New York State of Opportunity

Investigative Officer Trainee (Public Work Wage)

Written Test To Be Held
April 22, 2023
You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday to take your test.
You cannot request or change your scheduled day.
Applications Must Be Submitted or Postmarked By
February 22, 2023

 

Exams Included on This Announcement
Exam Number Exam Title Salary Salary Grade Non−Refundable Processing Fee (Waivers available)
26-935 Investigative Officer Trainee (Public Work Wage) $46,529 Equated to G-13 $35
26-938 Investigative Officer 1 (Public Work Wage) $54,903 SG-16

You must review important information on the New York State Department of Civil Service COVID-19 policy that applies to all candidates sitting for in-person Civil Service examinations being administered at a New York State test center. You can access our full policy on the Department of Civil Service website.

Due to current testing space limitations, candidates may need to travel to a test site to take this examination. Candidates will be notified of their test site location on their admission notice.

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before April 22, 2023, you must have:

For No. 26-935: four years of qualifying experience* or investigative experience***; or an associate's degree and two years of qualifying experience* or investigative experience***; or a bachelor's degree or higher.

For No. 26-938: five years of qualifying experience* or investigative experience***; or an associate's degree and three years of qualifying experience* or investigative experience***; or a bachelor's degree or higher and one year of qualifying experience* or investigative experience***.

*Qualifying Experience: For the purpose of these examinations:

Either 1. The required number of years of experience must be in administration of one or more of the following specific area(s):

Or 2. The required number of years of experience must be in a combination of administration of one or more of the specific areas identified above and experience in one or more of the following:

**Construction project management is defined as performing all of the following specific duties for an employer:

***Investigative experience is defined as gathering and securing information and evidence from a variety of sources through independent, non-structured activities including the preparation and submission of detailed narrative reports describing the method of gathering the evidence and the results of the investigation.

Experience in auditing, interviewing, building security surveillance, traffic enforcement, or performing routine inspections or surveys will not be considered investigative experience.

Traineeships: If you are appointed at the Trainee level, you will be required to successfully complete a 12-month training and development program. Upon successful completion of the 12-month program, you will automatically advance to the Investigative Officer 1 (Public Work Wage) title without further examination.

Additional Requirements for Appointment:

The Positions: These positions exist in the Department of Labor and are located statewide.

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Duties

As an Investigative Officer Trainee (Public Work Wage), under the supervision of an Investigative Officer 2 (Public Work Wage), you would enforce the provisions of Article 8, 8-A, and 9 of the New York State Labor Law which require that the prevailing rate be paid to workers on public work construction projects; gather information used in setting the prevailing rate; inspect payroll records; investigate to determine the proper classification of work; inspect jobs to ascertain if the proper rate has been paid; and investigate allegations of underpayments, kickbacks, and falsified payrolls. You would prepare and give testimony in administrative hearings and in a Court of Law for criminal infractions of Article 8, 8-A, and 9. These positions require travel which may involve occasional overnight stays to conduct field investigations, and additional duties as assigned. Trainees will receive a combination of structured training, on-the-job training, and/or practical job performance to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to function at the full performance level.

As an Investigative Officer 1 (Public Work Wage), under the supervision of an Investigative Officer 2 (Public Work Wage), you would enforce the provisions of Article 8, 8-A, and 9 of the New York State Labor Law which require that the prevailing rate be paid to workers on public work construction projects; gather information used in setting the prevailing rate; inspect payroll records; investigate to determine the proper classification of work; inspect jobs to ascertain if the proper rate has been paid; and investigate allegations of underpayments, kickbacks, and falsified payrolls. You would prepare and give testimony in administrative hearings and in a Court of Law for criminal infractions of Article 8, 8-A, and 9. These positions require travel which may involve occasional overnight stays to conduct field investigations, and additional duties as assigned.

Note:

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Subject of Examination

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the written test. The written test evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas:T For Examination Numbers
26-93526-938
1. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences. XX
2. Evaluating information and evidence - These questions test the candidates' abilities to evaluate and draw conclusions from information and evidence. Each question consists of a set of facts and a conclusion based on the facts. The candidate must decide if a conclusion is warranted by the facts. XX
3. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic. XX
4. Investigative techniques - These questions test for knowledge of the fundamental concepts in the area of field investigation. The questions cover such areas as: obtaining the cooperation of individuals involved in an investigation, preparing for the investigation and/or interview, investigative principles, interviewing principles and practices, behavior and attitudes of the investigator and others, gathering of data and evidence, and presenting the results of an investigation. Many of the questions are situational in nature and attempt to measure the candidate's ability to apply basic investigative techniques. The questions are generic rather than dealing with investigations in a particular field. X

Test Guide: A Guide to the Written Test for the Investigative Series is available on the Department website at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Your final score on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits.

Note: The Department of Civil Service may administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets.

Admission To The Test: If approved for a written test, you will receive an admission notice which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site using a state-provided Chromebook. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration.

Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your test arrangements, examination results, and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number, and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

This announcement is for viewing purposes only.

Important: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. Any past due application processing fees must be paid in full prior to submitting an application. Please email FeeUnitMail@cs.ny.gov regarding inquiries about any past due fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your written test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

The use of cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices at your personal testing site or in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas, except as expressly authorized by the Department of Civil Service, could result in your disqualification.

S3/TC1 DAA-tlm
Issued: 01/20/23

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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