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Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.
Under direction of the Supervising Special Investigator I, the Special Investigator is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Health and Safety Code 25990-25994, as well as the California Code of Regulations. The incumbent will compile information and conduct investigations of suspected illegal activity related to improper confinement of covered animals, complaints of animal cruelty at facilities subject to the law, and the illegal sale of covered products originating from covered animals confined in a cruel manner and execute policies and procedures to improve environmental health, the humane confinement and care of food-producing animals, and the sustainability of California agriculture.
As an employee of the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), you are required to perform the "essential functions" of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. If you are interested in becoming part of a diverse and inclusive workforce where talent, experience, and expertise are valued, then CDFA is the place for you!!
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The CDFA does not participate in E-Verify for employment authorization purposes.
Be a part of the Animal Care Program team and travel throughout California to ensure Animal Confinement laws and regulations are implemented and enforced.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .
Working Conditions
The duties of this position require the employee to work in the field approximately 70% of the time. This 70% of time includes traveling to locations throughout California, which includes air travel and overnight travel when necessary. The employee reports to the Ontario Office, Headquarters Location (at minimum on a quarterly basis), only to pick up supplies, attend meetings and turn in required documents. Travel expenses from the employee's home to their assigned Headquarters Location are considered a normal commute and are not reimbursable.
Most of the workday will be spent traveling to various locations throughout an assigned region. When working outdoors the employee may be exposed to extremes in temperatures, sun, wind, rain, high noise levels, rural, urban and highway driving hazards, movement of large farm animals, heavy farming equipment, and less than cooperative farm operators and workers. Indoor locations may include indoor barns housing animals, food processing facilities, distribution centers, and food retail locations.
When working in the office, the employee is equipped with laptop computer hardware and various software programs including email, telephone with voicemail and other standard office essentials. Field activity equipment consists of a cellular telephone, camera, tape recorder, and optical enhancement equipment.
The Special Investigator spends a significant amount of time traveling in a state vehicle to sites where violations or other illegal activities are suspected at locations within and outside of the State. Some time is spent conducting surveillance of sites from parked vehicles and nearby vantage points. The Special Investigator also spends a considerable amount of time meeting with District staff, industry leaders, law enforcement officials, attorneys, and District Attorneys. Those meetings are usually in offices at a variety of locations.
This position may/may not be eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the CDFA and based on the current telework policy. While the CDFA supports telework where possible, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises, as determined by the Department.
Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-528513
Position #(s):
014-108-8612-004
Working Title:
SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR
Classification:
SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR $5,528.00 - $6,863.00 A
$6,310.00 - $8,217.00 B
$6,924.00 - $9,037.00 C
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
San Bernardino County
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Department Information
The Mission of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is to safeguard a resilient food system and promote an equitable marketplace, cultivating a California grown food supply that is globally recognized for innovation, quality, and sustainability.
The Animal Care Program, as part of the Animal Health and Food Safety Services (AHFSS) division, regulates the confinement of calves raised for veal, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens to ensure compliance with farm animal housing and care provisions of the Health and Safety Code and California Code of Regulations. This law prohibits covered farm animals from being confined in a cruel manner or products from covered farm animals confined in a cruel manner sold within the State. The definition of confined in a cruel manner means egg-laying hens, calves raised for veal, and breeding pigs must be raised according to the minimum space requirements outlined in the law and it is illegal for businesses in California to knowingly sell shell eggs, liquid eggs, veal or pork meat that originated from animals confined in a cruel manner, including products from covered farm animals raised and maintained at facilities located out-of-state. The Program registers facilities involved in the handling, distribution and sales of eggs, pork meat and veal meat, and conducts audits and inspections to ensure products reaching California consumers are from sources in conformance with animal cruelty prevention requirements in state law.
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/AnimalCare/
Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a valid California Drivers License (CDL). You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application. Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required and must be submitted with your Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications received without an appropriate SOQ based on the instructions below may be disqualified from this recruitment. Resumes, cover letters, and other documents will not be considered in lieu of the SOQ. The SOQ instructions and questions/prompts are below.
• Restate questions/prompts prior to response
• Include your name and job control number at the top of each page
• Must be single-spaced, no more than two (2) pages, and Arial size 11 font

What are some of the most important skills for a special investigator?

Share an experience you had in dealing with a difficult person and how you handled the situation.

Describe how you stay organized and manage your time effectively in order to prioritize cases and assignments.

Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 8/27/2026
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Department of Food & Agriculture
Attn: Human Resources Branch, JC-528513
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento , CA 95814
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Department of Food & Agriculture
Human Resources Branch, JC-528513
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento , CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications - A completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted with your State Application (STD. 678) to be considered. Please see the Special Requirements section for the SOQ details.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
Benefits Benef it information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.
Contact Information
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Hiring Unit Contact:
Shelby Torres
(916) 516-5601
shelby.torres@cdfa.ca.gov
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
(916) 654-1005
Civil_Rights@cdfa.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.
Additional Information:
Employment History on the STD 678 (State Application) must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Resumes or other documents cannot substitute for a completed state application. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD 678 may be disqualified.
Please do not include any confidential information such as social security number, marital status, ethnicity, age, salary or disability information on any of the documentation uploaded with your online application.
If the classification you are applying for has an education requirement, transcripts will be required to verify you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. Please be sure to redact any confidential information before uploading your transcripts.
Upon hire you may be required to provide official sealed transcripts or an original degree or certificate.
Applicants with foreign degrees may be asked to provide an official foreign transcript evaluation which indicates course work is equivalent to a degree from an accredited U.S. College or University.
This position may require a medical clearance.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.