Job Posting - Ethics Investigator - NCSWCLB

POSITION: Ethics Investigator
JOB TYPE: Part-Time, Non-Exempt (15-20 hours per week average)
COMPENSATION: $35.00 - $40.00 per hour, not eligible for employee benefits.
REPORTS TO: Ethics Director
LOCATION: 100% Remote (except for training, mandatory meetings, and administrative agency hearings)

ORGANIZATION AND POSITION OVERVIEW:

The North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board (the Board) is the state’s regulatory licensing board responsible for protecting the public through the certification, licensure, and ethics investigations of social work professionals. The Ethics Investigator is an impartial, fact-finding role responsible for conducting investigations into complaints against credentialed social workers. This position ensures due diligence in the investigative process, providing unbiased, fact-based reports that support the Ethics Director, Board of Directors, and administrative hearings. By maintaining neutrality, confidentiality, and strict adherence to statutes and administrative rules, the Ethics Investigator upholds the integrity of the Board’s mission to protect the public and support ethical standards in the social work profession.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Investigations

• Conduct investigations as ordered by the Ethics Director or Board of Directors.
• Conduct in-depth interviews with complainants, respondents, and witnesses; ensure recordings and documentation meet standards for potential hearings.
• Gather, review, and analyze case files, evidence, and testimony, ensuring investigative reports are thorough, accurate, and grounded in precedent.
• Communicate with complainants, respondents, attorneys, and other parties strictly within the scope of the investigation.
• Prepare fact-based investigative reports that contain factually supported conclusions and reference past precedent where appropriate.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of relevant state statutes and administrative codes.
• Apply rules, regulations, and policies consistently and impartially.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding information obtained during investigations.
• Manage multiple investigations simultaneously while adhering to established timelines.

Hearing Participation

• Testify about their investigative processes and findings at administrative hearings.
• Provide clear, impartial testimony without advocacy, focusing strictly on factual findings.

Compliance & Documentation

• Maintain complete investigation files in the Board’s occupational licensing software.
• Handle only the investigative component of ethics cases, maintaining independence from case management decisions.
• Ensure chain of custody for all evidence, typically involving copies of original documentation.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Ethics Director.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Social Work.
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in good standing, with a minimum of 5 years of experience as an LCSW.
• May not maintain separate employment that uses their LCSW licensure, per NCGS §93B-8.2.
• Demonstrated skeptical, critical, and inquisitive mindset suited to investigative work.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to maintain impartiality, confidentiality, and neutrality in all investigations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and cloud-based administrative systems.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior investigative experience in a regulatory, legal, or professional setting.
• Prior experience supervising Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associates.
• Experience testifying in administrative or legal proceedings.
• Familiarity with occupational licensing, administrative law, or ethics investigations.

NCSWCLB is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
www.ncswboard.gov