Career Opportunity

Senior Estate Investigator- Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) Human Services Agency (HSA) (4231) (X00043)

Recruitment: REF31467N

Published: September 20, 2023

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

About:

Application Opening: September 5, 2023

Application Deadline: October 2, 2023

Compensation: $103,272 - $125,528 Annually

Classification Specification: https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/?classCode=4231&setId=COMMN

ListID: CBT-4231-X00043

This recruitment has been extended for the continued acceptance of applications.  Applicants who applied under Recruitment PBT-4231-X00043 from September 5, 2023, through September 15, 2023, need not reapply and will be included.

This is a Class-Based Test (CBT)

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.

At the San Francisco Human Services Agency, we believe in a San Francisco where everyone has the opportunity and support to achieve their full potential.  We are comprised of the Department of Benefits and Family Support, and the Department of Disability and Aging Services, and are united by our commitment to deliver essential services that support and protect people, families, and communities.

From financial, nutritional, and employment support to child and adult protective services, health care coverage, affordable childcare, and in-home services for older adults and persons with disabilities, our team lends support for all in need.

Our Commitment to Racial Equity

As we work towards our vision of an inclusive San Francisco, we embrace our responsibility to root out systemic racism by creating services and a workforce which reflect the lived experiences and strengths of the people we serve. We are committed to fostering a work environment where our differences are celebrated and everyone has what they need to thrive--no matter their race, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or country of origin. Click here to learn more about what this commitment looks like in action.

Role description

Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Senior Estate Investigator supervises units of Estate Investigators who perform a range of duties from investigation, coordination of health care, and finances for vulnerable individuals and individuals under conservatorship, and managing estates for deceased individuals. The Senior Estate Investigator may be assigned to any one or more of the division’s programs -- Public Administrator, Public Guardian, and/or Representative Payee Program and may supervise estate investigators in any of the three programs. 

The Public Administrator oversees decedent estate administration for individuals without family or with whom the family cannot or is unwilling to manage the decedent estate

The Public Guardian oversees probate conservatorships and serves as the Conservator of the Person and Estate of an individual under conservatorship after appointment by SF Superior Court.

Under the Office of the Public Guardian, the Representative Payee Program is responsible for managing Social Security, VA, MediCare/MediCal, and other benefits/entitlements for vulnerable individuals.

This position is responsible for directing, monitoring, and overseeing the daily operations of the unit engaged in estate investigations, including assigning, supervising, training, and evaluating the work of Estate Investigators; advising professional staff on the more difficult aspects of the work and enforces adherence to established policies and procedures; and supervising and participating in the investigations and collection activities.

Essential Duties and Functions

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job class and are not intended to be an inclusive list; may include additional duties as assigned.

1. Oversees daily program operations and functions of the units including policy and procedures, intake, staffing, supervision, performance, compliance, data, and quality and process improvement activities. Must be available to attend court or work after hours based on program needs.

2. Supervises units of 4230 Estate Investigators, including training, coaching, and supervising activities related to the management of finances and personal issues for individuals who may be under probate or mental health conservatorship or estates of deceased individuals.

3. Works collaboratively and strategically with internal partners such as management, planning, legal, and other staff to address compliance and complex issues as well as with external partners across systemic issues.  Examples of activities include resolving placement and facility issues, creating and implementing a complex financial plan, assisting with level of care or end-of-life issues, or resolving lawsuits and complex estate matters for decedents)

4. May carry a limited caseload of complex issues and assist with caseloads as needed; Conducts investigations, property searches, in-person visits, and similar activities to support intake functions, case management, urgent situations, or other program needs.  

6. Provides expertise and guidance on the effective management of the duties required to help vulnerable individuals such as: managing client finances and estate issues, coordinating care activities including placement and treatment, preparing and reviewing documentation, referrals, reports, data, and legal documents, and managing risk issues through critical thinking, discussion, mutual exploration of issues, and consensus building with care managers and stakeholders.    

How to qualify

1. Education

Completion of a four-year college or university with a baccalaureate degree in business administration, public administration, law, economics, accounting, or a closely related field; 

AND

2. Experience

Three (3) years of progressively responsible investigative experience including the processing of legal and financial documents; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. 

Desirable Qualifications

The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring:

1. Knowledge and experience as a fiduciary with conservatorships and estate administration

2. Knowledge and experience with benefits and entitlements

3. Knowledge and experience with the California Probate Code, the Welfare and Institutions Code, and related federal, state, and local laws

4. Experience with case management and fieldwork, including working with clients and managing challenging conversations or behaviors

5. Experience with supervision, coaching, and managing performance

6. Experience with utilizing data to identify issues and performance evaluation analysis and reporting

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Verification of Experience and/or Education

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, or disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation (Weight= 100%)

Candidates MUST achieve a passing score on the supplemental questionnaire evaluation in order to move forward in the Selection process.  Candidate scores from the Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation Exam will be used to determine the final score and rank on the eligible list/score report.

The Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation Exam is designed to measure and evaluate your experience and relative knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas identified as critical for successful performance in class 4231 Senior Estate Investigator.  These may include but are not limited to: knowledge of probate codes and other laws; experience with conservatorships and making fiduciary decisions. 

It is important that the information provided in the Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation be accurate and complete. All relevant experience, education and/or training must be in the application in order to be reviewed in the rating process.

A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation examination in order to continue in the selection process.

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ)

Candidates will be required to complete an MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

What else should I know?

Eligible List/Score Report

A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 12 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director. 

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods, and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations. [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/.] The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications, and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at http://sfgov.org/civilservice/rules.

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

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

How to Apply

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit: https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen 

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 kept up-to-date. 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 (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email 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.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Carmen K. Lewis, by telephone at (415) 557-5241 or by email at carmen.lewis@sfgov.org. 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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.