CPI PD SI Investigator V

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Texarkana, TX

8d • $6,096 - $7,762 • Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) seeks a Program Director over Special Investigators who provide advanced consultative protective services work in Child Protective Investigations, with an emphasis on forensic investigations. The role supervises and manages Special Investigators throughout the region and coordinates, assigns, and provides consultation on high-profile, high-risk, and joint investigations with law enforcement involving alleged criminal acts.

The position provides training, case guidance, documentation support, and consultation to Special Investigators, Investigators, and Family Based Safety Services workers on complex investigations, forensic techniques, and investigative skills. It may accompany workers on investigations and explain criminal statutes and law enforcement procedures when warranted. The position also supports and trains other CPI, CPS, and APS staff, coordinates investigations with local and regional law enforcement, and oversees case analysis, assignments, travel, time, leave, personnel, performance, and required statistical reporting. The role is based in Texarkana, is a day-shift position, is not eligible for telework, and involves travel up to 40%.

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, or social work.
• Two years of experience as an investigator with child-protection duties.
• Four years of full-time consultative, supervisory, managerial, professional, or technical work involving analysis of problems with an administrative aspect and interpretation of complex written material; alternatively, program operations involving a wide range of demands and interpretation of complex written material, or DFPS experience.
• Four years of full-time law enforcement experience with primary duties involving forensic investigation methods, such as interviewing perpetrators, children, and witnesses; crime-scene analysis and photographic and written documentation; obtaining credible and reliable statements; and report writing.
• Knowledge of the Child Protective Investigations Handbook, policy, and procedures.
• Knowledge of management for CPI investigative staff.
• Ability to manage time, leave, travel, and personnel actions for a unit of 12 Special Investigators; track investigations; and apply CPI Handbook policy to analysis and program guidance.
• Knowledge of Texas criminal and civil law relating to child abuse and neglect.
• Knowledge of forensic interviewing techniques, normal child development, family dynamics, domestic violence, substance abuse, criminal activity, and community resources, particularly law enforcement resources.
• Skill in forensic interviewing of children and adults, assessing risk of harm to children, applying crisis intervention techniques, and investigating and resolving difficult child abuse or neglect cases.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, agency staff, law enforcement personnel, and community groups.
• Ability to evaluate investigation records against department quality standards and analyze reports and produce comprehensive documents regarding findings.
• Ability to train staff in forensic interview techniques.
• Valid Texas Driver's License.
• Pass a background check and, if applicable, a driver's record check.
• Meet agency requirements for cybersecurity and communications-system training and policies and accessibility standards relevant to electronic information resources.
• Provide identity and work-authorization documentation as required for Form I-9.

Nice To Haves

• Currently hold, or have held within the past two years, a Texas Peace Officer license.
• Intermediate TCOLE Certification.
• Comparable licenses or certifications from an out-of-state law enforcement agency or the United States military are acceptable.
• Four years of experience as a detective investigating crimes against persons may substitute for the four-year college degree.
• For candidates who met the initial criteria in effect when they began employment as a Special Investigator, five consecutive years of front-line Special Investigations service plus an active mentor or leadership role may substitute for the stated TCOLE and Peace Officer requirements.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and monitor service delivery to ensure effective and efficient program operations.
• Work with regional staff to address contract issues, develop regional procedures, and resolve barriers to program goals in coordination with CPS and agency staff.
• Select, manage, and develop staff through performance-data reviews, conferences, training, and performance appraisals.
• Review casework decisions when requested and ensure they are appropriate and consistent with policy and procedure.
• Interpret program policies and procedures for staff and the public.
• Address and attempt to resolve client, community, and staff concerns about individual cases and operating procedures.
• Review and provide consultation on complex, sensitive, and high-profile cases and staff issues.
• Develop and maintain working relationships among CPI, CPS, APS, community members, and legal, medical, educational, and other entities.
• Prepare management reports, analyses, correspondence, and related materials, and respond to issues.
• Supervise and oversee Special Investigators, including case analysis, travel, time, leave, case assignments, personnel matters, performance, and regional and statewide statistical documentation.
• Coordinate, assign, and provide consultation on high-profile, high-risk, and joint investigations with law enforcement.
• Provide training, insight, case guidance, and documentation assistance on complex investigations, forensic techniques, and investigative skills.
• Accompany workers on investigations and provide information on criminal statutes and law enforcement procedures when circumstances warrant.
• Guide Special Investigators in effective investigation techniques from a law enforcement perspective.
• Initiate communication with local and regional law enforcement to coordinate investigations.
• Promote, monitor, and ensure respect for cultural diversity.
• Attend work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
• Perform other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.

Benefits

• 100% paid health insurance for the employee and 50% paid coverage for eligible family members.
• Retirement plans providing lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, with 401(k) and 457 savings options.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care.
• Employee discounts, including gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment.
• Possible eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

What This Job Offers

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