If you do not include education or work experience meeting the minimum qualifications, you will not be considered for the position. Only the candidates whose experience most closely matches the qualifications and requested skills of this position will be invited to interview. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications on or before the job posting close date.
• The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.
• Please monitor both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
• As part of our selection process, we may require additional assessment stages, such as written exercises, to further evaluate candidates’ qualifications. Meaningful participation in these exercises is required for all applicants moving forward in the process. Failure to complete the required exercise(s) within the specified timeframe will result in disqualification from consideration. All candidates who successfully complete these screening stages and meet the necessary requirements will advance to the next stage in the selection process.
• Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline.

Working Conditions

This position is approved for a hybrid work schedule, offering flexibility to work remotely while requiring the ability to report to the assigned work location as needed. Work may include occasional travel to institutions throughout the state and contact with AIC.

This position is responsible for managing multiple projects and priorities, handling demanding issues, and working with conflicting and/or short time frames. Occasional travel to conduct official business on behalf of the department. Occasional overnight travel is required and must have a valid driver’s license or alternative method of getting to work sites.

About the Department

The Oregon Department of Corrections is responsible for over 12,000 adults in custody in 12 state prisons throughout Oregon. It advises and evaluates counties regarding administration of probation and parole programs supervising more than 24,000 offenders in Oregon communities. The mission is to protect communities, promote accountability, and transform lives.

The Oregon Department of Corrections serves a diverse and changing population of people who are incarcerated and on supervision. We commit to creating an organization both reflecting the diversity of the population we serve and ensuring all employees thrive in a culture of safety, trust, and belonging. We strive to be an anti-racist corrections system. Welcoming, inclusive, and respectful of all people. Free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

The Department offers a variety of programs and opportunity to create a safe and healthy environment to for our staff, volunteers, and adults in custody. Joining the Oregon Department of Corrections is joining a team working for the benefit of our communities through innovative and proven correctional practices.

Benefits

The salary range listed above is for non-PERS qualifying applicants. PERS qualifying applicants may be eligible for an adjusted range to reflect an additional 6.95%.

The State of Oregon provides a generous benefit package, which includes:

• Family health, vision, and dental insurance
• Vacation, sick leave, and 11 paid holidays
• 21 days paid military leave for national guard and reserve components
• Optional short and long-term disability
• Term life insurance
• Fully paid retirement program
• Oregon Saving Growth Plan
• Flexible spending accounts for health and childcare
• And more

About the Process – What to Expect

• After the application deadline, a recruiter will review submissions for education and experience to identify candidates who best fit the minimum qualifications and requested skills.
• Top candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
• The hiring manager will review your application and schedule interviews.
• Interview will be held with a panel of stakeholders who have completed panel assessment training. Scores will be determined based on predetermined questions and scoring guides. Preferences points will be applied in compliance with relevant laws and bargaining agreements. There may be multiple rounds of interviews.
• Final candidates will have a background check, PREA check, and reference checks.
• A Classification and Compensation analyst will review the Workday Application of the successful candidate to determine starting wages. Learn more about Equal Pay.
• A job offer will be extended through Workday to the successful candidate. Congratulations, and welcome to the team!

Requirements for Employment

The successful candidate for this position must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Due to CJIS requirements related to system access, there may be some felony convictions that could disqualify you for this position. However, having a felony record does not exclusively restrict you from being considered as an applicant. CJIS clearance is done at the conditional job offer. If you have questions about whether or not your criminal record could disqualify for you, please contact the recruiter for more information.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDI&B) is embedded in the Department of Corrections core values. The department strives to be a model employer committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Ensuring legal compliance, efficiency, and exceeding expectations to deliver the best public services.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. Additional information can be found from The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Know Your Rights.

The Oregon Department of Corrections is responsible for complying with the Federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA 42 U.S.C. 1997). PREA prohibits the Oregon Department of Corrections from hiring, promoting, or contracting with anyone, (that will have direct contact with residents), who has engaged in, been convicted of, or been civilly or administratively adjudicated for engaging in sexual abuse in confinement settings. Learn more about PREA.

Eligible Veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources. Please note – if you are a veteran, you will receive a task in Workday to upload your documents immediately after you submit your initial application. You will have up until 24 hours after the posted application deadline to submit the appropriate documentation.

The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

Questions

If you have questions about the position, selection process, or need accommodations to participate in the recruitment process please contact the recruiter and reference the requisition number.

Recruiter: Cynthia Rodriguez, [email protected]

Reference Number: REQ-201327

• Workday will timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity. You may lose progress on your application.
• Workday performs weekly maintenance Friday evenings, and the system may be down for several hours.
• ODOC does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States.
• This applicant list may be used to fill future vacancies. Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.
• This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The pay and benefits on all announcements may change without notice.