Administrative Specialist- Background Investigator

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

• →Conduct background investigations by interviewing employers, co-workers, neighbors, law enforcement officials, military personnel, members of the candidate’s family, and personal references, which may require travel.
• →Make additional inquiries to assist in determining the credibility of statements.
• →Review completed background interview forms of public safety candidates with each candidate, checking for inconsistencies, errors, omissions, falsifications, and minimum requirements to ensure accuracy and completion before beginning the initial candidate interview.
• →Obtain and review records from Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, and State and Municipal law enforcement records, where candidates have resided to determine if the candidate was a witness, victim, suspect, or perpetrator of any crime.
• →Complete the off-boarding process for employees and assist with employee orientation.
• →Prepare detailed and complete interview statements for each person being interviewed to allow a reviewer to draw reasonable and logical conclusions about the prospective candidates.
• →Prepare final background investigation package for presentation to supervisors and staff by organizing all investigative material in accordance with established procedures.
• →Meet regularly with management and/or candidate to keep them apprised of the status of the investigation.
• →Prepare detailed summary of adverse information based upon objective analysis and evaluation of candidate’s background, and interviewee statements, as measured against requirement standards as set forth by the Civil Service Commission if appliable.
• →Complete background packages for review and final recommendation.
• →Assist with records requests, employment verifications, job posting and training.
• →Create and process weekly/monthly/annual reports.
• →Serve as a back-up to the Front Desk for Human Resources Division.
• →Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

• Associate degree with three (3) years in employment background investigations.
• Prior work experience in public safety or law enforcement setting.

• Positions in this class typically require grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

• Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical conditions necessary for sitting, standing, climbing, or walking for extended periods of time
• Light to moderate lifting and carrying; some crouching, stooping, squatting, crawling, reaching, pushing, and pulling when performing tasks
• Adequate vision, hearing, and speech required.

• Concentrated and attentive use of one or more senses (visual, audio, and other sensory modalities) for proofreading, data entry, and tabulating data.
• Ability to operate in an environment with frequent interruptions from people and or noises, which in return could result in some level of stress, fatigue, or strain.
• Comprehensive written information in work-related documents.
• Ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech.

• High School Graduate or General Educational Development (GED) with three (3) years of related experience OR Associate's degree with one (1) year of related experience
• United States Citizenship

• Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Class “C” North Carolina driver’s license
• Be able to obtain North Carolina State Background Investigator Certification
• Be able to obtain DCI, NCIS, KBCOPS, and CJ Leads certifications.

• Confidentiality laws and issues such as confidentiality of personnel records, and handling requests for information on candidates from operating departments, the public, or the media.
• Demonstrates the highest levels of discretion, and sound judgement when handling sensitive information and making decisions.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in reviewing, analyzing, and documenting information to ensure thoroughness, consistency, and completeness throughout the background investigation process.
• Rationales for confidentiality sufficient to ensure the integrity and personal privacy of candidate background investigation file and all information contained therein.
• Principles and practices of confidentiality are sufficient to recognize actions that may compromise the integrity of investigation or investigation file documents.
• Various technical specialists available to assist in an investigation and when to request such assistance.
• Objective symptoms of use of alcohol and commonly used controlled substances, sufficient to recognize when a person may be under the influence.
• Experience in conducting background investigations.
• Familiarity with CMPD systems such as KBCOPS, CJ Leads, and modern office technology
• Background investigations, to include DCI and NCIC checks, AOC checks, driver’s license check.

Indoor environment: environment may include noise; work with computers, files, and phones. This job classification description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions, and responsibilities and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) designation may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.