Investigator 3

The Oregon Youth Authority's Professional Standards Office (PSO) is seeking an Investigator 3 to conduct high-stakes investigations that protect the safety, rights, and trust of the youth, families, and employees OYA serves. As OYA's internal investigative branch, PSO receives, tracks, and investigates complaints of misconduct, policy violations, and PREA-related concerns across the agency's nine close-custody facilities and community programs statewide.

This role does not require a law enforcement background — it requires an investigative mind. We welcome candidates from any qualifying background involving fact-finding, evidence handling, and formal report writing, including law enforcement, insurance investigation, financial fraud investigation, or investigative trial support. You will conduct interviews, analyze evidence, and author investigative reports capable of holding up in administrative hearings, while navigating sensitive, high-emotion conversations with professionalism and discretion. If this sounds like you, we welcome you to apply!

Join us on Monday, July 20 between 11:00am-11:30am PST for Q&A Career Chat session about this position! You will have an opportunity to ask questions about this position and about OYA. This is not a mandatory requirement to join this session, just a friendly environment to ask questions and to learn a little more about OYA.

The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) is a national leader in the juvenile justice field, pioneering the implementation of a positive human development framework for its work with staff and youth, and using data to match the right youth with the right services. We seek to foster cultural competence and pursue equitable solutions to support youth under our care. Our agency mission is to protect the public and reduce crime by holding youth accountable and providing opportunities for reformation in safe environments.

If you are looking to join a team that values individual and cultural differences and the opportunity to contribute in the success of youth reformation by enriching our workforce with diversity, OYA wants to hear from you! People of color, women and other members of historically underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply!

Minimum Qualifications:

• Four years of recent (within last ten years) full-time investigative experience which included conducting fact finding; collecting and preserving evidence according to the rules of evidence; examining records; locating and interviewing witnesses to verify or disprove claims of suspected law violations; and writing investigation reports sufficient for use at administrative hearings or in court.

Examples of qualifying investigation experience are in areas such as law enforcement investigation, insurance investigation, investigative trial support, or financial fraud investigation.

College-level courses in Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, Law, Accounting, or Auditing may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to one year of the required experience.

Special Qualifications:

• Driver License Required: Driving is an essential function of this position. A valid driver license and an acceptable driving record are required for this position. We will conduct pre-employment driving records checks on our final candidate(s).

Desired Attributes:

• Demonstrated experience preparing clear, concise, accurate, and comprehensive investigative reports that document allegations, evidence, interviews, analysis, findings, and conclusions for administrative, legal, executive, or other formal review.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience conducting interviews, gathering and clarifying information, explaining complex or sensitive information, and adapting communication to the needs of different audiences. (assessed both in application materials and at time of interviews)
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage a high-volume workload or caseload involving competing priorities, changing circumstances, multiple deadlines, and matters requiring timely response and follow-through.

The following desired attributes will be assessed in assessments and/or at time of interviews:

• Demonstrated ability to establish trust and work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, such as employees, management, labor representatives, youth, families, law enforcement, attorneys, community members, and partner agencies.
• Demonstrated skill navigating difficult or emotionally charged interactions, responding effectively to distressed, frustrated, hostile, or uncooperative individuals, and de-escalating tense situations while maintaining professionalism and focus.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a team environment and collaborate across organizational or professional boundaries to gather information, coordinate work, solve problems, and achieve shared outcomes.
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence, sound judgment, discretion, integrity, and professionalism when handling highly sensitive, confidential, or restricted information and working with individuals affected by difficult or sensitive circumstances.

How to Apply:

• Click on the "Apply" link above to complete your online application and submit by the posted closing date and time. For step-by-step instructions click apply to work for the state or current state employee.
• COVER LETTER & RESUME REQUIRED. Please attach a cover letter (no more than two pages). In your cover letter, briefly expand on your responses to the desired attribute questions in the supplemental questions section — specifically, where and how you gained the skills, knowledge, and/or experience you selected for each area (e.g., specific roles, organizations, or situations). Resume should have month/year for each job history listed.
• The work experience and/or education section of your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all the minimum qualifications and desired skills and attributes listed above. Failing to attach required documents may result in disqualification of your application.
• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

• Be sure to check Workday and your email for additional tasks and updates. After hitting submit there may be additional required tasks for you to complete prior to the announcement closing. Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline.
• Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources. Be sure to submit your documentation prior to the close date of this posting in order to have the preference considered.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule:

• 1st Round Interviews: August 5-7, 2026 (In-Person)
• 2nd Round Interviews: August 10, 2026 (In-Person)

Please note that this timeline is tentative and subject to change as needed.

Additional Information:

• For a complete list of duties and responsibilities, please contact HR Recruitment at OYAJobs@oya.oregon.gov.
• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill multiple, current, and future vacancies.
• Your application materials are used to determine your starting salary range. Through an equal pay assessment, we will determine the salary offer using the information you provide in your submitted application materials. Please ensure your application materials are detailed, accurate and reflect your skills, experience (paid and unpaid) and education as they relate to the position when applying. For more information on pay equity, click here.
• The salary range listed is the non-PERS participating rate. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6%. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
• This position receives annual increases on anniversary date until the maximum of the salary range is reached.
• This position is part of the state's management team.
• Please save a copy of this job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job closes.

What's in it for You? OYA values our employees. We believe that your time outside of the workplace is as valuable as it is inside the workplace. We offer a great work/life balance with flexible work schedules on most positions and a competitive benefits package, including low-cost, high-coverage health insurance, generous time-off, and a competitive retirement plan.

Helpful Links & Resources

• How to Set Job Alerts | Workday Applicant FAQ | What You Need to Know to Get the Job
• Oregon Job Opportunities Webpage | Classification and Compensation | Pay Equity

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we are here to serve. OYA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be individualized based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin,