Background Investigations Unit Manager

Salary: $105,497.60 - $128,211.20 Annually
Location : City of Reno, NV
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 764925
Department: Police
Opening Date: 03/14/2025
Closing Date: 3/19/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Join the City of Reno and become part of an amazing team who strives every day to make our community a place we are all proud to call home.

The background Investigations Unit Manager oversees the background investigations unit, including supervising staff, planning and organizing background investigations, and ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, rules, and regulations. This role conducts complex and sensitive background investigations for City of Reno employees, including sworn and unsworn positions, volunteers, and contractors. As the background investigations unit manager, the incumbent acts as a liaison between the department and other law enforcement departments, municipalities, and government entities, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

We currently have one vacancy in the Reno Police Department in which hiring will begin immediately following the close of this recruitment. This recruitment will also establish a list for future vacancies, which will be filled as they occur.
This is an open competitive opportunity for all qualified applicants.
The City of Reno is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to everyone. This commitment is an integral part of our efforts to ensure that we have a diverse and representative workforce that serves the community of Reno.
Examples of Essential Functions

• Plan, organize, assign, and review the work of background investigations unit staff, ensuring effective and timely completion of investigations.
• Evaluate employee performance, provide training on office and departmental procedures, and initiate disciplinary actions as needed.
• Manage work schedules, approve leave requests, and monitor workload distribution to maintain efficiency.
• Perform complex and sensitive background investigations for City of Reno personnel, including applicants, volunteers, and contractors, verifying information such as employment history, criminal records, and references.
• Analyze and interpret data collected from various sources to determine candidate suitability according to departmental and regulatory standards.
• Act as the department's designated liaison with local, state, and federal agencies, overseeing the department's access to criminal records systems and compliance with all applicable policies.
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures for the background investigations unit in alignment with federal, state, and departmental regulations.
• Conduct internal compliance audits to identify and address any misuse or policy violations and prepare documentation to support department audits by external agencies.
• Maintain comprehensive records, ensuring the secure storage, retrieval, and destruction of sensitive information according to agency retention policies.
• Coordinate with department leadership to provide insights from background investigations that aid in personnel placement and hiring decisions.
• Represent the background investigations unit in meetings and serve as a resource on compliance and investigative best practices for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Liaise with other agencies and departments to facilitate interdepartmental cooperation and support emergency placement and licensing decisions, as needed.
• Design and deliver training for staff on policies, background investigation techniques, and system usage to ensure compliance with federal and state mandates.
• Develop, update, and distribute departmental manuals and training materials related to criminal record access, confidentiality, and procedural guidelines.
• Establish office protocols for handling background investigations, document security, and policy compliance.
• Continuously review and enhance internal processes to ensure efficient operations and compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

The following minimum qualifications are required to be met at the time of application.

Education:
Graduation from high school or equivalent.

Experience:
Four years of professional experience conducting background investigations within a law enforcement or government agency, including experience with complex and sensitive cases.

Licenses and Certifications:
Must possess a valid driver's license or otherwise demonstrate the ability to independently get to and from multiple work locations as required.

Requirements of the Position:
NCIC Certification is required within six months of hire.
Supplemental Information
To Apply:
Please submit your completed application and all additional information/documentation requested online at www.reno.gov/jobs by March 19, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If a computer or mobile device is not available to you, suggested locations to complete an online application submittal include: the City of Reno City Hall 2nd floor computer kiosk or 5th floor Civil Service Offices, any locations of Nevada Job Connect or any local library or educational facility.

If you are having difficulty logging into your profile, please call the applicant support line at 855-524-5627.

Examination Process:Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and pass the examination for this position to be eligible for hire. The examination will consist of a Training and Experience evaluation (T&E) weighted at 100%.

Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) Details:
The T&E examination consists of a Supplemental Questionnaire. The questions may be viewed online under the tab marked "QUESTIONS" on the job announcement page. The T&E must be submitted online at the time of application.

• Responses to your T&E questions should be consistent with the information given in your application details. Answers are subject to verification.
• Failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score; therefore, it is advantageous for you to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question.
• In order to receive credit for education or training, you must attach copies of your transcripts, diploma, or relevant certificates to your online application.
• Resumes or questionnaires uploaded as attachments to the application will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question online.
• "See Resume" or "See above," etc., are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.
• Changes or corrections to your responses cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.
• TIP: It may be more efficient to develop your responses in a word processing document and then paste them into the online questionnaire to be submitted.

Notification:
Applicants are notified by email of their examination results. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications will also be notified within two weeks of the job posting closing.

Testing Accommodation:
We strive to ensure equal access for all individuals. If you require accommodations due to a disability, we encourage you to inform the by the closing date of this announcement. Your request will be handled with confidentiality and respect.

Employee/Veteran Preference in the Event of Tie Scores:
In the event of tie scores resulting from an open competitive examination (Rule VII, Section 7), candidates will be provided a rank preference in the following order:

Classified employees with established veteran status

Classified employees without veteran status

Non-classified employees and external candidates with established veteran status.

This preference will only be administered in the event of tie scores. Documentation must be submitted at the time of application.

Seniority Points:
Classified employees of the City of Reno shall receive seniority credit computed by adding to a passing score as follows:

The final ranking will include the applicable seniority points added to the overall grade of the examination process. For each full year of continuous service completed, 0.2 points will be added up to a maximum of ten (10) years... 2 points will be the maximum.

Rule VIII - Promotion, Section 9. Seniority Credit.

Appointment and Certification:
Appointments to positions in the City's Civil Service system are made on the basis of examination. Scores resulting from a competitive examination are used in determining a person's rank on an eligible register. The department may hire any of the persons referred. The names of those persons not hired may be considered when the next vacancy occurs, for as long as that register is viable.

Questions and Updates:
Questions about the information on this announcement and updates to application information should be directed to Civil Service at (775) 334-2223 or

The City of Reno is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, retention, and disciplinary decisions will be made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association, or any other protected class status applicable under federal or state law or City Charter.
Please use this Health and Welfare Benefit Link to learn more about the City of Reno's great employee benefit plans and wellness programs.
01

Minimum Qualification Review

The following questions are a required part of your application for this position. Your answers will be used to assist the Civil Service Commission in evaluating your related work experience and education to determine that you meet the minimum qualifications for this position as listed on the job posting.

All information provided in your answers must be included for verification in the work experience section of your application and may be substantiated further by the City of Reno. Failure to provide a truthful response to all questions will be grounds for disqualification and you will not be considered further in the hiring process for this position.

By checking "I understand", you certify that you have read and agree to the above statement.

• I understand

02

Do you have a valid driver's license or are you able to demonstrate the ability to independently get to and from multiple work locations as required?

• Yes
• No

03

Which of the following best describes your highest level of qualifying education? In order to receive credit for any education beyond graduation from high school, you must attach a copy of any degrees or transcripts.

• Graduation from high school or equivalent
• Graduation from high school or equivalent supplemented by some college level course work, or a degree in an unrelated field
• Two years (60 semester/90 quarter hours) of college level course work in criminal justice or public administration
• Two years (60 semester/90 quarter hours) of college level course work in a closely related field
• Four years (120 semester/180 quarter hours) or more of college level course work in criminal justice or public administration
• Four years (120 semester/180 quarter hours) or more of college level course work in a closely related field
• None of the above

04

Only answer this question if your course work is in another closely related field to this position.

How has your course work prepared you to perform the work of this position?
05

Which of the following best describes your qualifying paid work experience?

• I have less than four years of professional experience conducting background investigations within a law enforcement or government agency, including experience with complex and sensitive cases.
• I have four years or more of professional experience conducting background investigations within a law enforcement or government agency, including experience with complex and sensitive cases.

06

Training and Experience Evaluation

The following section of the Supplemental Questionnaire is part of the Civil Service test for this position and must be completed online at the time of application. Questionnaires submitted as an attachment to the online application will not be considered. In order to receive every consideration in the selection process, you must complete all questions with concise but detailed answers and provide all requested information. All responses must be verified by the applicant in the work experience section of this application.

Failure to provide adequate responses to the following questions may result in lower scores or disqualification from the selection process.

Do you certify that all information provided in the Supplemental Questionnaire is true and correct to the best of yourknowledge?

• Yes
• No

07

How many years of work experience do you have planning, organizing, assigning, and reviewing the work of subordinate staff?

• I do not have any experience working in this area
• Minimal, less than one year
• One year but less than three years
• Three years but less than five years
• Five years or more

08

In order to receive credit for your experience in the previous question, please provide specific examples of the work you have performed in that area (responses should be 2-3 paragraphs).
09

Which best describes your experience related to developing and maintaining formal policies and procedures?

• I do not have any experience in this area.
• I have some limited work experience or training in this area.
• I have performed these tasks as part of a job for at least one year with limited direction and/or supervision.
• I have performed these tasks independently as part of a job for at least two years but less than four years.
• I have performed these tasks independently as part of a job for four years or more.

10

In order to receive credit for your experience in the previous question, please provide specific examples of the types of policies and procedures that you have created and/or updated (responses should be 2-3 paragraphs).
11

Which best describes your experience related to designing and delivering training for staff on policies, background investigation techniques, compliance with federal and state mandates, or similar topics.

• I do not have any experience in this area.
• I have some limited work experience or training in this area.
• I have performed these tasks as part of a job for at least one year with limited direction and/or supervision.
• I have performed these tasks independently as part of a job for at least two years but less than four years.
• I have performed these tasks independently as part of a job for four years or more.

12

In order to receive credit for your experience in the previous question, please provide specific examples of the work you have performed in that area (responses should be 2-3 paragraphs).
13

Which best describes your experience related to acting as a department's designated liaison with local, state, and federal agencies to oversee access to criminal records systems and ensure compliance.

• I do not have any experience in this area.
• I have some limited work experience or training in this area.
• I have performed these tasks as part of a job for at least one year with limited direction and/or supervision.
• I have performed these tasks independently as part of a job for at least two years but less than four years.
• I have performed these tasks independently as part of a job for four years or more.

14

In order to receive credit for your experience in the previous question, please provide specific examples of the work you have performed in that area (responses should be 2-3 paragraphs).
Required Question