Job Description

Investigator

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses nearly 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City's communities.

DCWP is seeking an experienced investigator to work on legal investigations in our General Counsel Division. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, the investigator's responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

• Support investigations into violations of DCWP's licensing and consumer protection laws and rules, including those concerning the licensing and regulation of hotels, and the regulation of broker fees, including by:
• Conducting background research on people and businesses in support of legal investigations using the Internet and public and private records databases that cover property transactions, financial disclosures, lawsuits, social media activity, regulatory actions and news reports;
• Under the guidance of attorneys, performing undercover investigations in support of legal investigations;
• Interviewing consumers, businesses, landlords and witnesses by telephone and in-person;
• Obtaining, documenting, and analyzing documentary evidence;
• Writing comprehensive investigation reports identifying the results of research and analysis;
• Ensuring the Department has the proper evidence and documentation for any hearings or court appearances;
• Testifying at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings and in court;
• Investigating cases that are complex and/or broad in scope, in collaboration with other investigators, legal staff associates and attorneys;
• Drafting investigative policies and protocols for the division and update as necessary; and
• Engaging in other projects as directed.

The preferred candidate has at least 3-4 years of investigative experience, including conducting in-depth internet and factual research, a strong aptitude for interpreting and understanding complex legal and non-legal topics; excellent attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, good judgment and decision-making skills, and creative problem-solving skills.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and four years of full-time, satisfactory experience conducting investigations or inspections for a consumer or worker protection agency; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; or
• A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience, which is equivalent to "1" above. College education may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of 30 semester credits for each year of required experience. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.

License Requirement: Possession of a Motor Vehicle Driver License valid in the State of New York at the time of appointment. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Professional, major Internet search engines and databases, as well as legal research using Westlaw.
• Ability and aptitude to quickly learn new computer programs and technology.
• Experience and aptitude with public and private database research utilizing multiple investigative research techniques and resources.
• Ability to read and understand laws and rules, analyze and document an issue, and present findings and recommendations to a supervising attorney.
• Experience in handling multiple assignments with competing deadlines with a high degree of detail and accuracy.
• Resourceful, independent self-starter with effective organizational techniques.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Project management experience preferred.

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.

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