Director of the Recruitment and Candidate Investigations

The New York City Department of Probation (DOP) seeks an experienced professional to serve as the Director of the Recruitment and Candidate Investigations within Human Resources. Reporting to the Assistant Commissioner, the selected candidate will exercise independent judgment and initiative while managing investigative operations to ensure policy compliance and operational efficiency.

The Unit will be responsible for recruiting, onboarding and vetting DOP job applicants and classes of candidates for Probation Officer and Probation Officer Trainees.

The Director will be responsible for overseeing and managing all facets of the candidate recruitment and background investigation process for individuals seeking employment with DOP. This role ensures that all investigations comply with legal requirements, departmental policies, and established timelines.

The Director will collaborate closely with the Assistant Commissioner of HR and senior leadership to enhance efficiency, maintain accuracy, and uphold the department’s commitment to selecting highly qualified and diverse candidates. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership abilities, extensive experience in recruitment and background investigations, and a deep knowledge of civil service and employment laws.

Additional Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To

• Oversee thorough background investigations, recruitment and onboarding of job candidates.
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance key performance indicators (KPIs), such as processing times, accuracy rates, and candidate retention, with continuous monitoring and adjustments to achieve divisional goals.
• Develop optimal agency recruitment strategies by reviewing the “as is” recruitment practice and making recommendations for modifications that will increase recruitment effectiveness and efficiency.
• Mentor, train, and evaluate staff performance, fostering a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Liaise with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), the New York City Automated Personnel System (NYCAPS), as it regards the Comprehensive Personnel System (CPS), to integrate technology throughout the hiring process and ensure continuous improvement by utilizing technological advances within the hiring process.
• Collaborate with legal and HR to resolve complex issues involving candidate backgrounds, such as criminal convictions, discrepancies in information, or other sensitive matters.
• Supervise recruiters/HR analysts, investigators, and interns ensuring staff stay motivated towards established goals through appropriate and equitable assignments, training and development.
• Report regularly to the Assistant Commissioner of HR on the status of background investigations, highlighting any delays, challenges, or trends in candidate data.
• Manage Special Projects: Manage special projects within Human Resources and Administration overall, handling requests from the Assistant Commissioner and serving as a trusted advisor.
  
  

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ANALYST CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OR BE PERMANENT IN A COMPARABLE TITLE ELIGIBLE.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ANALYST ( - 1002D

Minimum Qualifications

• A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, urban studies or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: working with the budget of a large public or private concern in budget administration, accounting, economic or financial administration, or fiscal or economic research; in management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation; in personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management; or in a related area. 18 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of professional experience in the areas described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory experience, as described in "1" above.
  
  

Preferred Skills

Knowledge of City laws, rules, procedures, and practices in pre-employment screening and hiring. Experience working with or managing processes in a public safety or emergency services environment. Familiarity with New York City employment and civil service laws. Proven leadership and team management abilities, with a track record of improving operational efficiency. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to collaborate across all levels of the organization and with external stakeholders. High level of integrity and discretion, with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information. Strong knowledge of technology tools related to investigations, case management systems, and database management.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.