Investigator 3

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Office of Fraud and Accountability is seeking Criminal Investigator 3s to join our team investigating welfare and vendor fraud located in Renton. Kelso and/or Vancouver, WA. Join us in transforming lives!

Your investigations will involve all public assistance programs administered by DSHS, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medical Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Electronic Benefits Transfer misuse, and Childcare. Crimes investigated include theft, forgery, perjury, and violations pertaining to the unlawful receipt of public assistance monies and food stamps trafficking.

Some of what you will do:

• Conduct and resolve complex and difficult criminal welfare and vendor fraud in Intentional Overpayment Investigations
• Identify, gather, and preserve evidence to substantiate fraudulent receipt of public assistance benefits, and/or false/over-billing
• Prepare search warrant affidavits and execute search warrants with assistance from law enforcement
• Use a combination of computer-based searches, fieldwork, and interviews to identify leads
• Research and interpret technical, business, and financial records from multiple sources
• Analyze and evaluate the relevance, reliability, credibility, and admissibility of evidence
• Interact with the public, clients, law enforcement, and agency personnel
• Conduct interviews on the telephone, in the field, and in Community Services Offices at various locations
• Conduct interviews of witnesses and obtain oral and/or written statements regarding criminal cases
• Advise suspects of their Miranda rights warnings verbally and in writing
• Conduct surveillance and manage confidential informants alongside law enforcement
• Prepare a detailed, clear, objective, thorough, and comprehensive criminal investigative report
• Write probable cause statements and testify regarding investigative work
• Report safety incidents or concerns to management

Who should apply?

We’re looking for professionals with:

Two years of experience as an Investigator 2 in Washington state service.

OR

Five years of experience as an investigator with a criminal justice government agency, private organization, or another directly allied field of which three years must include field experience.

(Two years of college-level coursework in business administration, public administration, law, criminal justice, or an allied field may substitute for one year of the above experience).

Desired

• Experience using computer databases to develop leads; locating individuals and/or assets; analyzing complex information; reviewing policies, procedures, laws, and/or rules for benefit eligibility and/or vendor provider contract requirements; conducting interviews, including, but not limited to the following examples: program/performance audits, contract billing/compliance, economic/financial crimes; and public assistance, child support, unemployment, or worker’s compensation benefits fraud investigations
• Knowledge of: Methods, principles, standards, and techniques of investigations; interview techniques, rules of evidence; a chain of custody of evidence; laws of search and seizure; Miranda Warning; Applicable Washington State statutes and Federal and State regulations, DSHS regulations, and policies related to public assistance eligibility, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food assistance, medical assistance, general assistance, and childcare assistance
• Knowledge of contracting policies, billing practices, and/or financial statements

Interested? 

Please include the following with your application:

• A letter of interest detailing how your experience pertains to this job
• Three professional references with current contact information

Our Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) mission to Transform Lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s mission that you bring equity, anti-racism, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.


Questions?  Please contact matthew.freeman@dshs.wa.gov or call 360-725-5816 and reference job number 11937.