Job Posting: Investigations Chief

Department of Consumer Affairs

JC-536784
-
Investigations Chief
SUPERVISING SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR II (NON-PEACE OFFICER)

$8,709.00 - $11,370.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 11/5/2026

Job Description and Duties

In all job functions, employees are responsible for creating an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination. Employees are expected to provide all members of the public equitable services and treatment, collaborate with underserved communities and tribal governments, and work toward improving outcomes for all Californians. 

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey.


 CalCareers Exams: Once you find the job you want, we need to learn more about you. We will evaluate your education, experience, abilities, and knowledge through an assessment. The assessment process can take many forms, including an interview or exam, depending on the job.

The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (Bureau) (BPPE) is looking for a talented individual who is highly motivated, has excellent communication skills and wants to join a diverse, hard-working team.  If you can multi-task and have a strong desire to learn, we want to learn more about you.

Under the direction of the Deputy Bureau Chief (CEA), the Supervising Special Investigator II (SSI II) serves as the Chief Investigator and will oversee statewide enforcement investigations for approved and non-approved institutions in California. The SSI II interprets and explains the provisions of the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009, and the regulations of the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (Bureau); performs the more difficult and complex investigations; and assists the Deputy Bureau Chief in program planning, policy development and implementation and administrative duties including coordination with other state agencies regarding regulation enforcement. 

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

The incumbent works 40 hours per week in an office setting. Beginning July 1st, 2025, per Executive Order N-22-25, BPPE employees will be required to report into office four days a week.
 
The position is headquartered in Sacramento, CA.

Candidates who reside outside of the State of California may be admitted to the job interview. However, they must reside in the State of California once they are hired and start working.

Effective July 1, 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) which reduces an employee's monthly salary in exchange for leave credits. Employees appointed to this classification will have their monthly salary reduced and will accrue hours of PLP 2025 on the first day of each pay period as outlined on "Section 2113 - Personal Leave Program (PLP)" of the CalHR Manual. The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-536784
Position #(s):
644-150-8545-001
644-150-8545-XXX
Working Title:
Investigations Chief
Classification:
SUPERVISING SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR II (NON-PEACE OFFICER)
$8,709.00 - $11,370.00
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
Multiple
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Facility:
Bureau Private Postsecondary Education

Department Information

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) protects and serves California consumers while ensuring a competent and fair marketplace. DCA educates consumers and protects professionals from unfair competition by unlicensed practitioners. 

DCA is a unique and dynamic department consisting of 36 different boards, bureaus, a commission, and a program that license and regulate more than 3.4 million licensees in more than 280 license types including certificates, registrations, and permits. DCA has many exciting career opportunities available and is dedicated to hiring and retaining qualified employees.

The mission of the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education is to protect students and consumers through the oversight of California's private postsecondary educational institutions by conducting qualitative review of educational programs and operating standards, proactively combating unlicensed activity, impartially resolving student and consumer complaints, and conducting outreach. Further, the Bureau is responsible for enforcement of any violations of the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 through enforcement actions such as a  citation and fine and/or disciplinary action not limited to probation, surrender, or revocation of an institutions approval to operate. 
 
The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has many exciting career opportunities available and is dedicated to hiring and retaining qualified employees. DCA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in carrying out its consumer protection mission, and DCA solidifies this commitment starting with its recruitment efforts. DCA enriches its diversity through a workforce that reflects the population it serves, delivers successful results through inclusive team work where all contributions are valued, ensures every employee receives fair opportunities to succeed, and enables all employees to do their best by providing access to tools, resources, information, equipment and career development.

Special Requirements

Conflict of Interest: This position is subject to Title 16, section 3830 of the California Code of Regulations, the Department of Consumer Affairs' Conflict of Interest Regulations.  The incumbent is required to submit a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) within 30 days of assuming office, annually by April 1, and within 30 days of leaving office.

The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.

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: 11/5/2026

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 Consumer Affairs
Office of Human Resources
Attn: Recruitment Technician, JC-536784, WS
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-321
Sacramento, CA 95834

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Consumer Affairs
Office of Human Resources
Recruitment Technician, JC-536784, WS
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-321
Sacramento, CA 95834
The drop off location may be non-operational on weekends and holidays. 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM.
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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
  • Statement of Qualifications -

    A statement of qualifications is required for this position. Please refer to the Statement of Qualifications Requirement section for instructions.

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:
·  Knowledge and experience with development and coaching special investigators.
·  Demonstrated reliability, confidentiality, objectivity. Adheres to strict legal and organizational
standards
·  Demonstrates integrity and professionalism
·  Ability to interpret and apply State and Federal laws, rules, polices procedures and Collective 
Bargaining contracts.
·  Organizational skills and effective time management to complete daily assigned tasks.
·  Ability to develop policies and procedures.
·  Experience developing and implementing innovate solutions, analyzing complex problems, and 
effectively recommending courses of action.
·  Strong ability to produce detailed investigative reports and provide credible testimony in court or 
administrative hearings
·  Oversee planning, assignment, and completion of investigations, including referral to legal or 
criminal proceedings.
·  Establish investigation priorities and operations, refine protocols, ensure regulatory compliance.
·  Able to assess risks, prioritize actions, and make decisive and responsible decisions under pressure.
·  Manage budgets, staffing, and deadlines; monitor progress of complex investigative cases.
·  Work closely with legal teams, prosecutors, and other agencies; maintain external partnerships.
·  Ability to develop cooperative working relationships with representatives at all levels of 
government, the public, and internal stakeholders.
·  Excellent verbal and written skills for interviews, interagency coordination, training delivery, and 
reporting.
·  Comfortable with irregular schedules, on-call duties, and travel requirements.
·  Regulation and Legislation writing
·  Knowledge and experience using MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Nicole Principe
(279) 666-5878
nicole.principe@dca.ca.gov

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
(916) 574-8280
EEO@dca.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

Any applicant who fails to submit a statement of qualifications with responses to the specific questions will be automatically disqualified from this recruitment.  Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be considered as responses to the SOQ.
 
Instructions: Limit your response to two single-spaced pages, using Arial 12-point font and 1-inch margins. Provide answers to each question in a narrative, essay-style format (no bullet points or lists), and clearly number each response to show that each question has been addressed individually. 

1.  Describe your experience overseeing an investigations team. Specifically, how do you ensure cases are managed efficiently and that staff are supported when handling sensitive or heavy workloads? Please provide a real, specific example where your actions led to measurable improvements in timelines, accuracy, or overall work quality.

2.   Describe a complex investigation you've been responsible for. What made it challenging, and what steps did you take to guide the team and ensure the case was completed successfully? Please provide a real, specific example that demonstrates your leadership approach and it's impact on team performance.

Filing Instructions

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, as specified in the classification specification Job Descriptions (Class Specifications) - CalHR Website, please include a copy of your degree or unofficial transcripts with your application package. Please be aware that if you are selected for the position, you will be required to submit official sealed transcripts.
 
Using the online application system as specified in the announcement is the preferred method for applying for civil service job opportunities; however, applicants may instead apply by way of U.S. mail, parcel delivery or courier service, or in person, as set forth in this announcement.
 
Do not include confidential information such as social security numbers, date of birth, marital status, equal employment opportunity data, examination scores, and LEAP information.
 
Applicants who wish to submit hard copy applications shall use the most current version of the State application Examination and Employment Application.
 
Applicants who fail to submit the most current version of the STD. 678 may be disqualified.
Multiple positions may become available.
 
Electronic Submission:
Application and any applicable required documents may be submitted electronically through CalCareers account. The application packages must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. on the final filing date as state on the job vacancy announcement.
 
U.S Postal Service Mail:
Application and any applicable required documents may be submitted by mail. The envelope must be postmarked before or on the final filing date as stated on the job vacancy announcement.
 
Hand Delivery:
Application and any applicable required documents may be hand delivered by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date as stated on the job vacancy announcement. Application packages postmarked, personally delivered, or received via interagency mail after 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date will not be accepted for any reason. Do not submit applications to the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Drop off location may be non-operational on weekends and holidays.
 
Please note the CalCareer system will not allow you to make changes to your application information once it is submitted. If you have updates to your online application after you have submitted it, please contact jobpostings@dca.ca.gov.
 
For all other questions, regarding your CalHR CalCareer account, you may contact the CalCareer unit at (866)844-8671. 

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.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job