Senior Investigator & Legal Analyst - SF Ethics Commission (TEX 1823)

City and County of San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The San Francisco Ethics Commission is seeking a Senior Investigator & Legal Analyst with solid analytical, legal, and investigative skills, exceptional judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to accountable government to perform and resolve highly complex, sensitive, and detailed investigations. As a member of the Enforcement Division, the Senior Investigator & Legal Analyst will play a central role in developing the Commission’s capacity to identify, investigate, and resolve matters of significant complexity and heightened public harm, including by initiating new matters based on self-generated leads. This position specializes in legal analysis and case resolution, including negotiating settlements with respondents, drafting probable cause reports and hearing briefs, and arguing cases at administrative hearings before the Ethics Commission. This position reports to the Ethics Commission’s Director of Enforcement. As with all positions at the Ethics Commission, the Senior Investigator & Legal Analyst must be willing to forego involvement in all local political activity while a member of the Commission staff and publicly file an annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700).

Requirements

Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
Three (3) years full-time equivalent experience performing professional-level analytical work. Qualifying professional-level analytical work includes analysis, development, administration, and reporting in major programs and functions of an organization in the areas of budgets, contracts, grants, policy, or other functional areas related to the duties of positions in the 182X Class series.
Possession of a graduate degree (Master's degree or higher) from an accredited college or university with major coursework in specialized subject matter areas such as public or business administration, management, business law, contract law, public policy, urban studies, economics, statistical analysis, finance, accounting or other fields of study closely related to the essential functions of positions in the Class series may be substituted for one (1) year of required experience.
Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of 2 years). Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.

Nice To Haves

Possession of a Law degree
Prior professional experience planning and performing complex investigations, research, and analysis and developing well-supported findings and recommendations.
Prior professional experience working on matters involving governmental ethics, campaign finance, lobbying or in related areas of government oversight.
Prior professional experience working in an oversight, regulatory, administrative, or law enforcement agency.
Demonstrated ability to plan and complete projects with high quality and on time, including effective use of organizational systems to regularly track and report on progress toward established goals and objectives.
Experience working objectively, efficiently, and effectively under strict deadlines and in highly visible, highly sensitive or highly politicized settings.

Responsibilities

Conduct complex investigations of alleged violations of ethics, conflicts of interest, campaign finance, lobbying, whistleblower protection, and public disclosure laws.
Develop legal strategy to evaluate allegations, evidence, applicable law, regulations, and policies and apply sound independent judgment to determine case resolution strategy, including identifying matters to be prosecuted before the five-member Commission.
Communicate with the subjects of investigations and their representatives regarding case resolution options, based on a full assessment of the facts, law, and evidence, and negotiate and draft settlement agreements.
In coordination with the Director of Enforcement develop, negotiate, and present written stipulated settlements for Commission consideration.
Prepare probable cause reports, responses to rebuttals, pre-hearing briefs, witness lists and exhibits, motions, and other legal documents necessary to obtain a complete administrative record.
Present cases before the Executive Director and the Ethics Commission through formal conferences and hearings as needed.
Represent the Division before the five-member Commission at administrative hearings, including by offering objections, taking testimony, submitting written and oral evidence, and providing oral argument.
Assist with the implementation of the revised Enforcement regulations including changing enforcement procedures, revising protocol documents, creating guidance materials, updating related information on the Commission’s website, providing training for Enforcement staff, and sharing information with other divisions.
Identify potential violations of the law, both by evaluating complaints filed with the Commission and through proactive investigative work.
Perform highly complex, sensitive, and detailed investigative and/or legal research pertaining to alleged violations of the law to support the effectiveness of the Ethics Commission’s mandate as an independent administrative enforcement agency.
Identify and obtain a wide range of information and source documents to elicit factual information and evaluate compliance with laws within the Commission’s jurisdiction, including through investigative research, document requests, the exercise of subpoena power, and witness interviews.
In coordination with the Director of Enforcement, assist in reviewing and proposing improvements to investigative and case resolution processes, including the Commission’s hearing process.
Analyze and evaluate data and information to identify facts and develop evidence-based conclusions.
Collaborate with other Division members to develop investigative strategies and case theories.
Prepare and present investigative reports, including detailed exhibits to summarize complex data and other relevant information and document findings, and make recommendations to resolve investigative outcomes, including advising the Director of Enforcement and Executive Director regarding potential dismissals, warning letters, probable cause, and penalties.
Perform administrative and management duties as assigned, including regular progress updates and assisting management in program reporting and resource planning.
Act as an investigative, enforcement and/or legal resource as assigned for other units at the Commission to provide general enforcement context for policy development or other matters.
Represent Enforcement Division or Ethics Commission with other city departments or external parties, including the Controller’s, City Attorney’s, and District Attorney’s Offices, as assigned.
Promote knowledge sharing among staff members and assist in cross-training team members on policies, procedures, regulations, systems, operations, and processes related to programs administered.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, senior management, representatives of other departments/agencies, officials, contractors, and the public to achieve organizational goals.
Maintain confidentiality of sensitive and confidential information obtained through the course of completing assignments while working comfortably in an open government environment.
Supervise and train interns, temporary staff, or other staff on project basis, as assigned.
Perform other related duties as assigned, including periodic attendance and/or presentation at Commission meetings.