Senior Investigator & Legal Analyst - SF Ethics Commission (TEX 1823)

Company Description

• Application Opening: August 13, 2026
• Application Deadline: Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time, but no earlier than Thursday, September 3, 2026.
• Compensation Range: $126,126 to $153,296

Appointment Type: This is a Temporary Exempt (TEX) Category 17 Appointment from Civil Service rules pursuant to San Francisco Charter Section 10.104-17. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. Duration of this Temporary Exempt Category 17 appointment is limited to two (2) years per CSC Rule 114, Article VI, Sec. 114.26.7.

ABOUT THE COMMISSION

The San Francisco Ethics Commission was created by the City’s voters with the passage of Proposition K in November 1993. Our mission is to practice and promote the highest standards of integrity in government. We achieve that by shaping and promoting compliance with the laws and by delivering impactful programs that promote fair, transparent, and accountable governmental decision making for the benefit of all San Franciscans. The Ethics Commission is responsible for the independent and impartial administration and enforcement of laws related to campaign finance, public financing of candidates, governmental ethics, conflicts of interest, and registration and reporting by lobbyists, campaign consultants, permit consultants, and major developers.

ABOUT THE TEAM

To fulfill the Ethics Commission’s oversight mandate as an independent administrative enforcement agency, the Enforcement Division is charged with ensuring fair, thorough, and timely investigations and case outcomes that serve as an effective deterrent and promote accountability in government. The Division has responsibility to identify, investigate, and pursue penalties for unlawful conduct within the scope of the Commission’s jurisdiction. The Division’s investigators are responsible for fully and objectively investigating and resolving potential violations of the law to ensure that those who violate the law are held publicly accountable for their actions.

Job Description

The Commission is seeking a Senior Investigator & Legal Analyst with solid analytical, legal, and investigative skills, exceptional judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to accountable government to perform and resolve highly complex, sensitive, and detailed investigations. As a member of the Enforcement Division, the Senior Investigator & Legal Analyst will play a central role in developing the Commission’s capacity to identify, investigate, and resolve matters of significant complexity and heightened public harm, including by initiating new matters based on self-generated leads. In particular, the individual in this position will specialize in legal analysis and case resolution, including negotiating settlements with respondents, drafting probable cause reports and hearing briefs, and arguing cases at administrative hearings before the Ethics Commission.

This position reports to the Ethics Commission’s Director of Enforcement.

As with all positions at the Ethics Commission, the Senior Investigator & Legal Analyst must be willing to forego involvement in all local political activity while a member of the Commission staff and publicly file an annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700).

Important and Essential Duties

Essential duties of the position include but are not limited to the following:

• Conduct complex investigations of alleged violations of ethics, conflicts of interest, campaign finance, lobbying, whistleblower protection, and public disclosure laws.
• Develop legal strategy to evaluate allegations, evidence, applicable law, regulations, and policies and apply sound independent judgment to determine case resolution strategy, including identifying matters to be prosecuted before the five-member Commission.
• Communicate with the subjects of investigations and their representatives regarding case resolution options, based on a full assessment of the facts, law, and evidence, and negotiate and draft settlement agreements.
• In coordination with the Director of Enforcement develop, negotiate, and present written stipulated settlements for Commission consideration.
• Prepare probable cause reports, responses to rebuttals, pre-hearing briefs, witness lists and exhibits, motions, and other legal documents necessary to obtain a complete administrative record.
• Present cases before the Executive Director and the Ethics Commission through formal conferences and hearings as needed.
• Represent the Division before the five-member Commission at administrative heari