Investigative Consultant I

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

SmartRecruiters, Inc. is hosting a Protection Agent opening with NYC ACS, focusing on complex child welfare investigations and protective services. The role involves field work, interviews, and collaboration with CPS and law enforcement to locate AWOL youth.

The position requires a four-year high school diploma and five years in law enforcement, or an associate degree with three years in the field, and a valid NY driver license. Strong inquiry and testimony skills are essential.

Qualifications

• A four-year high school diploma and five years of satisfactory full-time law enforcement experience.
• Alternate path: Associate degree and three years of experience in law enforcement.
• Must possess a New York driver license for appointment and duration of employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert assistance on cases involving alleged child abuse or neglect.
• Accompany CPSs and CPSSs on high‑risk home visits.
• Conduct and document interviews with children, family members, neighbors and others.
• Testify in court regarding investigations and findings.
• Train CPS staff in investigative techniques and safety procedures.
• Collaborate with law enforcement to locate AWOL youth and support safe returns.

Skills

Law enforcement experience

Interview techniques

Testify in court

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree or 60 credits

Tools

Investigative databases

Job description

• Job Category: Communications & Intergovernmental Affairs
• Salary Band: $100,000 to $125,000
• Compensation: USD 67,510 - USD 103,557

Job Description

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE FOLLOWING JOB OPENING IS BEING REPOSTED FOR 30 DAYS. PREVIOUS APPLICANTS DO NOT NEED TO REAPPLY. THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $67,510.00 - $77,637.00

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services and provides subsidized childcare vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community.

The Investigative Consultants are a team of former law enforcement investigators who have been deployed into each of the borough offices and at ECS to work with child protective specialists (CPS) on their investigations. They provide consultation and support on cases which involve allegations of child abuse or neglect and expert assistance on cases which have resulted in serious injury or death of a child. Investigative Consultants may accompany CPS in the field on complex cases and conduct interviews with children, family members, neighbors, school officials, law enforcement and other community members when necessary. Additionally, Investigative Consultants conduct training for Child Protective Services staff related to the techniques and strategies necessary for performing sensitive investigations as well techniques to enhance worker safety.

The Protection Agent will be involved primarily in, complex and sensitive investigations related to children in the custody of ACS, including investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect, helping locate youth who have left or who are missing from foster care or DYFJ non-secure detention and/or placement facilities, and advising and training Child Protective Specialists (CPS), Child Protective Specialist Supervisors (CPSS) and other child protective staff in techniques and approaches for handling such cases in Children’s Services. Under supervision, with latitude for independent action and decision-making, is assigned to a child protective field office or special investigation unit, such as Emergency Children’s Services or the Office of Special Investigation.

Additional responsibilities will include:

• Provide expert assistance on cases which involves allegations of child abuse or neglect by parents, by Children’s Services or other City staff, which may include cases which have resulted in serious injury or death of a child.
• Accompany CPSs and CPSSs on home visits which are anticipated to be unusually difficult.
• Conduct and document interviews with children, family members, neighbors, school officials and other community members, when necessary.
• Testify in court regarding investigations.
• Conduct training for child protective services staff related to the techniques and strategies necessary for performance of sensitive investigations into allegations of child abuse and neglect, including observation; conducting interviews; detecting signs of child abuse and neglect; interrogations; forensics; and collecting evidence and other documentation.
• Train and prepare CPS staff in dealing with difficult and recalcitrant parental figures during home visits or child removal.
• Conduct criminal and domestic violence background checks, documenting, analyzing the information received and interpreting the information for CPS.
• Assisting and training child protective services staff in the navigation of public databases.
• Provide Training and assistance to Provider Agencies and ACS Staff to assist in gathering information to locate AWOL Youth.
• Utilize investigative databases and review records to assist in developing leads to locate AWOL Youth.
• Make field visits to assist in locating youth who are AWOL from a foster care, placement, or detention setting.
• Re-interview parents, neighbors and relatives when provider agencies have not successfully located AWOL Youth.
• Collaborate and share information with law enforcement so that once youth are located, law enforcement can take action to ensure the safe return of AWOL youth to a foster care, placement, or detention setting.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $67,510.00 - $77,637.00

Section 424-A of the New York Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-caring responsibilities has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report.

PROTECTION AGENT (ACS) - 52368

Qualifications

1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and five (5) years of satisfactory full-time experience in the field of law enforcement. At least three years of this experience must have been obtained while working in Special Victim’s, Forensics, Homicide, Domestic Violence, Missing Persons, Precinct Detective; or a closely related law enforcement work unit or task force; or

License Requirement

At the time of appointment, candidates must possess a motor vehicle driver license valid in the State of New York. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

2. An Associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college or university and at least three (3) years of satisfactory experience in the field of law enforcement, including at least two (2) years obtained while working in a specialized law enforcement unit or task force as described in “1” above.

License Requirement

At the time of appointment, candidates must possess a motor vehicle driver license valid in the State of New York. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.