SPECIAL AGENT

Arizona Department of Administration • Phoenix, AZ

1d • $78,540 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office Criminal Division/Special Investigations Section is seeking a Special Agent in the Tobacco Enforcement Unit (TEU). This position will be assigned to the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Unit and will investigate civil and criminal violations of state tobacco laws and violations of the Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement. The Special Agent will effectively function as a member of a team and participate in collaborative problem solving, taking a leadership role as needed, and supporting the over-arching goal of the program to reduce youth access to tobacco and vapor products. The Special Agent will travel throughout the state to conduct tobacco and vapor product retailer compliance inspections and investigate leads regarding the unlawful marketing or sales of tobacco or vapor products, including investigations of online tobacco and vapor product vendors, and issue court citations as needed. This position requires the ability to work as a team consisting of federal, state, local and school officials, as well as direct supervision of undercover youth volunteers from across the state. The TEU Special Agent is responsible for recruitment and training of the UC volunteers, and must exhibit a strong ability to assess each inspection site for issues of officer safety to ensure the wellbeing of the inspection team. Inspections are conducted in all fifteen (15) Arizona counties and may require extensive travel and occasional overnight stays.

Requirements

• Knowledge of pertinent statutes and regulations governing the manufacture, sale, advertising, and distribution of tobacco products, as well as the Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement.
• Knowledge to prepare investigative reports, spreadsheets, subpoenas, demand letters, exhibits and other documents as required by the prosecutor, investigator, or other investigative or regulatory agency.
• Knowledge of policies and procedures established for the State of Arizona, Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection & Advocacy Section and the Special Investigations Section.
• Basic knowledge of accounting, bookkeeping, and bank account reconciliation procedures.
• Law enforcement investigative experience conducting interviews, gathering evidence, writing reports, and testifying in court.
• Interview and interrogation skills.
• Effective communication skills to coordinate and act as liaison with other law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
• Mathematical skills to perform financial and statistical calculations.
• Time management skills to effectively plan, coordinate, and execute tobacco operations.
• Computer skills using Excel, Word, and in-house software programs such as CMS 2.
• Ability to conduct interviews and file written reports.
• Ability to effectively communicate findings to others orally or in writing.
• Ability to analyze financial records, invoices, and other business documents.
• Ability to communicate and work with high school aged children.
• Ability to effectively organize and manage law enforcement operations such as tobacco sting operations.
• Ability to handle and account for cash.
• Travel is required for this position.
• A valid Arizona Driver’s License is required, along with consent to have your driving record run periodically.
• Requires certification by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (A.Z P.O.S.T.). Applicants must be a certified Arizona peace officer in good standing or be eligible to obtain Arizona peace officer certification via the AZPOST waiver process within 90 days of hire date. To be eligible, a person must have previously served as a certified peace officer in Arizona, another state, or federal agency; must have completed basic and advanced training that demonstrates substantial comparability to the Arizona basic course; and must meet all of the minimum qualifications for certification as an Arizona Peace Officer.
• All peace officer applicants under serious consideration for hire with the Attorney General's Office are required to be fingerprinted, complete a criminal background check, pass a polygraph test, and complete a medical examination.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Nice To Haves

• A thorough understanding of Arizona laws as they pertain to tobacco and vapor product sales.
• An understanding of specialized equipment used in covert operations would be beneficial but not required.
• A Bachelor's degree plus at least two years professional work experience.
• Five years in law enforcement with investigative experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interviews, review bank records, financial statements, invoices and other documents and prepare reports based on information obtained, and will prepare exhibits and provide testimony in court as necessary.
• Recruit and train youth volunteers throughout the state to assist with conducting tobacco and vapor product retailer compliance inspections, and will track and maintain records of all youth volunteers participating in the program.
• Plan, coordinate, and participate in tobacco and vapor product inspections and other related operations with other law enforcement and local and county agencies as needed.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of all tobacco and vapor product operations conducted and funds expended for the purchase of such products in those operations.
• Properly store and track evidence and dispose of evidence when it is no longer needed.
• Attend meetings with ADHS, Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Diseases (BTCD) representatives, and youth agencies, and participate in training workshops as necessary in furtherance of the objectives of the Tobacco Enforcement Unit.
• Manage, organize and maintain computer files to permit periodic analysis and prompt retrieval of financial records, preparing detailed exhibits relative to financial records for court purposes, serving subpoenas on financial institutions, businesses and state agencies as necessary.
• Participate in tactical operations and search/seizure warrants for the Section as necessary to obtain, secure and process evidence.
• Be safety conscious and use proper work methods by following standard police policies and procedures.
• Be accountable for usage and knowledge of all specialized equipment, such as covert transmitters, radios, and weapons.
• Plan and coordinate statewide tobacco retailer inspections, and conduct online tobacco vendor investigations, as requested. Participate in the field inspections, issue citations, and testify in court, as required.
• Conduct training and presentations throughout the State to provide education on tobacco laws and recruit youth volunteers.
• Act as liaison with other law enforcement, regulatory, and youth agencies throughout the State in executing tobacco operations.
• Design and maintain databases, documents and records on youth volunteers, tobacco retailer inspections conducted, evidence obtained, buy money, and program equipment, using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or other AGO/TEU software programs, as required.
• Attend tobacco program related strategy meetings, youth summit meetings, and training workshops. Attend general AGO division, section, and unit meetings, workshops, and training sessions.
• Assist in tactical operations and search/seizure warrants to secure and process evidence. Participate and respond to any duty agent calls during assigned SIS Duty Agent rotation.
• Attend required training to ensure compliance with Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training certification.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Benefits

• Student Loan Assistance
• Sick leave
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program)
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

What This Job Offers

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