Sr. Investigator & Legal Analyst- Ethics Commission (1823)

Company Description

Category 18:

Temporary Exempt position, special project-based position limited to no more than 3 years in duration. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process, is considered "at will" and shall serve at the discretion of the Department Head.

Application Opening: May 21, 2025

Application Deadline: Continuous, earliest close 5:00p.m., June 13, 2025

Compensation Range: $119,444- $145,158

Recruitment ID: RTF0153838-01149105

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 promote the highest standards of integrity in government. We achieve that 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.

The successful candidate should expect to perform their duties in a hybrid work environment with at least three days onsite per week per current City policy. Additionally, any City employee may be called in for Disaster Service Work duty or to work onsite with 24-hours’ notice.

Job Description

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 potential violations of the law to ensure that those who violate the law are held publicly accountable for their actions, which can include imposition of monetary penalties levied by the five-member Ethics Commission as provided for under the law.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Commission is seeking a Senior Investigator & Legal Analyst with solid analytical and investigative skills, exceptional judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to accountable government to perform 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. 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). All positions at the Ethics Commission are required to comply with the department’s Statement of Incompatible Activities.

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.
• Identify potential violations of the law, both by evaluating complaints filed with the Commission and through proactive investigative work.
• 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.
• Prepare probable cause report, responses to rebuttals, pre-hearing briefs, witness lists and exhibits, motions, and other legal documents necessary to obtain a complete administrative record.
• Represent the Division before the five-member Commission at administrative hearings, including by offering objections, taking testimony, submitting written and oral evidence, and providing oral argument.
• In coordination with the Director of Enforcement develop, negotiate, and present written stipulated settlements for Commission consi