Police Background Investigator

If you are an Internal City Employee, Retiree or Dependent/Survivor of a City Employee please apply internally via Career Icon in your Workday account.

Make a difference in the community you live in! As a Community Builder—an employee with the City of Gainesville— you will have a direct hand in building and improving your community and making a visible impact on the lives of your neighbors. Working for local government is more than a job, it’s a chance to contribute to community success and to help enhance the Gainesville way of life.

Department:

GG_Police: Police Personnel Division

Salary Range Minimum:

$15.06

Salary Range Maximum:

$23.51

Closing Date:

11/02/2026

Job Details:

• This is responsible para-professional investigative work providing pre-employment background investigations. Screenings are generally of a cooperative nature and require coordinating information and actions with others in order to determine the applicant’s suitability for employment in certain positions.
• Positions allocated to this classification report to a direct supervisor and work under general direction. This work requires a wide range of knowledge encompassing both administrative and investigative processes of the City Government and knowledge of pertinent human resources program. The work performed in this class has an impact on hiring and retention decisions.

Job Description:

SUMMARY

This is responsible para-professional investigative work providing pre-employment background investigations. Screenings are generally of a cooperative nature and require coordinating information and actions with others in order to determine the applicant’s suitability for employment in certain positions.

Positions allocated to this classification report to a direct supervisor and work under general direction. This work requires a wide range of knowledge encompassing both administrative and investigative processes of the City Government and knowledge of pertinent human resources program. The work performed in this class has an impact on hiring and retention decisions.

EXAMPLES OF WORK*

*This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower-level duties may be required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Conducts background investigations for candidates for police officer and civilian positions, including executive staff city positions.

Provides employment clearance for applicants to be placed in police jobs; provide information to aid in making suitability determinations.

Collects and analyzes information and data on assignment and prepares complex reports used to determine suitability and eligibility for employment in certain positions.

conducts research, usually requiring compilation and analysis of data.

Preparing and submitting precise and accurate background reports.

Handles confidential information with care and discretion; observes the Privacy Act.

Establishes work priorities and coordinates them to meet deadlines in order to assure an efficient workflow.

Represents the department/agency at meetings, hearings and conferences as required.

Attend and successfully complete required training to gain access to search databases.

Navigate investigative databases.

Familiar with and able to access updated technology tools.

Familiar with and able to use social media engines.

Communicate efficiently and effectively with a high level of customer service.

Effectively interacts and communicates with the public.

Retrieving and reviewing applicants’ files and records for the purpose of identifying the eligibility of the applicant.

Investigating all aspects of each applicant.

Being consistent with the background process and following all procedures in the background packet and checklist.

Communicating and following up with the applicant throughout the hiring process.

Completing background investigations in a timely matter to meet hiring needs.

Assisting with the selection process for the non-certified and certified applicants.

Documenting all aspects of the background investigation to include the applicant’s progression or lack of progression.

Keeping applicant’s records under retention regulations and confidentiality.

Filing background packets securely.

Performing preliminary background checks.

Providing and submitting precise and accurate background reports.

Communicating and making every effort to contact the applicant’s sources via phone, emails, in-person etc.

Respond to employment verification request from external employers following public records request policies.

Work with GPD records division to respond to public records requests.

Utilize and Complete (Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) required forms.

Complete background per (Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) standards and requirements.

Ability to work independently and manage multiple investigative cases simultaneously.

Assisting with fingerprinting and issuing ID Cards.

Performs related duties as required.

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

May review the work of or provide direction to other background investigators.

Accompanies sworn personnel in the field during background investigations.

Assists in providing most relevant background investigation procedures for the department.

Prepare background investigative packets and present to supervision and executive command staff.

Performs other related duties as assigne d.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

High School Diploma or GED and two (2) years of investigative experience in Law Enforcement.

Preference will be given to those candidates who have successfully completed a Police Applicant Background Investigations training course or have experience in investigating police or civilian background inquiries.

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES

Licenses

Valid Florida Driver License required within 30 days of appointment.

Certifications

Must obtain successful completion of the earliest available Police Applicant Background Investigator Course.

Must obtain National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and/or Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) within one (1) year of start date, if applicable. Must maintain NCIC and/or FCIC Certifications.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of procedures and operations necessary to investigate employment and other background information on applicants for city police department positions.

Ability to act independently while following department guidelines and policies.

Knowledge of personnel principles and practices sufficient to conduct pre-employment background inquiries.

Knowledge of the methods, principles and techniques associated with research, data collection and report writing.

Ability to analyze and interpret data and write reports.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to act effectively in diverse interpersonal settings.

Ability to prepare clear and comprehensive reports.

Ability to obtain relevant and accurate information through interview, interrogation and observation.

Ability to maintain security and confidentiality.

Working knowledge of computers and relevant software and the ability to apply such knowledge in the performance of job duties.

Ability to take direction from supervision.

Ability to deal tactfully and equitably with people and to effectively communicate.

Ability to use computers and applications is necessary to collect and analyze data and display this information using modern information technology.

Ability to attend meetings or perform other a