INVESTIGATOR IV (CIVIL RIGHTS) - DOWNTOWN, OAHU

State of Hawai'i; Hawaii; On-site; USD 62,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Hawai'i announces vacancies in the Investigation Section of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (HCRC), under the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The Investigator IV will conduct intake and investigations into complex discrimination complaints and may supervise investigation teams.

Position requires a Bachelor's degree plus 2.5 years of progressive investigative experience, with strong analytical, reporting, and professional civil rights knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Two and a half years of progressively responsible professional investigative experience demonstrating initiative, judgment, and data collection.
• Ability to analyze facts and present findings clearly in written and oral form.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake and investigation of complex discrimination complaints within HCRC jurisdiction.
• Independently perform and/or supervise investigations and prepare comprehensive reports.
• Provide staff support to the HCRC in intake, investigation and informal complaint resolution.

Skills

Initiative and judgment

Analytical thinking

Written and oral reporting

Interpersonal tact

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Recruitment Number 26-0185

The current vacancy positions are permanent, full-time positions with the Department of Labor & Industrial Relations.

THIS JOB POSTING WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 15 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED.

PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY AS THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME.

Salary: $5,527 to $6,728 per month (SR-22, Step D to I)

Note: Hiring rates will be based on availability of funds, the applicant's qualifications, and other relevant factors. Positions in the Investigator series perform and/or supervise investigations concerned with suspected or actual violations of civil, administrative and/or criminal laws, rules, regulations or other legal requirements.

The Investigator IV level independently performs and/or supervises investigations involving suspected or actual violations of civil, administrative and/or criminal laws, rules, regulations, or other legal requirements within an agency's jurisdiction; determines case approach and gathers supporting evidence or information; prepares reports; and performs other related duties as assigned.

The current vacancy positions are located in the Investigation Section of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (HCRC), Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR).

The HCRC is responsible for the enforcement of the State's laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, and access to state-funded services under Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapters 368, 489, 515, and Part I of 378. The Investigation Section provides staff support to the HCRC in the intake, investigation and informal complaint resolution relating to alleged unlawful discriminatory practices.

The purpose of the current positions is to conduct the intake and investigation of complex discrimination complaints involving employment, real property transactions, public accommodations, access to state-funded services, or any other matter under the HCRC's jurisdiction; and perform other related duties as assigned.

Legal Authorization to Work

The State of Hawaii requires all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States.

To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements

Basic Education/Experience

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Specialized Experience

Two and one-half (2-1/2) years of progressively responsible professional investigative experience which demonstrated:

• A. Initiative, ingenuity, resourcefulness, and judgment required to collect, assemble, and develop facts and other pertinent data;
• B. Ability to think logically and objectively, to analyze and evaluate facts, evidence and related information, and arrive at sound conclusions;
• C. Skill in written and oral reports and presentation of investigative findings in a clear and concise manner;
• D. Tact, discretion, and capacity for obtaining the cooperation and confidence of others.

Selective Certification Requirement (Civil Rights Experience)

In order to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this position, applicants must possess demonstrated knowledge of civil rights laws, rules and regulations pertaining to discrimination and the types of evidence required to prove that a violation was committed. Additionally, applicants must possess the ability to recognize patterns or practices which are inherently discriminatory or those which serve as a pretext for discrimination; detect discrepancies in information and/or distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information/evidence to support or discredit the allegations of discriminatory practices; make evaluative judgments based on the application of statutory or regulatory provisions and administrative procedures in making a determination as to whether there is a reasonable cause to support a finding that discrimination has occurred; and make objective recommendations regarding resolutions and appropriate remedies in discrimination cases.

Therefore, certification of eligibles for this position shall be restricted to applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements for the class, Investigator IV, and possess SIX (6) MONTHS of professional civil rights-related work experience. Such experience must have provided the applicant with the knowledge and abilities described above.

This experience may have been gained concurrently as part of the above Specialized Experience, or in a separate capacity.

Examples of Qualifying Civil Rights-Related Experience include

• A. Professional work experience as an attorney or hearings examiner whose caseload included civil rights discrimination cases;
• B. A legal assistant whose professional work experience included independently performing legal research and evaluation in the area of civil rights discrimination cases;
• C. A journey worker personnel specialist substantially involved in the analysis and resolution of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints.

Supervisory Aptitude

Supervisory aptitude rather than actual supervisory experience may be accepted. This requirement will be considered to have been met when there is strong affirmative evidence of the necessary supervisory abilities and/or potential.

Substitutions Allowed

• A. A law degree (Juris Doctorate) from a School of Law, accredited by a nationally recognized specialized accrediting body (or a law degree that is deemed comparable by a nationally recognized specialized accrediting body), may substitute for TWO (2) years of Specialized Experience.
• B. Full-time enrollment in an accredited graduate degree program for one semester, in which at least three (3) semester credit hours were in civil rights, discrimination, or closely related subjects and included casework assignments involving unlawful discrimination practices, may substitute for SIX (6) months of civil rights-related work experience.

The State of Hawai'i complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations in completing an application, any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please call 808-587-1111 for assistance.

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF) PROGRAM

The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS

The Department of Human Resources Development (HRD) will use electronic mail (email) to notify applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of their applications as part of our ongoing efforts to increase operational efficiency, promote the conservation of green resources, and minimize delays and costs.

Please ensure that the email address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails or fail to check your email-box in a timely manner. In addition, please be aware that you may no longer receive notification about applications submitted if you choose to disable the Job Application Emails feature in your Account Settings.

TESTING INFORMATION

The examination for this recruitment will be conducted on an unassembled basis where the examination score is based on an evaluation and rating of your education and experience. It is therefore important that your employment application provide a clear and detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of each position you held.

In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawaii may be required at the discretion of the hiring agency. If in-person interviews and/or further testing is a requirement, applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are referred to the vacancy must be available to participate in person and at their own expense in this required phase of the selection process.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. In addition to employment availability and score, the referral of qualified applicants may be based upon other factors including date of receipt of application.