DSHS OOS OFA Investigator 4

State of Washington • King County - Seattle – Other, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of the Office of the Secretary is hiring for an Investigator to join their team. In accordance with the Office of Fraud and Accountability (OFA) Investigative Guidelines and Procedures, the Investigator 4 independently conducts and resolves complex and difficult criminal investigations to substantiate allegations of welfare and vendor fraud in Intentional Overpayment Investigations (IOI). Investigations involve all public assistance programs administered by DSHS and in accordance with all Service Level Agreements, include but are not limited to: TANF, SNAP, EBT misuse and childcare. Crimes investigated include but are not limited to theft, forgery, perjury and violations pertaining to the unlawful receipt of public assistance (welfare) monies and food benefit trafficking. This position will function as a unique part of OFA headquarters by partnering with Economic Services Administration’s (ESA) Division of Disability Determination Services (DDDS) and their Cooperative Disability Investigation (CDI) Program for their work. The investigator will be responsible for investigating cases that have a statewide impact/reach, working new and emerging fraud cases. This position will also be responsible for implementing new methods, procedures, or revised investigative techniques. The mission of the CDI Program is to combat fraud by investigating statements and activities that raise suspicion of Social Security disability fraud by claimants, medical providers, interpreters, or other service providers. This position plans, develops and conducts statewide investigations of cases referred to the CDI Unit and provides expert guidance and consultation to Social Security Administration, the Office of the Inspector General, and WA State Disability Determination Services. The work of the CDI Unit supports the strategic goal of ensuring integrity of the Social Security programs with zero tolerance for fraud and abuse and serves to deter fraud in related Federal and State benefit programs.

Requirements

• Strong skills in communication and interviewing techniques.
• Ability to gather, preserve and present relevant and pertinent evidence without arising undue or undesirable comment among employees, supervisors, or top-level managers.
• Interpret and apply federal and state statures, applicable regulations, policies and procedures.
• Four years of experience as an Investigator within State services, at least one year of which must have been as a supervisor or Six years of experience as an Investigator with a criminal justice government agency, private organization, or other directly allied field, four years must include field experience.
• College-level course-work with major emphasis in business administration, public administration, law, one of the criminal justice disciplines, or directly allied field may be substituted for the required experience based on two years of college work for one year of experience.
• Equivalent education/experience.
• A background check including criminal record history may be conducted.
• Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license.
• Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates efforts with the SSA’s OIG’s CDI Unit Team Leader and other members of the CDI Unit.
• Investigates statewide allegations of fraud or related crimes referred to the CDI unit in accordance with written procedures in the SSA/OIG Special Agent Handbook (SAH) and the SSA CDI Unit Operations Manual (Manual).
• Conducts surveillance and videotapes the activities of Title-II and Title-XVI (SSI) claimants and beneficiaries suspected of committing fraud or similar fault; Interviews subjects of investigations, witnesses, and others, as needed.
• Coordinates, as necessary, interaction with Federal, other State, or local law enforcement agencies.
• Works collaboratively with and provides expert guidance to Federal, State, and/or local law enforcement agencies and prosecuting attorneys on complex, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional (both intra- and inter-state) criminal, civil, and administrative cases.
• Participates in drafting, serving, and executing of Federal, state, or local subpoenas and search warrants.
• Handles, processes, and maintains evidence in accordance with applicable Federal and state laws and SSA/OIG policy.
• Provides testimony in criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings in Federal and State courts.
• Prepares required reports and maintains records of investigations to the standard that they may be used as evidence in court.

Benefits

• King County employees receive 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary
• King County employees are eligible to receive a free ORCA card for transportation use.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed