Investigator 3 - Charitable Activities Section

Department of Justice; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 58,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick leave

Pension plan

Benefits package

SEIU representation

Job summary

The Oregon Department of Justice, Civil Enforcement Division, is seeking an Investigator 3 in the Charitable Activities Section to examine nonprofit organizations and charitable solicitations for compliance with state law.

You will conduct investigations, draft reports, interview witnesses, and coordinate with attorneys. This is a permanent, full-time position in Portland, Oregon, with strong benefits and opportunities to develop government auditing and data analysis skills.

Qualifications

• Four years of recent (within last ten years) full-time investigative experience.
• College-level courses in Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, Law, Accounting, or Auditing may substitute for up to one year of experience.
• Must have and maintain an Oregon State driver license and be willing to travel.
• Must have basic computing skills and familiarity with Excel.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent investigations of charitable organizations and evaluate compliance with legal requirements.
• Review and respond to complaints concerning charitable organizations.
• Draft subpoenas and gather documents; organize and preserve evidence.
• Prepare investigative reports and present findings to attorneys and staff.
• Coordinate with Chief Investigator and Attorneys on scope and direction of investigations.
• Assist with maintaining case files and supporting legal filings and hearings.

Skills

Investigative experience

Data analysis

Interviewing witnesses

Excel basics

Education

Criminal Justice degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Initial Posting Date: 11/04/2026 Application Deadline: 11/18/2026 Agency: Department of Justice Salary Range: $5,193 - $7,968 Position Type: Employee Position Title: Investigator 3 - Charitable Activities Section

Job Description

The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) – Civil Enforcement Division is seeking an Investigator 3 interested in joining our team in the Charitable Activities Section. The Charitable Activities Section administers the Attorney General’s oversight authority over charitable organizations and their assets. The Section protects the public's interest in the proper operation of nonprofit organizations, as well as investigates and takes legal action in matters involving misuse of charitable assets, misleading charitable solicitations, and breaches of fiduciary duties by officers, directors, and trustees of charities. The Section also provides education to the sector concerning compliance with legal responsibilities. and assists the public by providing information about charities. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work on a team of seven investigators to investigate potential violations of legal requirements related to charitable organizations and solicitations, identify appropriate resolutions of matters under investigation, and provide support to other investigators and attorneys in connection with Section investigations and enforcement actions. The workload is diverse, but the position will be primarily responsible for conducting investigations of charitable organizations for compliance with state laws related to registration, financial reporting, charitable solicitations, governance or management of charities, and embezzlement. Investigators, on occasion, are responsible for making on-site visits to charitable organizations, businesses, and other locations from which charitable gaming, charitable activities or solicitations are being conducted and will occasionally be responsible for serving subpoenas or other legal process on people and organizations under investigation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (in part)

• Conducts independent investigations of charitable organizations as assigned to evaluate compliance with applicable legal requirements; including: Contact charities that are delinquent in filing financial reports to determine reason for delinquency, explain necessary corrective action, conduct additional investigation into organization’s activities where merited, and develop recommendations for resolution if organization fails to take corrective action.
• Review and respond to complaints filed by the public and others concerning charitable organization.
• Evaluate the issues raised and the extent to which additional investigation might be appropriate.
• Compile and analyze information from public and other investigative resources, including databases, to identify potential violations and other relevant facts.
• Identify relevant issues and develop investigational plan.
• Consult with Chief Investigator and Attorneys regarding scope and direction of investigation.
• Draft subpoenas or other requests to gather relevant documents and information.
• Collect and analyze financial and other corporate records.
• Summarize financial information in spreadsheets and reports, develop timelines, and other summaries of relevant facts.
• Conduct and tape interviews, develop interview questions.
• Organize and preserve documents or other physical evidence for potential use in legal proceedings.
• Write investigative reports to facilitate legal review and evaluation of potential resolutions and for potential use in legal proceedings.
• Present findings to attorneys and other staff and make recommendations concerning case direction.
• Confer with other law enforcement and regulatory agencies to coordinate information sharing, potential actions and investigations.
• Assist attorneys and other staff with maintaining case files.
• Preparing legal filings, witnesses, and other hearing preparation.
• Testify in legal proceedings.
• Handle telephone inquiries from public and nonprofit organizations.
• Facilitate training presentations and other public presentations.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED ATTRIBUTES AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Research suggests that women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate the knowledge, skills and abilities that you demonstrate, using an intentional equity lens. In order to be considered for this position, you must meet ALL the following minimum qualifications:

• Four years of recent (within last ten years) full-time investigative experience which included: 1.) conducting fact finding; 2.) collecting and preserving evidence according to the rules of evidence; 3.) examining records; 4.) locating and interviewing witnesses to verify or disprove claims of suspected law violations; 5.) and writing investigation reports sufficient for use at administrative hearings or in court.
• Examples of qualifying investigation experience are in areas such as law enforcement investigation, insurance investigation, investigative trial support, or financial fraud investigation.
• College-level courses in Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, Law, Accounting, or Auditing may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to one year of the required experience.
• Have and be able to maintain an Oregon State driver license, throughout employment; willing and able to travel as needed (i.e., investigations, court dates, meetings, trainings, etc.).
• Must have basic computing skills and familiarity with Excel.

DESIRED SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Experience in reviewing and analyzing financial information, or conducting financial investigations.
• Certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or similar.
• Ability to manage high levels of ambiguity and create clarity.
• Experience managing multiple tasks and deadlines and ability to independently prioritize and manage workload.
• Possess excellent analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a cross-functional team.
• Experience interviewing witnesses, who are occasionally uncooperative and hostile.
• Experience writing interviews and investigative reports.
• Experience evaluating complaints and/or identifying when a referral is appropriate.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

• Work/life balance to include 11 paid holidays a year, vacation, sick leave, personal business leave, and a competitive benefits package.
• Permanent, full-time employment in Portland, Oregon.
• A workplace where individual contribution matters and is recognized; and where creativity and accomplishment are rewarded.
• Opportunity to expand your government auditing and data analysis skills.
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Pension and retirement programs.
• Endless peer and management support, and representation by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
• For more information about our benefits, you can learn here.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The Department of Justice is an equal opportunity employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability, and is committed to workplace diversity. For assistance with the application process, please contact [e-mail].

CONTACT INFORMATION

Oregon Department of Justice
1162 Court St NE Salem OR, 97301
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Oregon state government is a large organization by nearly any standard. With over 40,000 employees working all over the state, in small communities and large, we are proving that government can be innovative. We work as a team, challenging ourselves to be better, faster and more efficient with taxpayer dollars. After all, when every day we are responsible for caring for the needs of a diverse population and thriving business community, we simply must have the best and brightest workforce. If you take responsibility for your actions, are passionate about helping others succeed, and have a reputation for excellence and honesty, why not make Oregon state government your next career move? Joining our team means you open the door to many possibilities. From entry level to executive, outdoor work to policy setting, we have a role for nearly every calling, expertise and background. If you’re looking at us from across the country (or beyond!), know that Oregon is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Made up of seven diverse regions, Oregon has the ocean, mountains, valleys, high desert, cities, small towns, and almost everything in between. Oregon “flies with her own wings.”