Chief Investigator

Division/Unit: Investigation Bureau      

Civil Service Title: Chief Rackets Investigator

Position Title: Chief Investigator

Salary Range: $185,000 - $200,000

Job Description:

The New York County District Attorney's Office seeks a Chief Investigator for the Investigation Bureau. Th Chief Investigator leads all investigative personnel and units, oversees security protocols, and ensures investigative operations support the Office’s prosecutorial mission. The Chief advises executive leadership on law enforcement strategy, resource deployment, and interagency coordination while upholding professionalism, integrity, and accountability. This role also leads threat assessment and mitigation, ensuring credible threats are investigated and addressed with coordinated protective and intelligence strategies. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide executive leadership and oversee all investigative activities, including authorizing search warrants, supervising surveillance, managing evidence, interviewing witnesses, executing arrests, and ensuring compliance with legal standards and prosecutorial goals.
• Lead and coordinate specialized investigative units, including counterterrorism and cybercrime units, driving innovation, resource allocation, and interdepartmental collaboration to enhance investigative effectiveness and case outcomes.
• Oversee threat assessment, ensuring all credible threats to executives, prosecutors, and witnesses are promptly identified, investigated, and mitigated in coordination with law enforcement agencies.
• Manage the collection, analysis, and dissemination of protective intelligence from open-source and law enforcement channels to support proactive threat mitigation. Ensure preparedness for rapid deployment in response to active threats or critical incidents.
• Manage Bureau personnel, including recruitment, training, evaluating performance, and overseeing professional development. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Serve as the main decision-maker for complex undercover operations. Provide strategic advice and direction to support the safety and success of these operations.
• Direct, monitor, and evaluate complex investigations to ensure they meet office priorities and investigative standards.
• Lead special projects and strategic initiatives as directed by executive leadership, contributing to the Office’s long-term operational planning and policy development.
• Maintain flexibility to manage operational demands beyond standard hours, ensuring continuous Bureau readiness and responsiveness.

In addition to the Minimum Qualification Requirements, candidates must possess the following:

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of full-time experience in the performance of criminal investigations, 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, executive, or supervisory capacity; 
2. Education and/or experience equivalent to “1” above. Experience may be substituted for education on the basis of six months of experience for one year of college.

• Firearms qualification required.
• Must possess a valid certificate of completion from a New York State Basic Course for Police Officers academy or must be eligible to attend and successfully complete a Police Officer refresher course.
• Must have a valid NYS driver’s license.
• Must pass a medical exam, drug test, psychological screening, and an intensive background check.
• As per NY Public Officers Law 2, §3-B, U.S. citizenship is required.

Preferred Requirements/Skills:

• Fifteen or more years of experience as a police officer, as defined in CPL §1.20, within the State of New York.
• Supervisory experience in one or more of the following areas: organized crime, financial crime, violent crime, special victims, intimate partner violence, hate crimes, child abuse, and gangs.
• Ten years or more of experience in an administrative, managerial, or supervisory capacity.
• Ability to evaluate threat credibility and capability by conferring with relevant law enforcement agencies.
• Experience overseeing complex, multi-agency criminal investigations.

How to Apply:

• Apply with a Cover Letter and Resume.

Hours/Shift:

• Typically, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, but early hours, late hours, and weekends may be necessary. 

Additional Information:

• Current office employees: To be eligible for a transfer or promotion, staff must have already served at least one (1) year in their current unit/bureau/department and be in good standing. In addition, must meet the minimum and additional qualifications of the position.
• Authorization to work in the United States is required for this position.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

1. High school graduation or possession of a high school equivalency diploma; or 
2. Four years of full-time paid experience in the performance of criminal investigations, one year of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; or 
3. A satisfactory equivalent.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness:

• As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement:

• New York State residency required. New York City residency is not required for this position. 

The New York County District Attorney’s Office is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.