Director OF Investigations - Copa

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, plus seven (7) years of experience conducting civil, criminal, or factual investigations that involve gathering, analyzing, and evaluating evidence; conducting in-depth research, analysis and report writing; and conducting interviews with witnesses, of which three (3) years are in a supervisory role

related to the responsibilities of the position, OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree, plus six (6) years of experience conducting civil, criminal, or factual investigations that involve gathering, analyzing, and evaluating evidence; conducting in-depth research, analysis and report writing; and conducting interviews with witnesses, of which three (3) years are in a supervisory role related

to the responsibilities of the position, OR

Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school, plus four (4) years of experience conducting civil, criminal, or factual investigations that involve gathering, analyzing, and evaluating evidence; conducting in-depth research, analysis and report writing; and conducting interviews with witnesses, of which three (3) years are in a supervisory role

related to the responsibilities of the position

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required

Availability to work any duty watch is required

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

• Direct experience investigating police misconduct, analyzing probable cause & drafting and/or reviewing investigative reports of findings
• Direct experience collecting, analyzing, and drafting reports synthesizing large amounts of data
• Understanding of the research process, including research designs, analytical approaches, addressing data quality and limitations, research integrity, and reporting standards
• Familiarity with consent decrees, including their origins, implementation processes, and legal obligations
• Previous experience managing and triaging a voluminous case load and personnel

NOTE: Candidates must pass a background investigation, drug screen, and other pre- employment procedures as

determined by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

NOTE: Per City of Chicago Municipal Ordinance #2-78-120, no investigator employed by the COPA Office shall

be a current or former sworn member of the Chicago Police Department within the last five years.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the interview will be

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/Classification_and_Pay_Plan_2026.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor

Oct 22, 2026, 9:39:26 AM