Career Opportunity

SR INVESTIGATOR & LEGAL ANALYST (1823) - San Francisco Ethics Commission

Recruitment: RTF0129580-01149107

Published: December 09, 2022

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

Salary Range: $110,630 -  134,446/year
Fill Type: Permanent Exempt - The position is a Full-Time position and is being filled at this time as an Exempt Hiring for a Three-Year Limited Term Project

The San Francisco Ethics Commission was created directly by the City’s voters with the passage of Proposition K in November 1993. Our mission is to practice and promote the highest standards of integrity in government. The Commission is responsible for the independent and impartial administration and enforcement of laws related to campaign finance, governmental ethics, conflicts of interest, and registration and reporting by lobbyists, campaign consultants, permit consultants, and major developers. 

About the Enforcement Division 

The Enforcement Division is responsible for identifying, investigating, and remedying unlawful conduct within the scope of the Commission’s jurisdiction. Division seeks to ensure fair, thorough, and timely investigations and case outcomes that serve as an effective deterrent against misconduct and promote accountability in government. This can include imposition of monetary penalties levied by the five-member Ethics Commission as provided for under the law. 
 

Role description

***Please Note: Incomplete applications without the requested materials, will not be considered.***

Essential Duties

Essential duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Evaluate complaints, evidence, law, and policies and apply sound independent judgment.
• Perform highly complex, sensitive, and detailed legal research, including analysis of laws pertaining to alleged violations of law.
• Conduct complex, thorough, and timely investigations of alleged violations of law; identify and obtain information and source documents to elicit factual information and evaluate compliance with laws within the Commission’s jurisdiction, including through investigative research, document requests, the use of subpoena power, and witness interviews.
• Analyze and evaluate data and information to identify facts and develop evidence-based conclusions about instances and patterns of non-compliance.
• Prepare and present investigative reports, including detailed exhibits to summarize complex data and other relevant information; make recommendations as to how to resolve investigations, including settlements, initiation of administrative proceedings, and case closure.
• Draft settlement agreements, probable cause reports, hearing briefs, and other documents with high level of writing proficiency, and coordinate with Enforcement Director to develop, negotiate, and present written stipulated settlements.
• Represent the Commission with other city departments and external parties, and act as a resource to assist other Commission staff teams and promote knowledge sharing about Enforcement Division policies, practices, and procedures.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships at all organizational levels, with other government agencies, and with the public to achieve organizational goals.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive and confidential information obtained through the course of completing assignments while working comfortably in an open government environment.
• Perform administrative and management duties as assigned, including regular progress updates, and assisting management in public-facing communications, program reporting, and resource planning, and supervising work of subordinate staff and/or interns, as may be assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, including periodic attendance and/or presentation at Commission meetings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Essential knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Knowledge of methods and principles used in complex investigations and in legal research.
• Ability to read, understand, and accurately apply provisions of complex laws to facts and discern instances or patterns of non-compliance. 
• Ability to plan, prioritize, exercise initiative, and complete multiple competing projects within established timeframes while producing accurate, high-quality work products.
• Experience gathering a wide array of source data on complex issues to identify relevant facts and evaluate compliance with applicable laws and policies, including by eliciting factual information through investigative interviews.
• Ability to objectively evaluate testimonial and documentary evidence, and to independently apply a broad knowledge base, strong reasoning skills, and sound judgment.
• Attention to detail and ability to synthesize analysis and to develop findings and recommendations that are supported by strong legal and factual bases.
• Ability to structure and write investigative reports and legal documents with appropriate supporting analyses that present clear and concise findings and recommendations.
• Ability to prepare and make clear and concise presentations.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Strong computer and data analysis skills. 
• Ability to exercise tact, sound independent judgment, and the highest standards of integrity in carrying out duties.

Desirable Qualifications

During the selection process the following desirable qualifications may be used to identify applicants selected to become a job finalist: 

• Possession of a JD or Master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration or a closely related field.
• Prior professional investigative experience involving planning and performing complex research and analysis and developing well-supported findings and recommendations.
• Prior professional experience working on matters involving governmental ethics, campaign finance, lobbying issues or in related areas of government oversight.
• Prior professional experience working in an oversight, regulatory, administrative, or law enforcement agency.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and complete projects of high quality, including effective use of organizational systems to regularly track and report on progress toward established goals and objectives.
• Experience working objectively, efficiently, and effectively under the press of deadlines and in highly visible, highly sensitive, or highly politicized settings.
   

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.

1. Possession of a graduate degree (Master's degree or higher) from an accredited college or university and three (3) years of full-time equivalent experience performing professional level analytical work as described in Note A: OR
2. Possession of a graduate degree (Master's degree or higher) from an accredited college or university with major college coursework as described in Note B and two (2) years full-time equivalent experience performing professional level analytical work as described in Note A; OR
3. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four (4) years full-time equivalent experience performing professional level analytical work as described in Note A; OR
4. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with major college coursework as described in Note B and three (3) years full-time equivalent performing professional level analytical work as described in Note A

SUBSTITUTION: Applicants may substitute up to 2 years of the required education with additional qualifying experience in budget analysis, financial analysis and reporting, legislative/policy analysis, or contract/grant administration. One year (2000 hours) of additional qualifying experience will be considered equivalent to 30 semester units/45 quarter units.

Notes on Qualifying Experience and Education:

A. Qualifying professional-level analytical experience must be in one or more of the following functional areas: complex budget analysis, development and administration; complex financial/fiscal analysis and reporting; development of complex contracting systems and administration of competitive bid processes and complex contractual agreements; development and evaluation of complex management/administrative policy; complex grant administration and monitoring; complex program evaluation and planning; complex legislative analysis; complex economic analysis; or other functional areas related to the duties of positions in Class 1823, where the primary focus of the job is complex professional-level analysis for evaluation, recommendation, development and implementation of major programs and functions of department/organization. Analytical experience equivalent to the duties of Class 1822 is considered qualifying.

B. Coursework applicable to a baccalaureate or higher degree in specialized subject matter areas such as public or business administration, management, business law, contract law, public policy, urban studies, economics, statistical analysis, finance, accounting, or other fields of study closely related to the essential functions of positions in Class 1823.
 

What else should I know?

HOW TO APPLY

***Please Note: Incomplete applications without the requested materials, will not be considered.***

To apply for this position, please submit the following documents using the Apply Now link at the bottom of this document. Applications that do not contain all requested information will not be considered.

1. Statement of Interest that details your interest in the position and relevant work experiences, including any related to accountable government or public integrity.
2. Current Resume
3. Writing Sample of no more than 15 pages (single-spaced) that demonstrates your ability to apply rules or standards to a set of facts and to support a recommendation. This may be an excerpt from a longer written work product. Please include a note or heading explaining what the writing sample is.

Complete applications will be reviewed as they are received, and applicants selected to advance to the interview process will be contacted by phone or email.

** Please note that due to ongoing COVID19 public health restrictions all candidate interviews will take place online using remote technology. In addition, subject to further official notice, the successful candidate should expect to perform their duties working both remotely and onsite. In addition, any City employee may be called in for Disaster Service Work duty or to work on site subject to the City’s and Department’s established Health and Safety protocols. In such instances, employees may be required to be on site with 24-hours’ notice.

The Ethics Commission is committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining a diverse, collaborative, and high performing staff of individuals whose individual experiences, knowledge, and talents collectively drive achievement of the Commission’s unique mission in San Francisco city government.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

Information About The Hiring Process
Conviction History
Employee Benefits Overview  
Equal Employment Opportunity 
Disaster Service Worker
ADA Accommodation
Veterans Preference
Right to Work
Copies of Application Documents
Diversity Statement

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.