Special Agent

Insurance • Cumberland, NC

7h • Remote

About The Position

The mission of the North Carolina Department of Insurance is to promote a stable insurance market through unbiased regulation and to protect the lives and property of every citizen in all 100 counties while fostering superior, user-friendly service, courtesy, and respect. Our agency licenses insurance agents, adjusters, bail bondsmen and more, along with investigating fraud matters involving insurance consumers and any entity or individual regulated by the Department. In an ever-changing environment, it is the vision of the Department of Insurance to maintain the stabilization of the insurance industry in order to provide more products, competitive prices and consumer protection.

The North Carolina Industrial Commission is vested as a court of exclusive and original jurisdiction by the General Assembly to adjudicate and administer the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act. The Industrial Commission processes over 65,000 workers' compensation injury reports and claims filed annually under the Act. This responsibility includes overseeing and providing for the trial of contested cases as well as administering non-contested cases. Workers who are injured by accident on the job or who contract an occupational disease receive disability and medical benefits as ordered by the Industrial Commission. The Industrial Commission is also a court of original jurisdiction for litigating tort claims against the State under the North Carolina State Tort Claims Act. Additionally, the General Assembly has mandated the Industrial Commission to provide an adjudicated process for Childhood Vaccine-Related Injury claims and Compensation to Persons Erroneously Convicted of Felonies. It acts as a court of exclusive and final jurisdiction for death claims made by families of law enforcement officers, fire fighters, rescue squad workers and civil air patrol members arising under the Public Safety Employees' Death Benefits Act. Each of these adjudicatory systems requires administration of contested and uncontested claims, review of agreements, and supervision of payment of benefits.

The Criminal Investigations Section of the North Carolina Industrial Commission operates as a law enforcement agency and is responsible for conducting criminal investigations into cases of suspected workers’ compensation fraud, employee misclassification, and violations related to workers’ compensation claims involving employees, employers, insurers, health care providers, attorneys, and vocational rehabilitation providers. Criminal Investigators investigate all criminal complaints filed with the Industrial Commission regarding failure of employers to maintain workers’ compensation insurance (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-94(d)), fraud on the part of employees with regard to the collection or obtaining of workers’ compensation benefits (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-88.2), fraud on the part of employers with regard to payment or collection of workers’ compensation premiums from employees’ salaries (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-21), medical payment fraud (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-88.3), and any other claims arising out of violations of Chapter 97 by employees or employers. The Criminal Investigations Section works with judicial officials and other law enforcement agencies throughout the State to resolve the above investigations in criminal court. The Criminal Investigations Section collaborates with the Industrial Commission’s Employee Classification Section to proactively identify and investigate employee misclassification, thus helping ensure compliance with the North Carolina Employee Fair Classification Act and North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act.

The primary purpose of the Special Agent is to work as a law enforcement officer in the Criminal Investigations and Employee Classification Division and assist with the investigation of statutory violations related to workers’ compensation fraud and failure to obtain and maintain workers’ compensation insurance or qualify as a self-insured employer. The Special Agent utilizes law enforcement skills to identify, collect, analyze, and preserve evidence of workers' compensation crimes, with a focus on detecting and deterring violations. The Special Agent’s work involves responding to and investigating complaints received by email or phone, identifying statutory violations, collecting and preserving evidence, testifying in court proceedings as necessary, and performing related work. During an investigation, the Special Agent is often required to review and analyze evidence, including various types of documents and other records that may be in written and/or electronic form. The Special Agent also is often required to interview and question multiple individuals who may have relevant information related to the investigation. It is essential that the Special Agent possess and maintain a current working knowledge of relevant criminal statutes and case law, including but not limited to the statutes and case law regarding arrest, search and seizure, and any other statutes and case law that apply to conducting criminal investigations. The Special Agent has jurisdiction to conduct Statewide investigations, but this position will primarily conduct investigations in the Eastern and Southeastern regions of North Carolina. At the time of hire, or no later than 12 months from the Special Agent’s first day of employment, the Special Agent is required to reside in one of the counties listed below: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Hoke, Jones, Lenior, Onslow, Duplin, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson, Sampson, or Scotland.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of progressive law enforcement including investigative and case preparation experience in the area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must meet certification as a Law Enforcement Officer in accordance with the provisions of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission or the ability to achieve certification within one year of employment, including any annual training requirement.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience performing and conducting criminal investigations as a Detective or Special Agent.
• Demonstrated experience in proper techniques for conducting criminal investigations, apprehending criminal suspects, and supporting the prosecution of individuals and/or corporate entities committing crimes.
• Demonstrated experience in gathering and analyzing evidence and presenting the investigative findings in an organized manner for potential prosecution.

Responsibilities

• Conducting criminal investigations into violations of the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act
• Completing accurate and detailed felony reports
• Providing testimony during court proceedings
• Maintaining a professional relationship with external and internal stakeholders
• Attempting service of process of Industrial Commission Orders to Appear

Benefits

• 12 Annual paid Holidays
• North Carolina State Health Plan administered by AETNA
• Supplemental Benefits including: Flexible Spending Accounts, Accident Insurance, Cancer & Specified Disease, Critical Illness, Dental and Vision
• NC State Retirement (TSERS)
• WeSave Employee Discounts

What This Job Offers

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