ARSON INVESTIGATOR II K9 - Champaign County

Position Marketing Statement

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is accepting applications to fill the position of Arson Investigator II – Canine Handler/Special Agent.  The successful candidate has obtained significant experience conducting effective and efficient arson investigations and must possess the ability to make quick decisions in situations of high uncertainty.  The candidate will serve as a trained arson investigator and canine handler in the determination of cause, origin, and circumstances of fires suspected of arson.  The ideal candidate possesses good communication skills and the ability to professionally interact with the general public.  As an Arson Investigator II – Canine Handler/Special Agent and employee of the State of Illinois, the selected candidate will have access to state healthcare, benefits, and a pension plan.  We invite all qualified applicants to apply to join the OSFM team.

Essential Functions

• Serves as a certified canine handler for arson investigations in an assigned area.
• Travels to conduct complex and problematic investigations of suspicious fires and/or explosions to determine the cause and original to resolve perpetration.
• Conducts a complete examination of the exterior of the fire involved structure including condition of doors and windows for possible forcible entry, discarded flammable liquid containers, footprints, exterior area of heaviest burn, and type of ventilation.
• Conducts examination of electrical system including appliances, wiring, outlets, connections, and meters to determine if such systems were the cause of the fire or a contributing factor.
• Creates photographs and videography of the fire scene, including before and after debris removal, evidence of containers, trailers, flammable liquid burn patterns, fire travel, and destruction patterns.
• Prepares documentation to prove how the arson was committed, the materials used and ignited, prove the intent and motive, person(s) responsible, analyze available data to identify any trends or patterns involved; such as, day of week, time of day, methods used, area where fire originated, and any possible connection with other fires on local, county, state, or national level.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to the completion four (4) years of college which may include coursework in fire science, fire science administration, law, forensic science, criminal justice, or criminology.
• Requires two (2) years of experience as a sworn officer, in good standing, of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency per the Illinois Police Training Act.
• Requires one of the following:  A) Requires completion of a full-time law enforcement academy; OR (B) Meets contractual requirements to attain promotion from Arson Investigator I to Arson Investigator II.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers more than three (3) years of professional experience as a criminal investigator, forensic fire investigator, or professional fire investigative experience.
• Prefers three (3) or more years of experience in the proper collection, maintenance, and storage of evidence.
• Prefers certification as a Lead Homicide Investigator through an accredited institution.
• Prefers certification as an Evidence Technician through an accredited institution.
• Prefers a minimum of one (1) year of experience as a K9 handler.
• Prefers one (1) year of experience maintaining comprehensive data and investigation reports in the Bomb and Arson Tracking System (BATS).
• Prefers two (2) or more years in the utilization of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams or other software programs.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a valid, appropriate, and current driver’s license.
• Requires the ability to pass a background check with self-disclosure of criminal history and drug screening.
• Requires the ability to travel statewide with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Requires candidate to be a resident of the position county or a contingent county within six (6) months of employment.
• Requires the ability to commit to and provide necessary and appropriate care and training of assigned canine partners through continued recertification and 24-hour availability of canine handlers and their dogs.
• Requires ability to qualify for a Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card.
• Requires ability to pass physical agility test at time of potential hire and an acceptable level of physical fitness be maintained in accordance with agency standards.
• Requires ability to satisfy all continuing education or recertification requirements mandated by statute, rule, or the OSFM.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime.
• This position is considered medium work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (20 CFR 404.1567(c)).  Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.