Background Investigator

The Littleton Police Department is seeking an experienced Background Investigator. This temporary position will work on an as needed basis and are responsible for conducting pre-employment personal background investigations of potential Police Department employees, to obtain information about an individual's character, personal, and professional history to determine the suitability of candidates for employment.

This is a great opportunity for someone with background or general investigation experience to assist the Littleton Police Department in selecting the very best candidates for our team. The Littleton Police Department is a CALEA accredited law enforcement agency and we are proud of our highly trained officers and staff for consistently achieving full accreditation.

The City of Littleton is a vibrant community south of Denver and is consistently voted as one of America’s Best Small Cities, and a top place to raise a family. Learn more about everything Littleton has to offer at VisitLittleton.org. Home to a vibrant and historic downtown, and a variety of shopping venues, restaurants, parks and trails, there is a lot to offer to the wonderful people who live and work here. The City of Littleton offers outstanding benefits and perks to our employees. For more information, see the 2025 Benefit Guide.

Starting pay at or near $33.25 - $37.00 per hour

This temporary position is non-exempt per FLSA and is eligible for overtime compensation.

Work Schedule:  This temporary part-time position will work on an as needed basis.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified or the position is filled, but preference will be given to complete applications received by January 8, 2025. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Determines the veracity of information offered by the candidate in a personal history statement.

• Contacts, in person, personal and professional references listed by candidates to make inquiries as to their suitability for employment. In the event it is not practical to make personal contact with the reference, the investigator may contact by mail or telephone.

• Establishes references and contacts not listed by the candidate to secure information which will project an accurate image of the candidate’s work ethic, criminal activity, financial responsibility, education, and other aspects of the candidate’s life.

• May travel to locations previously and currently listed as residence and places of employment to interview those familiar with candidate history.

• Solicits information regarding candidates in the form of questionnaires to be included in final report.

• Maintains thorough documentation and logs all background investigation activities including contact with references, inquiries, and responses.

• Collects personal documents and certified copies of personal documents for verification of authenticity.

• Takes candidate fingerprints for submittal to CBI and FBI for criminal history checks.

• Completes submittal quality report on findings of background investigation and submits summary report of areas of interest and/or areas of concern.

• Utilizes other than traditional methods for gathering information including internet, personal information data companies, personal records, court records, utility/services records, and various other resources.

• Performs other similar duties and projects as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent; and

• Minimum three (3) of years work experience conducting background investigations in Law Enforcement or the United States Military; or

• An equivalent combination of education, training and work experience that produces the knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position.

• Must complete 8-hour training for background investigation.

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment criminal background investigation and polygraph exam.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Recent sworn law enforcement experience within the last Five (5) years

ANTICIPATED HIRING PROCESS:

• Application Review - reviewed by the Support Services Coordinator

• Interviews - panel interviews 

• Background Investigation - Qualified candidates assigned to an investigator

• Polygraph Evaluation - scheduled during background investigation process

• Offer - made at conclusion

The expected duration of the hiring process is 6 to 12 weeks. Applicants who enter the process but are not selected for employment are not eligible to re-apply for the same position with the City of Littleton for one year.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Ability to conduct effective interviews with candidates and references.

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, and ability to maintain thorough documentation and create comprehensive background investigation reports.

• Strong organization and time management skills.

• Demonstrated knowledge of proper background investigative techniques, resources and protocol.

• Demonstrated knowledge of values and personal qualities required for employment to make judgments regarding suitability of candidate for employment.

• Technical skills and ability to use Microsoft Office 365 to write and create background investigation reports.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

• The majority of this work is performed indoors in a standard indoor working environment with occasional activities performed outdoors, with exposure to extreme heat or cold with and without temperature changes.

• Frequently travels by car to location where personal interviews are conducted (may include out of state travel).

• Physical requirements include occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects weighing up to 50 pounds with or without assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Littleton is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and intends to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and job applicants regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other non-job related characteristic, and to hire and retain the best-qualified individuals without regard to any of these factors. This prohibition includes unlawful harassment based on a protected class.

The City of Littleton will consider reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process and employment. Applicants and employees can request an accommodation by contacting Human Resources at 303-795-3857 or emailing hr@littletongov.org.

Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace

The City of Littleton is committed to the health and safety of all its employees. To ensure a safe and productive work environment the city prohibits the use, sale, dispensation, manufacture, distribution or possession of alcohol, drugs, controlled substances or drug paraphernalia on any city premises or worksites. No employee shall report to work or be at work with alcohol or with any detectable amount of prohibited drugs in the employee's system. A detectable amount refers to the standards generally used in workplace drug & alcohol testing. This prohibition specifically includes marijuana, and decriminalized psychedelics whether used for medical purposes or obtained legally under state law.