Consumer Protection Investigator

Classification Title: Consumer Protection Investigator 1, C24

Location: Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th St. N., Suite 1000, Rm. 2, Clearwater, FL 33762

In an ever-changing consumer market, new issues arise that need to be solved. Fortunately, the Pinellas Consumer Protection Team is here to Protect, Regulate, Investigate and Educate!

This is specialized investigative work in consumer protection matters. Employees in this class are responsible for the review of consumer-initiated complaints and investigating business practices to identify civil or criminal violations of consumer protection laws. Duties include gathering and evaluating evidence, preparing legal documents, testifying in court, presenting charges in hearings, inspecting for compliance with co nsumer protection laws, and negotiating with businesses or their legal counsel on behalf of consumers.

This position is anticipated to be filled within the Dispute Resolution section, with a focus on mediation of complaints and regulatory inspections enforcing County ordinances.

Our Benefits Rank #1

• 9-11 paid County holidays; 2 floating holidays and 2 personal days (pro-rated); annual leave (accrue 15 days in first year)
• Florida Retirement System: Employees contribute 3% and the county contributes 6.3% for regular status employees enrolled in the FRS Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• See contribution breakdown on FRS
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Hybrid remote work
• Health, vision, prescription, dental, life insurance, and a flexible spending account (FSA) option. Click here for more benefits details

• Prepare written reports.
• Conduct informal mediations to assist parties in reaching a resolution.
• Case management - ability to organize multiple/complicated cases.
• Write warnings and citations for ordinance violations.
• Negotiates with business or their legal counsel on behalf of consumers to achieve equitable resolutions of consumer business problems.
• Initiates informal hearings with businesses or their legal counsel and prepares agreements reflecting assurances of compliance.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

Position Specific Requirements

Experience - professional, technical, or administrative experience in law enforcement, criminal justice, public administration, government, business or related field.

• Minimum 4 years of experience as described above; or
• Associate degree with major course work in law enforcement, criminal justice, public administration, government, business administration or related field and 2 years’ experience as described above; or
• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in law enforcement, criminal justice, public administration, government, business administration or related field; or
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
• Complete and satisfy background checks and fingerprinting as required by the County, FDLE, or FBI.
• This position is required to work occasional evenings, Saturday and Sunday hours.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid State of Florida Driver's License upon hire with eligibility based upon evaluation of a Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) driving report.
• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.

Highly Desirable

• Florida Supreme Court Certified County Mediator.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of legal documents, legal principles of investigations, and investigative techniques.
• Skill in making informative and entertaining speeches and presentations to the general public, law enforcement and regulatory agency personnel, and County Boards.
• Ability to objectively review facts, remain objective, be flexible, and judge cases on their merits and arguments.
• Ability to interview and interrogate, gather, and evaluate evidence, and research legal documents.
• Ability to initiate and carry out extensive contact with the general public and to present, under difficult circumstances, an attitude of diplomacy, impartiality, sympathy, and sound judgment.
• Ability to prepare and present oral and written reports in an accurate, concise, and grammatically correct manner.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and various computer applications and online resources.

Physical/Mental Demands

The work is sedentary work which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Visual ability: Sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including copier, computer, etc.; and to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, etc.
• Hearing ability: Sufficient to hold a conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone; and to hear recording on transcription device.
• Speaking ability: Sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone.
• Mental acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.

This position has supplemental questions. If unable to complete all questions, you may save your answers as a draft during the application process and return at any time prior to the closing date. Please note that the application is complete upon final submission.