BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR

Overview BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR 1764 (Revised 07/01/26) Salary: $86,443.00 - $143,090.00 Annually Location: CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CA Job Type: FULL-TIME Job Number: 1764 O 2026/04/24 C Department: Public Safety Responsibilities 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. Minimum Qualifications 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. Licensing verification will occur at the time of filing (for internal use only). 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 online application BEFORE the application is submitted. If the license is attached AFTER submission, 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 filing by not attaching it will not be considered further in this examination. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr