BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR 1764 (Revised 07/01/26)

About the role

ANNUAL SALARY $86,443 to $119,684; $86,484 to $126,449; $97,864 to $143,090

Notes

• Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
• Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade position.

Duties

A Background Investigator is a civilian employee who conducts and compiles personal and professional background investigations for public safety candidates by interviewing employers, co-workers, neighbors, law enforcement officials, military personnel, members of the candidate’s family, and personal references; prepares reports on findings; makes recommendations as to background findings; and performs other related duties. Background Investigators in the higher pay grades may supervise or act as a head worker to staff involved in the above duties.

• Five years of full-time paid experience within the last ten years as a California peace officer that includes experience in background investigations for employment, internal affairs investigations, or in-depth investigations of criminal matters; or
• A valid Private Investigator’s license issued by the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services; or
• 900 cumulative hours of paid experience within the last five years conducting background investigations for public safety positions while employed with the City of Los Angeles.

Process Notes

• As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required. Applicants will be disqualified and candidates will not be eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI or DWI in any state or jurisdiction. Notice of disqualification or ineligibility for hire may be issued by the City of Los Angeles at any time before a final job offer is extended.
• For Internal Use Only: Licensing verification will occur at the time of filing.
• Applicants filing under Requirement #2 must submit a copy of their valid Private Investigator’s license at the time of filing. The copy of the license must be attached to the on-line application BEFORE the application is submitted. If the license is attached AFTER the on-line application has been submitted, it will not be available to the City and applicants WILL NOT be credited with having submitted it. Applicants who fail to submit the license at the time of filing by not attaching it to the on-line application will not be considered further in this examination and their application will not be processed.
• Upon appointment, Background Investigators employed by the Personnel Department will be required to provide an automobile, properly insured, for use in City service. Mileage will be paid in accordance with established rates.
• Some initial appointments are anticipated to be made on a part-time basis.
• Work location is Downtown Los Angeles. However, Background Investigators in the course of performing field investigations will be required to drive to areas outside of downtown Los Angeles.
• Prior to appointment, a thorough and comprehensive Background Investigation will be conducted.

Selective Certification

In accordance with Charter Section 1010 (b) and Civil Service Rule 5.31, selective certification will be used for some positions that require special skills and/or training. For such positions, only applicants who have successfully completed the following course within the last five (5) years at the time of filing may be considered.

California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Background Investigation Course.

Applicants must attach a copy of the certificate of course completion to the on-line application at the time of filing. The certificate must be attached to the on-line application BEFORE the application is submitted. If the certificate is attached AFTER the on-line application has been submitted, it will not be available to the City and applicants WILL NOT be credited with having submitted the certificate. Applicants who fail to submit the certificate at the time of filing by not attaching it to the online application will not be considered for this part of selective certification.

Applications will only be accepted on-line. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the “Apply” icon.

Note

Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.

Application Deadline

• This examination may close without prior notice at any time after a sufficient number of applications have been received. For administrative purposes, filing may close periodically and reopen the following day.
• Examination Weight: Essay - Advisory

Interview - 100%

The examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of professional and personal qualifications by interview.

In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Judgment and Decision Making; Attention to Detail; Self-Management; Fact Finding; Interpersonal Skills; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: objective symptoms of use of alcohol and commonly used controlled substances sufficient to recognize when a person may be under the influence; interviewing techniques sufficient to obtaining necessary background information; investigative techniques and concepts of background investigations to collect accurate and complete information; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Prior to the interview, applicants will be required to prepare some written material related to the duties and responsibilities of a Background Investigator. This essay material will not be separately scored, but will be presented to the interview board for review and consideration, which may include discussion, in the overall evaluation of the candidate.

Those who do not complete the advisory essay will not be invited to the interview and will be considered to have failed the entire examination. To be considered complete, the advisory essay must include a substantive response for each question or problem included in the advisory essay for which a candidate is required to provide an answer.

Please note that applicants must complete the advisory essay and meet minimum qualifications as stated on this bulletin in order to be considered further in the examination process.

The advisory essay will be administered on-line. Applicants invited to participate in the examination will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the specific steps needed to complete the on-line advisory essay. Additional instructions will be sent via e-mail. Applicants who fail to complete the advisory essay as instructed may be disqualified.

Notes

• This examination is based on a validation study.
• As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application.
• Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on the bulletin.
• A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.
• You may take this examination once a year (365 calendar days). Your name may be removed from the open competitive eligible list after 6 months.
• Your rank on the employment list may change as scores of candidates from other administrations of this examination are merged onto one list.
• In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22 and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.

Notice

If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage, as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.