Background Investigation Unit Technician IV.

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

About the Role

This position exists to provide technical assistance by using judgement, technical knowledge, computer skills, and research tools to interpret laws, rules, policies, and procedures related to background investigation functions for the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). The role supports the Background Investigation Unit (BIU) by advising on technical background investigation issues, delivering solutions to internal and external customers, and ensuring compliance with relevant statutes.

Work arrangements are hybrid, with a minimum of 2 days in the office and a maximum of 3 days remote. Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.

Responsibilities

• Serve as CDHS's technical expert for pre-employment background checks under C.R.S. 27-90-111, including:
  • Fingerprint-based national criminal history search
  • Colorado Court Database search
  • Pre-employment drug test
  • Medicare fraud check
  • Fitness-for-employment check
  • TRAILS database check (for those with contact with children)
  • Colorado Adult Protective Services (CAPS) database check (for those providing direct care with vulnerable adults)
• Utilize independent judgement to research, analyze, interpret, and apply rules, procedures, statutes, policies, and practices regarding a covered worker’s suitability for employment under C.R.S. 27-90-111.
• Ensure CDHS does not consider:
  • Arrests that have not resulted in a criminal conviction when the case is not actively pending
  • Convictions that have been pardoned, sealed, or expunged
• Determine if a misdemeanor offense committed in another state is substantially similar to offenses described in C.R.S. 27-90-111.
• Assist appointing authorities in analyzing requirements under C.R.S. 24-5-101(4) to assess a covered worker’s ability to perform duties without risk.
• Use independent reasoning to determine disqualifications based on a four-step statutory analysis on a case-by-case basis.
• Ensure employees with access to Federal Tax Information (FTI) are cleared based on IRS Publication 1075 background investigation results.
• Research subsequent arrest information from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and determine if it is a disqualifier under C.R.S. 27-90-111 or C.R.S. 24-5-101.
• Notify supervisors, appointing authorities, and HR Business Partners of subsequent arrests and provide interpretive information for decision-making.
• Ensure confidentiality compliance with Public Law 92-544 related to FBI-provided information.
• Manage the billing process for third-party vendors, including:
  • Running reports in the Background Tracking System (BTS) database
  • Reconciling names and charges on invoices
  • Disputing incorrect charges
  • Creating and submitting billing sheets to Accounting
  • Researching discrepancies if an agency denies responsibility for charges
• Assist in developing procedures, evaluating and improving processes, and producing informational summaries, data summaries, and letters.
• Support the BIU manager with designing or modifying the BTS system and delivering training to CDHS staff.
• Create badges for volunteers, interns, students, and contractors.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Option 1: Experience Only
  • Four (4) years of relevant experience in performing pre-employment background checks, including:
    • Running CBI and FBI reports
    • Researching court records
    • Analyzing and interpreting convictions to determine employment eligibility under policy and legal statute
    • Using databases and vendors to conduct in-depth record searches for criminal history, child abuse history, and/or at-risk adult abuse history
• Option 2: Education and Experience
  • A combination of related education (Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law-related field, sociology, or human resources) and relevant experience totaling four (4) years. Experience requirements are the same as Option 1.

Substitutions:

• Additional appropriate education may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Additional appropriate experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven track record of managing confidential employment records in compliance with HIPAA, PII, and internal privacy protocols.
• Experience conducting and documenting complete background investigations, including secure handling of CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services).
• Demonstrated ability to apply State Personnel Board rules and federal/state employment laws to resolve complex HR cases.
• Ability to draft professional reports, memos, and email correspondence, and assist in creating and presenting unit presentations to leadership.
• Proficiency in two or more enterprise IT systems.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects/tasks from initiation to completion, meeting established milestones and deadlines.
• Ability to resolve systemic or interpersonal challenges by developing creative solutions that improve process efficiency.
• Successfully integrated new policy changes and process improvements into daily workflows within required deadlines.
• Consistently met or exceeded weekly productivity targets in a multitasking environment with minimal supervision.
• Relevant years of State service contributing to position-related knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For transfers only: Relevant years of State service will be considered as a preferred qualification.

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a Colorado resident at the time of application and maintain residency throughout employment.
• Full background check required, including:
  • CBI name check and fingerprint check
  • ICON Colorado court database check
  • Medicare fraud database check
  • TRAILS (child abuse/neglect database system check)
  • Reference checks
  • Professional license verification (if applicable)
  • Drug screen
  • PREA (for Division of Youth Services)
  • CAPS (for direct contact with adults in Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)
• Ability to travel to attend required meetings, work events, and trainings throughout Colorado.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
  • Disclose this information on the application
  • Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify them from the current position
  • Provide their employee number from prior State employment

  Absent extraordinary circumstances, failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Benefits

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. For details, refer to the Supplemental Information section of the posting.