Special Agent

The Special Agent will conduct criminal, civil and special investigations under the direction of a Special Agent Supervisor (SAS) in the Bureau of Investigation. Duties may include, but are not limited to: conducting overt and covert criminal investigations of Narcotics related to the Fentanyl Enforcement Program; preparing written investigative reports; gathering evidence, including photographic and digital evidence; using and maintaining investigative and protective equipment; coordinating investigations with other law enforcement agencies; testifying in court and grand jury proceedings; filing complaints for prosecution with local district attorneys and federal prosecutors; making arrests as a result of investigations; conducting training for peace officers and other Special Agents; assuming the duties of a SAS when delegated, and performing other duties as required.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Working Conditions
**Travel away from home and Overtime may be required.


Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SPECIAL AGENT, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-535792


Position #(s):
419-875-8482-003

Working Title:
Special Agent


Classification:
SPECIAL AGENT, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE $7,454.00 - $10,351.00 A
$8,592.00 - $12,834.00 B
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.


# of Positions:
1


Work Location:
Sacramento County


Telework:
In Office


Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time


Work Shift:
Day


Work Week:
Monday-Friday


Department Information

• Position is located in the Division of Law Enforcement, Bureau of Investigation, Fentanyl Enforcement Program.

• For more information about the Special Agent position please visit the Attorney General's website at Become a DOJ Special Agent .

• For more information about the Department please visit the Attorney General's website .

• The office location for this position is in Sacramento .

• Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR .

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a Drug Screening be passed prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) Psychological Evaluation clearance prior to being hired.

• Candidates must have an active current California POST Basic or Specialized Certificate which meets Penal Codes 830.1, 830.2 or 830.3 or equivalent in order to be considered.
• Candidates who are interested in the Special Agent position must meet the minimum qualifications in order to be considered. The minimum qualifications for the Special Agent classification can be found at: Special Agent, Department of Justice Series .
• Candidates who do not meet the minimum qualifications and are not in the process of obtaining list eligibility will not be considered.

Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications must have list, reinstatement or lateral transfer eligibility .

• List eligibility: Candidates who are not current state peace officers with lateral transfer eligibility and who do not have reinstatement rights to the Special Agent classification must obtain list eligibility prior to appointment. This will apply to most local and out-of-state peace officers. If you need to take the exam, please see the "Exam Information" section below.
• Reinstatement: Former Department of Justice Special Agents may have permissive or mandatory reinstatement rights to the classification.
• Lateral transfer: Candidates who are currently employed by the State of California may be eligible to laterally transfer to the Special Agent classification. Transfer eligibility depends upon the applicant's current classification.

Exam Information


In order to apply for a Special Agent position with the Department of Justice, Division of Law Enforcement, interested individuals with no prior state service must first take the Special Agent Exam.


More information regarding the Special Agent Exam can be found on the Attorney General's website .

Out-of-State Candidates


Out-of-state peace officers who are interested in the Special Agent classification, including federal peace officers, will have to obtain a valid California POST Basic Certificate or a Basic Course Waiver. Information regarding the Basic Course Waiver can be found at the California POST website: Basic Course Waiver Process . Candidates who have, or will need, a Basic Course Waiver must still take the Special Agent Exam to get on the Special Agent List. Candidates who are in the process of obtaining a Basic Course Waiver may take the Special Agent Exam and apply for vacant positions before the waiver is granted, but no job offers will be extended until a valid California POST Basic Course Waiver or Basic Certificate is obtained.

Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 11/2/2026
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s). Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).


How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:


Address for Mailing Application Packages


You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:


Department of Justice
DLE-Violetta Santillano
Attn: Violetta Santillano
Department of Justice/DLE - OC - Personnel Services Unit
1300 I Street, Suite 1140
Sacramento , CA 95814


Address for Drop-Off Application Packages


You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:


Department of Justice
DLE-Violetta Santillano
Violetta Santillano
Department of Justice/DLE - OC - Personnel Services Unit
1300 I Street, Suite 1140
Sacramento , CA 95814


08:00 AM - 05:00 PM


Required Application Package Documents


The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Other - Provide a current active copy of your California POST profile or Specialized certificate which meets Penal Codes 830.1, 830.2 or 830.3 or equivalent in order to be considered.
• Statement of Qualifications - Applicants must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) describing their investigative experience.The response should clearly identify your individual contributions and the results achieved. Statements that merely summarize duties listed in a resume will not be considered responsive and may be disqualified. The SOQ must be no more than one page single-spaced using 12 point Arial font. The response must address the following:
  • Describe your coordination with other investigators, analysts, prosecutors, local, state, or federal law-enforcement agencies, task forces, or other partners. Explain your responsibility for coordinating those resources as the lead investigator.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.


Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:


Candidates with significant investigative experience in N arcotics enforcement are strongly encouraged to apply.


Two or more years of experience conducting large-scale narcotics investigations is highly desirable. Experience should include complex investigations involving major drug trafficking organizations, multi-jurisdictional enforcement operations, surveillance, search warrants, confidential sources, and the identification and investigation of individuals involved in the trafficking and distribution of controlled substances.


Excellent written and oral communication skills; strong analytical skills; good research skills; effective time-management and organizational skills. Investigative experience with willingness to conduct high-volume, short-term field investigations and complex, long-term investigations. Ability to effectively communicate and demonstrate good judgment when interacting with the public and professional staff; work well under pressure and meet deadlines; possess integrity and the ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, and good attendance. Ability to work both independently and as a team member; carry out prescribed tasks with minimal supervision; be a self-starter, flexible, and have a positive attitude. Experience working in multi-jurisdictional enforcement efforts; covert and specialized surveillance; collection and analysis of evidence and establishing close working relationships with all levels of law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Flexibility and willingness to work long and unusual hours in high-crime areas of the state, and the ability to respond quickly and efficiently to requests for assistance with high-profile and/or violent crime events.


Benefits Benefit Information - Please access this link for information on benefits afforded to employees who work for the State of California - State Civil Service Employee Benefits Summary .



Contact Information
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Hiring Unit Contact:
Violetta Santillano
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Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
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California Relay Service: View phone number on click.appcast.io (TTY), View phone number on click.appcast.io (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.


Additional Information on Application Filing
Please note, if using the United States Postal Service for delivery, there is no guarantee that your application will be date stamped and will arrive by the final filing date. If your application does not have a postmark or date stamp and arrives after the final filing date, your application will not be accepted. Therefore, to ensure timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use either electronic delivery, parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof of delivery prior to the final filing date.



Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.


It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.