Chief - Law Enforcement Officer V - Criminal Investigations

State of South Carolina • Richland County, SC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Lead the statewide Criminal Investigative Unit and Shellfish Enforcement Program within SCDES to protect public health, safeguard natural resources, and uphold environmental quality. This role combines operational command, criminal case development, legal collaboration, and law enforcement leadership across South Carolina.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree and five (5) years of relevant law enforcement experience. OR high school diploma or GED and 10 years of law enforcement experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree.
• Active Class I Law Enforcement Officer certification.
• Knowledge of environmental laws and state agency operations.
• Ability to interpret and apply rules, regulations, and statutes.
• Strong communication, reporting, and writing skills.
• Ability to manage workloads and guide investigators and officers.
• Requires occasional overnight travel (in-state and out-of-state).
• Requires evening and weekend work as needed.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Valid driver’s license.
• No criminal record.

Nice To Haves

• Extensive regulatory and law enforcement background, particularly in environmental crime and/or shellfish/water quality enforcement.
• Strong expertise in criminal investigations—including scientific evidence handling, warrant drafting, and case package development.
• Experience supervising law enforcement personnel at a public law enforcement agency.
• Proven leadership experience in managing a statewide enforcement unit and directing strategic operations.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with seasoned courtroom and prosecutorial experience.
• Certified firearms and basic law enforcement instructor, with SC Criminal Justice Academy credentials.
• Deep knowledge of environmental laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversees all daily operations of the Criminal Investigative Unit and the Shellfish Enforcement Program.
• Manages assignments, workload distribution, and case prioritization across the state.
• Provides strategic direction for law enforcement activities supporting agency goals.
• Supervises, directs, and participates in criminal investigations involving state and federal environmental violations.
• Ensures investigations involving scientific evidence, transaction reconstruction, and multi-step case development are conducted properly.
• Oversees development of search warrants, affidavits, reports, interview summaries, and prosecution packages.
• Works closely with prosecutors and enforcement partners to advance complex criminal cases.
• Supports agency leadership with advisement on criminal matters and law enforcement impacts.
• Provides law enforcement and firearms training to all agency officers.
• Serves as a Basic Instructor and Firearms Instructor for the SC Criminal Justice Academy (as stated in PD).
• Directs water quality and shellfish enforcement activities related to harvesting, handling, and transportation of shellfish.
• Ensures compliance with related environmental and food safety laws.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available
• State Retirement Plan (PORS) - Defined benefit retirement plan for eligible public safety employees, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and peace officers.
• Transfer and purchase past military and public service time to retire early!
• Disability Retirement Protection

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior