Background Specialist

Job Description

• This position performs professional background investigation work of moderate difficulty.
• The Background Specialist examines documentation, identifies discrepancies, prepares reports, reconciles invoices, and clears applicants for work in adult and child care facilities.
• The role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures effectively.

• Notify applicant providers of rejected fingerprints and provide instructions for reprinting.
• Reconcile files and manually process reprints to ensure investigations are initiated.
• Monitor and respond to inquiries regarding applicant background checks from providers, applicants, and program staff.
• Review data in the applicant processing system and communicate investigation status.
• Review cases involving excludable offenses, including dismissed, expunged, retired, or invalidated criminal offenses, and perform manual case closures as required.
• Reconcile invoices to ensure accuracy, resolve discrepancies, and submit for processing and payment.
• Process driver checks, applicant transfer requests, authorization forms for transmittal of information, and Federal Tax Information name check requests.
• Assist with user acceptance testing for upgrades or changes to the applicant tracking system.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to foster collaboration.
• Analyze, interpret, and apply policies and procedures; recommend improvements where appropriate.
• Perform required registry checks, monitor receipt of results, and ensure documentation is properly recorded in the applicant tracking system.
• Create and issue clearance letters to providers and refer applicants with findings to the appropriate division.

• Bachelor’s degree in any field.
• Relevant full-time professional experience in background investigations, legal fields, law enforcement, or related work may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Must have good moral character as determined by a background check.
• Must complete a criminal history disclosure form as required.
• Must agree to release criminal history records to the appointing authority.
• Must provide a fingerprint sample for a fingerprint‑based criminal history records check.

• Active learning and listening.
• Critical thinking.
• Complex problem solving.
• Judgment and decision making.
• Reading comprehension.

• Deductive reasoning.
• Inductive reasoning.
• Problem sensitivity.
• Written comprehension.

• Customer and personal service.
• Law and government.

• Decision quality.
• Resourcefulness.
• Collaboration.
• Effective communication.
• Situational adaptability.

• General office equipment.
• Computer or laptop.