Requisition No: 831932 

Agency: Florida Commission on Human Relations

Working Title: INVESTIGATION SPECIALIST I - 72002898

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 72002898 

Salary: $36,500.00 

Posting Closing Date: 07/01/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Commission on Human Relations

Employment Investigations Section

Investigation Specialist I

 *This position is eligible for telework*

In order to be considered for a position, applicant responses to the qualifying questions, software systems, actual work experience, years of employment and hours worked per week must be clearly defined within your work history listed on the application, or the applicant may not be considered for the position.

Investigation Specialist I

Position Number 72002898

Hiring Rate: $36,500.00 

About the Commission: 

The Florida Commission on Human Relations is the state agency charged with enforcing the state’s civil rights laws and serves as a resource on human relations for the people of Florida. It is against Florida law to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status or familial status. The Commission investigates complaints of discrimination in the areas of areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, and state employee whistle-blower retaliation.

The Commission is responsible for promoting fair treatment, equal opportunity, and mutual respect among members of all economic, social, racial, religious, and ethnic groups and works to eliminate discrimination against groups and their members.

What will I be doing?

This is an independent professional position as the Investigation Specialist I, conducting investigations about discrimination cases within the State of Florida. The incumbent will gather and record information accurately and thoroughly through interviews and or correspondence with parties involved in the investigation. This involves conducting research and collecting facts about any complaint assigned and incumbent must be able to write investigative reports within the statutory timeframes. The incumbent will testify and appear before the Commission panels and in civil court proceedings, and administrative hearings regarding investigative findings and recommendations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in legal or paralegal work, investigative work, human relations, human resources, regulatory inspections, social work, personnel, education, counseling, affirmative action (AA), equal employment opportunity (EEO), or in working in the juvenile or adult criminal justice system? OR Experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the college education.
• Experience conducting fact-finding interviews with members of the public to gather information.
• Experience writing detailed, analytical reports or analyses.
• Experience dealing with and analyzing large amounts of documentation.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge of basic investigations techniques, rules of evidence, court procedures and requirements.
• Skilled in using logic and reasoning.
• Skilled in utilizing techniques of active listening.
• Ability to conduct fact-finding interviews and take statements.
• Ability to use deductive reasoning.
• Ability to analyze informed and determine its a validity.
• Ability to write accurate investigation reports and present detailed verbal presentations.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to make independent decisions.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain a productive working relationship with others.

Can I be successful?
The ideal candidate for this position will:

• Be a strong communicator; utilizing active listening skills to ensure understanding, as well as excellent oral and written communication skills to effectively articulate and convey complex information so that it is readily understandable.
• Portray a positive, respectful, objective, and professional image to diverse individuals at all levels and handle sensitive and confidential situations and information with integrity, impartiality, discretion, and tact.
• Be solutions-oriented person with the ability to use critical thinking, judgment, and discretion to synthesize information from a variety of sources, understand and identify root causes of a situation, apply a comprehensive knowledge of employment laws and procedures, and make sound decisions and effective recommendations.
• Possess a strong work ethic and drive to move things forward under their own initiative; approach work with a sense of commitment, urgency, and personal accountability.
• Be able to effectively organize and manage a busy workload while remaining flexible and able to effectively incorporate changing priorities or conditions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in legal or paralegal work, investigative work, human relations, human resources, regulatory inspections, social work, personnel, education, counseling, affirmative action (AA), equal employment opportunity (EEO), or in working in the juvenile or adult criminal justice system? OR experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the college education.
• Experience conducting fact-finding interviews with members of the public to gather information.
• Experience writing detailed, analytical reports or analyses.
• Experience dealing with and analyzing large amounts of documentation. 
  
  **All responses provided to the qualifying questions for this vacancy advertisement must be verifiable on your State of Florida, Employment Application. **

General Information:
The elements of the selection process may include a skill assessment and/or oral interview.

All positions with the Florida Commission on Human Relations are positions of special trust. Therefore, the selected candidate must successfully pass a level two background screening (which includes fingerprinting) as a condition of employment. Applicants being considered for employment will be required to submit to a fingerprint-based background investigation, which will include a check of the criminal history records of the FBI.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System, (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending on the date of your retirement.

The State is a major employer in Florida offering many challenging and rewarding careers. Included among the many advantages of working for the State are the diverse and interesting job opportunities as well as competitive salaries, benefits, and career mobility.

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance Coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com);
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition Waivers and more!

For a more complete list of benefits, please visit https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/.

Making a Difference 

Learn about the 'Going Green' project and carpooling.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.