Duties Description Under the general direction of the Investigative Specialist 2 (Cannabis), the incumbent of this position will be responsible for investigating possible violations of the cannabis laws, rules, and regulations. They will conduct investigations into cannabis license businesses and any illicit activity involving cannabis.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Perform a wide variety of enforcement, regulatory, and licensing investigative activities to gather information and report facts.
- Review assigned cases or complaints from the public to determine the section of law, rule, or regulation that applies and identify the issues and types of information needed.
- Plan the scope and method of investigation based on the Office of Cannabis Management policy, the accessibility of information, and the seriousness of the issue.
- Meet with and interview witnesses, complainants, proprietors, prospective licensees, and others to obtain information relating to the investigation for enforcement, compliance, or eligibility purposes.
- May arrest, confine, and transport subjects of investigation and process them per established procedures.
- Take statements and affidavits from individuals in an appropriate format, taking care to include a full description of the facts needed to support the investigation.
- Identify and search public and private documents to locate persons of interest and may question others and follow leads to find such persons.
- Develop leads and informants, conduct surveillance, and engage in undercover work. Use camera, recording devices, or other equipment as necessary.
- Obtain inventories and safeguard evidence according to OCM procedures and legal requirements.
- Confer with law enforcement, prosecutors, and other entities to convey and obtain information relevant to an investigation, provide technical assistance and training, and develop and maintain rapport to ensure cooperation in the conduct of investigations.
- Participate in joint operations with various levels of law enforcement targeting patterns of non-compliance or violations of laws and regulations.
- Prepare factual written reports of information gathered during an investigation and may recommend an appropriate course of action consistent with findings and agency policy and practices.
- Discuss investigative findings and recommendations with supervisor and program specialists.
- May perform full range of supervisory functions.
Minimum Qualifications This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS)* and applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications to be considered for this position:
This title includes a traineeship opportunity and applicants will be appointed to the appropriate level** based on their experience and education.
Required experience: experience in a field investigative position conducting interviews of witnesses and others, taking written statements and affidavits, collecting and analyzing physical and documentary evidence, and preparing detailed written reports of investigative findings.
- Types of Investigative experience that could be considered qualifying: Experience in such positions as police detective, insurance investigator, licensed and registered private investigator, federal investigator, state investigator, municipal investigator, child protective services investigator, in an investigative position involving trial preparations and detailed reports, or investigations within a branch of the Armed Services are examples which meet the Minimum Qualifications.
Non-Qualifying Investigative Experience includes but may not be limited to: Experience in routine police patrol work, security guard or related security position, tax collector, collector of delinquent accounts, credit checker, legal assistant/attorney, hotel or store detective, loss prevention officer, parole officer, correction officer, guard, inspector, or experience in adoption and/or foster care placement.
**Investigative Specialist 1 (Cannabis) level requirements:
- Investigative Specialist Trainee 1 (Cannabis) (equated to SG-14): four years of qualifying experience OR an associate degree and two years of qualifying experience OR a bachelor's degree
- Investigative Specialist Trainee 2 (Cannabis) (equated to SG-16): five years of qualifying experience OR an associate degree and three years of qualifying experience OR a bachelor’s degree and one year of qualifying experience.
- Investigative Specialist 1 (Cannabis), SG-18: six years of qualifying experience OR qualifying associate and four years of qualifying experience OR qualifying bachelor and two years of qualifying experience.
SG-18 Qualifying degree: Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, cyber security, law enforcement, police science, criminal justice administration, criminology, criminal investigation, police studies, public justice, forensic accounting, forensic psychology, forensic science, economic crime management, or homeland security will be credited with four years of the required experience. Applicants with an associate degree in a field listed above will be credited with two years of the required experience.
OR
Applicants may also be appointed to this position if currently reachable on the appropriate eligible list for this title OR are a current New York State employee with one year or more of qualifying permanent service in a position allocated to a Grade 12 or above and eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Possession of a valid New York City or local county firearm permit.
- Current Peace Officer status.
NOTE: IN ORDER TO AWARD THE PROPER CREDIT FOR WORK EXPERIENCE, RESUMES MUST INCLUDE MONTH AND YEAR FOR START AND END DATES. IF ANY OF THIS EXPERIENCE IS LESS THAN FULL TIME YOU MUST INDICATE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED PER WEEK.
Additional Comments Additional Requirements:
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements for Peace Officer status* and meet physical/medical standards for these positions.
***Peace Officer Status: Investigative Specialists (Cannabis) 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.
Appointees to the New York City field office are required to obtain and maintain a New York City firearm permit. Appointees to field offices outside of New York City are required to obtain and maintain a local county firearm permit. All appointees must obtain the required permit within twelve months of hire, and successfully complete an assigned firearms training, annual re-qualification and display continued proficiency. Denial, suspension or loss of the required firearm permit or failure to re-qualify or display continued proficiency may result in removal from employment in this position.
NOTES:
- Travel may be required (approximately 40%), including during evening and weekends, depending on mission and assignment.
- Possession and maintenance of a valid Driver’s License issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicle is required, or otherwise demonstrate the capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job.
- There is no examination required for appointment to a NY HELPS position. Candidates hired via NY HELPS will be appointed on a permanent non-competitive basis and will begin a probationary period.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected that NY HELPS employees will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to take an exam. Employees will then be afforded with all the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is an equal opportunity employer, and we recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We encourage applicants for all communities to apply. For a full version of OCM’s EEO/AA statement and benefits of joining OCM, please visit: About | Office of Cannabis Management (ny.gov).
NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
