INTAKE INVESTIGATOR

POSITION SUMMARY

Under direct supervision of the Deputy Inspector General – Complaints & Compliance, serves as an Intake Investigator. The incumbent is responsible for conducting preliminary investigations of complaints and revolving door matters and speaking with complainants. The incumbent may also be assigned to conduct full-scale investigations. This position involves working with information of an extremely sensitive and confidential nature associated with investigations and legal proceedings. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Responsible for investigating, analyzing, and making recommendations on the outcome of revolving door determinations. Ensures that all recommendations for revolving door determinations are legally sound and consistent with past precedent, as appropriate.
2. Speaks with complainants, primarily via telephone, to gain consent and to take and process new complaints and/or to communicate how the Office of Executive Inspector General (OEIG) addressed previous complaints.
3. Conducts preliminary follow-up with complainants and others, as appropriate, to gather facts pertaining to the initial allegations raised in complaints, and making recommendations on disposition of those complaints to allow for the timely determination of whether a complaint should be opened for investigation, referred, and/or declined.
4. Interviews complainants, ethics officers, subjects, witnesses, revolving door applicants, and various other parties to gather, verify, and/or corroborate necessary evidence. Prepares for those interviews beforehand and schedules the interviews, as needed.
5. Documents interview statements, observations, and requests for and receipt of evidentiary materials by preparing reports on all investigative action taken. Ensures reports are well-written, accurate, concise, thorough, and timely. Also ensures reports are entered timely and accurately in the case management system, when needed.
6. Research and/or review agency policies and other applicable rules or statutes, as well as social media and other publicly available information, in order to learn relevant information and incorporate it into investigative work. 
7. Maintains records of all information and material pertinent to investigations, in an organized manner and in accordance with agency processes; identifies, labels, and stores evidence gathered during the investigative process. Updates agency systems with investigative information.
8. May be responsible for conducting full scale investigations.
9. Collects, analyzes, and interprets information, documentation, and physical evidence in order to make informed determinations about the direction and outcome of investigations. Uses Excel or other appropriate tools to thoroughly evaluate and understand the evidence and its significance to an investigation.
10. Communicates with other government agencies and law enforcement entities in the course of investigations, or to provide information for and/or testify in administrative and court proceedings, as necessary.
11. May perform additional administrative duties, based upon the needs of the C&C unit.
12. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

ABILITIES & SKILLS

To be successful in this position, an Intake Investigator should have the following:

• ability to complete projects with short deadlines and balance multiple concurrent priorities;
• strong communication, analytical, organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills;
• ability to exercise independent judgment, consider facts objectively, and make sound decisions;
• ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, and the ability to interact professionally with others;
• general curiosity and ability to ask follow-up questions, including an aptitude in identifying issues that need to be explored and investigated;
• active listening skills;
• high personal ethical standards due to content of work materials;
• flexibility and interest in working both independently and collaboratively in a team environment, including considering and incorporating opinions and feedback of others;
• a willingness to travel, including overnight; and
• familiarity with computers, photocopiers, telecommunication equipment, and videoconferencing applications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• a bachelor’s degree; or an associate degree and two years of professional investigative experience; or four years of progressively challenging professional investigative experience; and
• professional or academic experience utilizing and implementing investigative techniques, practices, and concepts.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, accounting, auditing, or public or business administration;
• two years or more of professional investigative experience working for an inspector general office, investigative entity, law enforcement or a related field;
• prior experience answering and/or responding to hotline calls;
• experience conducting document review and analysis;
• proficiency writing and editing detailed reports that are accurate, concise, and free from spelling and grammatical errors; and
• knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) and other applications.

Job Status

Full-time, FLSA non-exempt.  This position is exempt from the provisions of the State of Illinois Personnel Code.