BACKGROUND INVESTIGATOR
KENTECH Consulting Inc. is an award-winning background technology screening company. We are the creators of innovative projects such as eKnowID.com - 1st consumer background checking system of its kind, and ClarityIQ a high-tech/high-touch investigative case management system.
MISSION
We're on a mission to help the world make clear and informed hiring decisions
VALUE
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People Focused: We are client focused and results-driven.
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Growth Minded: We believe in collaborative learning and industry best practices to deliver excellence.
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Fact Finders: We are passionate investigators for discovery and truth.
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Community Partnerships: We believe there is no greater power for transformation than delivering on what a communities and employees care about.
IMPACT
As a small agile company, we seek high performers who relish in the idea that their effort will directly impact our customers and help shape the next evolution of background investigations.
Job Description
The Background Investigator conducts impartial, fact-based pre-employment background investigations for law enforcement, municipal government, and other assigned public-sector clients.
This is a case-based independent contractor role requiring significant direct experience conducting pre-employment background investigations. The Background Investigator independently manages accepted cases, reviews candidate information, conducts interviews, researches public records, identifies discrepancies or areas requiring additional inquiry, and prepares accurate and defensible investigative reports.
This role requires strong investigative judgment, disciplined documentation, professional communication, and the ability to consistently meet established case-volume and turnaround expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive pre-employment background investigations for law enforcement, municipal government, and other assigned public-sector clients.
- Review and analyze candidate applications, questionnaires, employment history, criminal history, civil records, and other relevant background information.
- Conduct candidate interviews through phone, virtual platforms, or in person when required by the assignment.
- Conduct professional, personal, employment, and other appropriate reference interviews.
- Research criminal, civil, public-record, and other approved information sources.
- Navigate multiple online portals, public-record databases, investigative tools, and approved research systems independently.
- Verify candidate-provided information using appropriate records, source contacts, and investigative methods.
- Identify gaps, discrepancies, inconsistencies, omissions, or information requiring additional investigation.
- Conduct appropriate investigative follow-up to clarify or substantiate relevant findings.
- Prepare complete, accurate, objective, and well-organized investigative reports.
- Ensure investigative reports accurately document findings without unsupported conclusions or recommendations.
- Maintain complete case notes, contact attempts, interview documentation, research records, and supporting information.
- Document investigative activity accurately within KENTECH's internal case-management and workflow systems.
- Manage multiple accepted cases simultaneously while maintaining required quality and turnaround expectations.
- Maintain the capacity to complete a minimum of 2 cases per week and up to 5 cases per week based on accepted workload and availability.
- Submit completed investigations and reports within established case deadlines, including a 48-hour turnaround when required by the assignment.
- Communicate promptly regarding candidate non-responsiveness, unavailable records, investigative delays, or other circumstances affecting case completion.
- Coordinate with Investigations Leads, Project Managers, Audit, report writers, and other internal resources as appropriate.
- Respond to quality-review feedback and complete required revisions or investigative follow-up promptly.
- Maintain professional communication with candidates, references, internal teams, and authorized agency stakeholders.
- Follow applicable client requirements, KENTECH procedures, documentation standards, and confidentiality requirements.
- Protect personally identifiable information, investigative records, client information, and other confidential data.
- Perform additional investigative activities within the agreed scope of the engagement.
Qualifications
- College degree in Criminal Justice, Journalism, Political Science, Pre-Law, Paralegal Studies, or a related field.
- 5+ years of direct experience conducting pre-employment background investigations for law enforcement or government agencies.
- General criminal investigation, journalism, or reporting experience alone does not satisfy the required background investigation experience.
- Strong interviewing skills for remote and in-person investigative interviews.
- Strong research, analytical, and investigative skills.
- Strong professional writing and documentation skills.
- Ability to interpret investigative findings and prepare clear, objective, and defensible reports.
- Ability to identify inconsistencies, information gaps, and areas requiring additional investigative follow-up.
- Experience conducting criminal and civil public-record research.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace, spreadsheets, online portals, public-record systems, and investigative tools.
- Ability to independently navigate multiple systems and information sources to research and verify candidate information.
- Strong organizational and case-management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple accepted investigations and established deadlines.
- Ability to maintain a minimum workload of 2 completed cases per week, with capacity for up to 5 cases per week depending on availability and case assignment.
- Ability to meet required case turnaround expectations, including a 48-hour completion requirement when applicable to the assignment.
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC) when required for assigned work.
Preferred Qualifications
- Current PERC registration.
- Extensive experience conducting law enforcement or municipal background investigations.
- Experience supporting multiple government or public-sector clients.
- Experience with investigative case-management systems.
- Experience working in a remote, case-based investigative environment.
- Experience coordinating investigative work with quality-review teams, report writers, or project management resources.
Soft Skills
- Investigative Judgment: Evaluates information objectively and determines appropriate follow-up based on documented facts.
- Attention to Detail: Identifies discrepancies, omissions, and documentation issues that may affect investigative quality.
- Integrity: Conducts investigations impartially, ethically, and professionally.
- Communication: Conducts effective interviews and communicates findings, concerns, and case status clearly.
- Analytical Thinking: Reviews information critically and connects relevant facts without making unsupported assumptions.
- Organization: Manages multiple cases, records, interviews, deadlines, and follow-up requirements effectively.
- Accountability: Takes ownership of accepted cases and follows investigative work through completion.
- Time Management: Prioritizes workload appropriately to meet case-volume and turnaround expectations.
- Independence: Conducts assigned investigative work with limited supervision while maintaining appropriate communication with KENTECH.
- Professionalism: Maintains appropriate interactions with candidates, references, agency stakeholders, and KENTECH personnel.
- Confidentiality: Protects sensitive applicant, investigative, client, and company information.
Additional Information
- Engagement Type: Independent Contractor (1099)
- Work Arrangement: Remote
- Compensation: $200 per completed case
- Workload Expectation: Minimum of 2 completed cases per week, with capacity for up to 5 cases per week based on accepted assignments and availability
- Turnaround Expectation: Completed investigations and reports must be submitted within 48 hours of assignment when required
- Schedule: Contractor-managed within established case deadlines and client requirements
Equal Employment Opportunity
KENTECH Consulting Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace.
This is a remote position.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive
consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex,
national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other
characteristic protected by law.
WHO WE ARE
KENTECH Consulting Inc. is an award-winning background technology screening company and licensed Private Detective Agency. Our team combines investigative expertise, technology, and industry knowledge to deliver accurate, timely, and compliant background screening and investigative services.
We support organizations across multiple industries with solutions designed to help them make clear and informed hiring decisions.
WHAT WE DO
KENTECH provides customized background screening, investigative, verification, and public-sector support services.
Our capabilities include:
- Pre-employment background investigations
- Employment and education verifications
- Criminal and public-record research
- Social media and open-source investigations
- Public safety background investigations
- Technology-enabled background screening solutions
We are also the creators of innovative platforms such as eKnowID.com and ClarityIQ, designed to improve how organizations manage and complete background screening and investigative work.
OUR MISSION
We're on a mission to help the world make clear and informed hiring decisions.
OUR VALUES
- People Focused: We are client focused and results-driven.
- Growth Minded: We believe in collaborative learning and industry best practices to deliver excellence.
- Fact Finders: We are passionate investigators for discovery and truth.
- Community Partnerships: We believe there is no greater power for transformation than delivering on what communities and employees care about.
CAREERS AT KENTECH
We are building a team of professionals who care about accuracy, service, accountability, continuous improvement, and meaningful work.
Our team includes investigators, researchers, verification professionals, operations specialists, client success professionals, technology professionals, and business support roles working together to support our clients and strengthen the background investigation process.
WHO THRIVES HERE
People tend to do well at KENTECH when they:
- Take ownership of their work and follow through
- Communicate clearly and professionally
- Pay close attention to detail
- Solve problems rather than wait for someone else to solve them
- Adapt well to changing priorities and client needs
- Value collaboration and accountability
- Are comfortable working independently in a remote environment
- Care about producing accurate, high-quality work
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE
If you are looking for meaningful work in an organization where your contribution can have a direct impact, explore our current opportunities and find the role that best fits your experience.
