Investigations Specialist (Human Resource Consultant 4)

**Description** --------------- **Investigations Specialist** (Human Resource Consultant 4\) Monday \- Friday \| 8AM \- 5PM \| HYBRID **NOTE:** This position is eligible for full time remote/telework within Washington State and flexible scheduling. There may be instances where you will be required to work from the office or a field location. **The Department of Enterprise Services (DES)** provides centralized business services to state government agencies; to other public entities such as cities, counties and tribes; and to Washington residents. DES’ mission is to strengthen the business of government for a sustainable and just future. Learn more about DES. **About the Opportunity:** As an Investigations Specialist reporting directly to the Chief Human Resource Officer, you will serve as the agency’s senior\-level authority overseeing the integrity and strategy of the investigative process for the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) and supported small agencies. In this role, you will lead complex, sensitive workplace investigations into personnel matters, ensuring all practices are objective, consistent, and legally defensible. Collaborating closely with HR Business Partners, the HR Labor Specialist, and agency executives, you will provide expert consultation on investigation strategy, policy interpretation, and discipline considerations. Ultimately, you will play a critical role in mitigating risk, ensuring compliance with employment laws and collective bargaining agreements, and aligning investigative approaches with broader operational and business needs. **Duties** ---------- **Some of What You’ll Enjoy Doing Includes:** * Lead and conduct complex, sensitive, and high\-profile workplace investigations involving alleged misconduct, discrimination, and policy violations. * Define investigation scopes, develop comprehensive investigation plans, and determine appropriate methodologies. * Conduct interviews with complainants, respondents, and witnesses using effective and objective investigative techniques. * Gather, analyze, and evaluate evidence from multiple sources to determine relevant facts and accurately assess credibility. * Develop thorough, objective, and well\-supported investigative reports containing clear findings and recommendations. * Ensure all investigations strictly align with legal requirements, collective bargaining agreements, agency policies, and required timelines. * Partner closely with HR Business Partners to develop investigative strategies and provide guidance on corrective and progressive discipline. * Establish, monitor, and enforce standardized investigative processes and documentation to ensure high\-quality, consistent, and legally defensible practices across all agency divisions and small agency customers. * Ensure strict compliance with timelines, due process, agency policies, laws, and collective bargaining agreements while maintaining a clear separation of responsibilities from discipl