Senior Investigator

Salary Range

94,702.40 - 114,982.40

Job Description

The Superior Court of California, County of Alameda is accepting applications for the position ofSenior Investigator within the Probate Division. Under direction, the Senior Investigator performs the most complex, difficult and specialized investigation activities; provides lead direction and training for Investigators; prepares reports and makes recommendations to the Court; performs other related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is the lead worker level in the Investigator classification series that reports to the Probate Court Manager. This position is distinguished from the lower level classification of Investigator in that the Senior Investigator is responsible for performing complex, difficult and specialized investigative duties; assists with planning, organizing, coordinating and assigns the work activities of the unit and provides guidance and direction to other Investigators. This classification is distinguished form the higher-level classification of Probate Court Manager in that the latter has full supervisory authority of the Investigators and Probate Examiners.

Example of Duties

NOTE: The following are duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all the duties listed.

1. Serves as an assistant to the Probate Court Manager; assists in the day-to-day operation of the Investigator’s Office, including planning, organizing, coordinating and assigning the work and caseload distribution among Investigators; serves as a coach in individual and team development; and may provide leadership or act in the Probate Court Manager’s absence.

2. Assists in developing, maintaining and updating training materials, procedures, policies, manuals and forms in response to changes in the law and/or court practices; assesses and makes recommendations on training needs.

3. Provides training, work leadership, direction, guidance and technical assistance within the Investigator’s Office; assists Investigators to resolve complex issues; monitors changes in the law; recommends policy and procedural changes required for compliance and initiates modifications after approval.

4. Interviews conservators, conservatees (who are primarily elderly or developmentally disabled) and other persons necessary in a variety of settings to obtain relevant case information; advises persons of legal rights; reviews medical records, petitions, accountings and reports; appoints legal counsel; and mediates disputes between contesting conservators in special cases as requested by the Court.

5. Conducts interviews of proposed guardians, wards and others residing in the home; reviews petitions; confers with attorneys, doctors, teachers, therapists and other parties; checks references; checks criminal records; makes recommendations to the court for best interests of the minor.

6. Writes reports for court hearings based on interviews and investigations; makes determinations and recommendations to the Court as appropriate in conservatorship and guardianship proceedings based on case assessment; attends court hearings; briefs judicial officers about particular cases; follows up on judicial officer orders.

7. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Option I

Education:

Possession of a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in a science, a social science, a behavioral science, liberal arts or nursing from an accredited educational institution.

And

Experience:

The equivalent to two years of full-time experience as an Investigator in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda.

Or Option II

Education:
Possession of a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in a science, a social science, a behavioral science, liberal arts or nursing from an accredited educational institution.

And

Experience:
The equivalent to four years of full-time professional level experience performing case or investigative analysis in a legal/judicial, law enforcement or social services setting.

In addition to the above, candidates must meet all of the qualifications of an Investigator as set forth in rule 10.777 of the California Rules of Court and any other applicable legal authority

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of California Probate Code, other California codes and court rules pertaining to probate matters; court procedures; legal and medical terminology and documents; interviewing techniques; problems of the elderly, developmentally disabled, and persons with a traumatic brain injury; children's needs and special interests; cross-cultural issues; general accounting procedures; correct English usage, punctuation, spelling and grammar; modern office equipment, including computer software programs, technology tools, fax machine and copier.

Ability to interview a variety of individuals including the elderly, developmentally disabled, children, and others in homes, hospitals, institutions, and other locations; understand, interpret and apply pertinent provisions of the Probate Code, Civil Code, and other California Codes, Judicial Council and Superior Court rules and procedures; understand complex issues; provide effective guidance and training to both investigators and administrative staff; interpret information from various sources, analyze problems and documents, and make appropriate recommendations; write comprehensive, factually accurate reports; plan and organize work to meet deadlines; establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with court officials, professionals, vendors, external agencies and the public; maintain confidentiality of information; operate modern office equipment including telephone, computer, printer, copies and fax machine.

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY:

Date established: 12/13/22

This position includes a one-year probationary period. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of fingerprint check and the provision of appropriately identifying documents to certify eligibility to work in the United States.

Hiring Process

The hiring process will include the following components:

• An initial screening of all application materials receivedincluding a completed application and supplemental questionnaire. A resume does not substitute for completing the application. An incomplete or partial application or supplemental questionnaire will result in disqualification.
• A review of the completed application and supplemental questionnaire to select the best-qualified candidates for the oral panel interview process.
• An oral interview that will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

The Court reserves the right to change the components of the examination process and may limit the number of candidates invited to the oral interview process to include only the best-qualified candidates should there be a large applicant pool.

The application and supplemental questionnaire are used to evaluate the candidate's qualifications. If you are interested in the opportunity, it is recommended that you submit your application and supplemental questionnaire as soon as possible since this recruitment may be closed at any time should the Court receive a sufficient number of qualified applicants.

If you require accommodation in the examination process because of disability, please call (510) 891-6021 to discuss.

Job Posting End Date

February 26, 2025

• 

• Superior Court of California, County of Alameda

• (510) 891-6019

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