OAG - Transportation | Investigator II | 26-0512

General Description

Come join an exciting and vital team helping provide the roads, bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure for the fastest-growing state: Texas! As Texas grows so does its need for transportation infrastructure. To assist the Texas Department of Transportation in protecting its transportation projects, the Transportation Division of the Attorney General’s Office is adding a new Investigator position. One of the ways the Transportation Division represents TxDOT is by collecting reimbursement for damages to the State’s property caused by accidents on the highways built and maintained by TxDOT. Our investigators manage a large docket of collection cases, starting with a demand letter, through litigation, and ending in collection of funds for damage to State property.

The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits (https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance) along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans.

Essential Position Functions

• Review property damage claims files to identify and locate parties responsible for damaging state property in order to obtain compensation for damages
• Communicate orally or in writing with insurance companies, claims adjusters, attorneys, and individuals regarding responsibility/compensation for damages to state property
• Conduct background and personal history investigation re: driver’s license information and verification of address using legal research tools
• Conduct asset research using available legal research tools
• Draft correspondence for demand letters
• Draft petitions for suits to recover damages to state property
• Participate In managing attorneys’ caseloads, including scheduling, prioritizing, and organizing files
• Communicate with agency personnel, client agencies, court personnel, and opposing counsel
• Negotiate settlement terms (within guidelines)
• Draft release documents and pleadings to dismiss suit
• Draft documents to close file
• Enters and retrieves information using a computer to update case/calendar records on master file
• Provides administrative and clerical support to division’s attorneys and staff
• Files pleadings and documents with court clerks
• Conducts investigations, performs research, and drafts petitions, motions, pleadings, orders, briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents
• Works over 40 hours per week as needed
• Provides excellent customer service
• Uses personal vehicle for business-related travel
• Performs related work as assigned
• Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions
• Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule
• Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information
• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity
  
  

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent
• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; experience in the following (or closely related) fields may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis:
• Experience: One year of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: legal or collections
• Knowledge of legal terminology and processes
• Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
• Skill in effective oral and written communication
• Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making
• Skill in conducting effective research
• Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback
• Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment
• Ability to provide excellent customer service
• Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG work space within OAG work location, and perform in-person work with coworkers (e.g., collaborating, training, mentoring) for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave)
• Ability to arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel
• Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA
• Ability to lift and relocate 30 lbs.
• Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 5%
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent
• Experience: One year of full-time experience as an administrative assistant or investigator
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Experience participating in remote proceedings using Teams, Zoom, or other teleconference software.
• Other Language: Ability to proficiently read, write, and speak Spanish
  
  

TO APPLY

To apply for a job with the OAG, electronic applications can be submitted through CAPPS Recruit. A State of Texas application must be completed to be considered, and paper applications are not accepted. Your application for this position may subject you to a criminal background check pursuant to the Texas Government Code. Military Crosswalk information can be accessed at

https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ComplianceInspectionandInvestigation.pdf

THE OAG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER