Investigative Specialist 2 (Motor Vehicle)

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. 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. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

Promotion examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before May 11, 2019, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and have had one month of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as an Investigative Specialist 1 (Motor Vehicle), Investigative Specialist 1 (Motor Vehicle) (Various Language Parenthetics), Investigative Specialist Trainee 1 or 2 (Motor Vehicle), or Investigative Specialist Trainee 1 or 2 (Motor Vehicle) (Various Language Parenthetics). In addition, service in any of these former titles will also be considered qualifying: Investigative Officer 1 (Motor Vehicle), Investigative Officer 1 (Motor Vehicle) (Various Language Parenthetics), Investigative Officer Trainee (Motor Vehicle), Investigative Officer Trainee (Motor Vehicle) (Various Language Parenthetics), Motor Vehicle Investigator, Motor Vehicle Investigator (Various Language Parenthetics), Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainee, or Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainee (Various Language Parenthetics).

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before April 11, 2019, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

If you receive a permanent appointment to a qualifying title between March 27, 2019 and April 11, 2019, your application can be submitted by contacting the Department of Civil Service at (518) 486-9659. Late applications will not be accepted from candidates who receive a qualifying appointment prior to March 27, 2019.

Qualifying Experience for Appointment from the Eligible List

After one year of the service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list. Trainees must complete one year of the qualifying service in the journey level title to be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Notes

1. Citizenship and New York State Residence: U.S. Citizenship and New York State residency is required at the time of appointment and continually thereafter.
2. Job Rotation: After appointment and upon completion of probation in this title, you may be required to participate in a job rotation and cross-training program between the various units in the Division of Field Investigations (DFI), which will give you a better understanding of your role in the greater organization.
3. Language Proficiency: Eligible lists from these examinations may be used to fill language parenthetic positions that currently exist or are established during the life of the list. If you are considered for appointment to a language parenthetic position, you will be required to demonstrate proficiency in that language. Proficiency must be at a level which will permit you to perform the duties of the position satisfactorily.
4. If you submit an application for Exam No. 38-433 Investigative Specialist 2 (Motor Vehicle) (Spanish Language), an application will automatically be submitted for you for Exam No. 38-432 Investigative Specialist 2 (Motor Vehicle) at no additional cost.
5. Travel Requirements: Appointment to these positions require extensive travel within a designated area of assignment. Appointees to these positions will be required to operate a motor vehicle. You must possess a driver's license valid in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter. Field work and travel expenses are reimbursed on a fixed schedule.
6. Firearms: Appointees will be required by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain and maintain a firearm permit from New York City, which requires an extensive background check, and to carry a firearm in the performance of their duties. You must successfully complete an assigned firearms training and annual re-qualification and display continued proficiency. Denial or loss of a firearm permit will result in removal from employment in this position.
7. Peace Officer Status: Investigative Specialists are Peace Officers and must be qualified to hold such office in accordance with state law. As such, they are required to attend NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services sanctioned Peace Officer training. Employment is dependent on continuous certification as a Peace Officer.
8. Background Investigation: Because of the nature of the position there is an investigative screening that will include a thorough character investigation. All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

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.
2. Evaluating information and evidence - These questions test for the ability 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 the conclusion is warranted by the facts.
3. Advanced investigative techniques - These questions test for knowledge of the more complicated and technical aspects of field investigations. The questions will cover such areas as: interviewing principles and practices, investigative principles, sources of information and reporting methods commonly used in field investigations, securing statements, rules of evidence and evidence collection, preparing cases for court or legal hearings, and testifying in the courtroom or in hearings. Many of the questions are situational in nature. The questions are generic rather than dealing with investigations in a particular field.
4. Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.
5. Laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures and security standards for Investigative Specialists (Motor Vehicle) - These questions test for knowledge of the applicable provisions of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law; Department of Motor Vehicles' Commissioner's Rules and Regulations; related New York State Laws including Penal, Criminal Procedure, and General Business Law; and the Department of Motor Vehicles' policies, procedures, and security standards.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' credits to your final passing score.

Credit for Seniority

Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

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Duties

As an Investigative Specialist 2 (Motor Vehicle) or Investigative Specialist 2 (Motor Vehicle) (Spanish Language), you would supervise the performance of investigations related to the administration and enforcement of the laws, rules, and regulations governing motor vehicle sales; registration; licensing; disposal; oversee investigations involving identity theft; multiple identities; auto crimes; and facial recognition. You would supervise two or more Investigative Specialist 1s (Motor Vehicle) and independently perform the more sensitive or complex investigations requiring greater knowledge and interpretation of the agency's laws, rules, and regulations. You would perform the full range of supervisory duties including approving leave and tracking time and attendance, identifying staff development needs, evaluating staff performance, and completing performance evaluations.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your 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.

TEST GUIDE: A Guide to the Written Test for the Investigator Series is available at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

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How To Apply

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.

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.

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S1/TC1 DAG-tlm
Issued: 2/22/19

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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