What are the responsibilities and job description for the District Attorney Investigator (Drug Recognition Expert) position at County of Orange?
DISTRICT ATTORNEY INVESTIGATOR (DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT)
SALARY INFORMATION
In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive salary range increases on the following dates:
Effective June 27, 2025 – 4.00% increase
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The eligible list established through this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Limited-Term District Attorney Investigator (Drug Recognition Expert) positions. A Limited-Term position is a position that has no anticipated long-range funding or has uncertain future funding.
The eligible list established through this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Limited-Term District Attorney Investigator (Drug Recognition Expert) positions. A Limited-Term position is a position that has no anticipated long-range funding or has uncertain future funding.
APPLICATION PERIOD
This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59 p.m. (P.S.T.) on the day the County's needs are met.
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
The Office of the Orange County District Attorney - Public Administrator (OCDA-PA) represents the People of the State of California in criminal and civil proceedings in the Superior Court of California and appellate courts of the state. The mission of the OCDA-PA is to enhance public safety and welfare and to protect and respect crime victims and to create security in the community through the vigorous enforcement of criminal and civil laws in a just, honest, efficient and ethical manner.
THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION:
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office – Bureau of Investigation supports the prosecutorial and law enforcement endeavors of the District Attorney. It provides a wide range of policing services tasked with suppressing crime and ensuring all criminal cases filed in Orange County are thoroughly investigated.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
The District Attorney-Public Administrator is seeking a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Investigator to work as a case agent on drug-impaired driving related cases. A DRE Investigator will also serve as an instructor for all state-wide agencies so that officers can maintain their DRE certification. The Bureau is seeking individuals who are:
- Self-motivated
- Effective communicators
- Team players able to successfully partner/work with District Attorney legal staff, local and State police agencies, forensic toxicologists, and concerned federal agencies
- Current DRE Certification
- Three (3) to five (5) years of experience as a DRE Instructor
- First-hand experience with administering a DRE school, including curriculum planning and instructor identification and scheduling
- Familiarity with the OCDA – DUID (Driving Under the Influence of Drugs) Collaborative Grant program and objectives, including having taken or taught DRE courses regarding the grant model
- Prior experience testifying in court as a DRE
- Knowledge of current drug trends, Pharmacokinetics of alcohol and drugs, updates in philosophy or practice from NHTSA and the DRE Technical Advisory Panel
- Superior teaching and organizational skills
- Approachability and flexibility
- Exceptional judgment and common sense
- Ability to apply forward-thinking and creative thought with high ethical standards
- Thorough knowledge of courtroom procedures as well as investigative techniques and methods
- Possess a valid state of California P.O.S.T. certificate (basic, intermediate, advanced, supervisory or management).
- Graduated from a state of California P.O.S.T. certified peace officer regular basic course academy
- Modular format (reserve) training will not be considered
- Drug Recognition Expert Card
- Drug Recognition Expert Instructor Card
- Drug Recognition Expert Rolling Log
All applicants who have filed an application, must scan, upload, and attach their California P.O.S.T. certificate (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, or Management) as well as their DRE Card and DRE Rolling Log to the application.
[Failure to immediately attach your certificates may result in an incomplete application which may not be accepted]
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Please click here for the minimum qualifications for the District Attorney Investigator.
PHYSICAL, MENTAL and ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
The County of Orange is committed to providing a means for applicants who may have a disability to identify areas in which they may request a reasonable accommodation. Click here to read a description of the physical and mental abilities which are customarily required to perform the essential job functions of this position. Applicants are encouraged to contact the recruiter listed in the announcement for any questions or to request an accommodation during the testing/selection process.
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION
- In addition to the monthly starting pay, candidates receive P.O.S.T. pay commensurate with the level of P.O.S.T. certificate the candidate possesses.
- Additional compensation up to 70 cents ($0.70) per hour may be available for candidates selected to work in positions requiring bilingual skills.
- Educational incentive pay of ($115.38) biweekly is available to employees who hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher from a college or university accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, International Association of Universities, or National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
RETIREMENT RECIPROCITY
Current employed members of accepted reciprocal systems who were in those retirement systems prior to January 1, 2013, and who have not retired from those systems, may be eligible for previous OCERS formula of 3% at age 55 for safety members.
- Membership in the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS). For more information, please call (714) 558-6200 or visit www.ocers.org
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The County offers a competitive benefits package which includes a choice of several health plans, annual leave (includes paid vacation) and paid holidays. Additionally, the County provides a retirement plan, which has reciprocity with the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Participation in a deferred compensation plan is available. The County also offers up to $10,000 annual Educational and Professional Reimbursement.
- For detailed information on benefits click here.
- For detailed information on OCERS retirement click here.
For specific information regarding Medical and Dental benefits for Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs' (AOCDS) members, please call (714) 285-9900.
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits such as: a choice of several health plans, dental and vision insurance, paid vacation, paid holidays, we also offer:
- Highly competitive salary
- Option of participating in the 457b Deferred Compensation Plan. For more information, please visit www.countyoforangedcplan.com
- Annual Leave (paid-time off accrual)
ORANGE COUNTY AMENITIES
- 24 Parks and Trails: OC Parks & Trails
- 17 Beaches/Harbors: OC Beaches
- 7 Historical Sites: OC Historic Sites
The Office of the District Attorney Human Resources screens all applications to identify the qualified candidates. After screening, qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition. After all the test procedures have been completed, the District Attorney's Human Resources will establish an eligible list of qualified candidates.
The recruitment procedure will consist of the following steps. Each step will require a few weeks to complete.
Application Appraisal Panel: (Weighed 100%) Application materials will be rated by a panel of job knowledge experts for those qualifications most needed to perform the duties of the job. The more qualified candidates will be referred to the next step. This is a competitive process; therefore, be thorough in your responses.
Once the assessment has been completed, District Attorney Human Resources will establish an eligible list of candidates. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
Based on the Department's needs, the recruitment procedure listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the recruitment procedure.
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.
SPECIAL QUALIICATIONS
Candidates under consideration for hire by the Office of the District Attorney-Public Administrator will be required to successfully pass an extensive and thorough background investigation, including Live Scan fingerprinting and medical and psychological testing, to the satisfaction of the District Attorney. The information gathered in the course of a background investigation is deemed confidential and will not be disclosed to the applicant unless legally mandated by statute to do so.
EMAIL NOTIFICATION:
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct e-mail address is included in our application and use only one e-mail account.
NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.
Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via e-mail through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your e-mail folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept e-mails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your e-mail address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have questions related to this recruitment, please contact Alissa Quintero at (714) 347-8805 or Alissa.Quintero@ocdapa.org
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Salary : $122,866 - $166,088
