Director of Investigations (Transparency)

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Director of Investigations (Transparency)

Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA)

Video Release and Transparency Unit

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $119,472

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 09/30/2026

Under general direction, directs an assigned investigative unit and/or investigative function of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and performs related duties as required

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Manages the activities of members of COPA's Video Release and Transparency Unit (VRTU), consisting of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officers, Digital Forensic Analysts, and Case Liaison
• Directs public release of information related to investigations of complaints involving Chicago Police Department members, including following applicable ordinance and collective bargaining requirements surrounding the publication of Final Summary Reports
• Manages COPA's compliance with the City of Chicago's Video Release Policy, including identifying incidents and incident-related materials for inclusion
• Coordinates with supervisors and members of other COPA's units regarding requests about their investigations and assignments
• Maintains open and effective communication with Chicago Police Department units, outside law enforcement agencies, the Mayor's Office, and Corporation Counsel to facilitate COPA releases of information
• Assigns projects to VRTU staff; monitors their activity and communications to ensure objectivity, thoroughness, and compliance with applicable laws
• Prepares management reports on unit activities for publication in COPA's quarterly and annual reports
• Evaluates unit members pursuant to COPA's performance evaluation system

* Performs special research or specialized activities at the request of the Chief Administrator, as required

Additional duties may be required for this position

Location: COPA

Address: 1615 W Chicago Avenue

Days: Monday - Friday

Days off: Saturday and Sunday

Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM CAREER SERVICE

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:

• Previous experience processing FOIA requests

• Previous experience in the investigation, prosecution, or analysis of death investigations

• Previous experience in and knowledge of the tenants of the 4^th amendment

• Direct experience investigating police misconduct, analyzing probable cause & drafting and/or reviewing investigative reports of findings

• Previous experience managing and triaging voluminous caseload 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.

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 Resource 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