Job Description

Under general supervision, the Estate Investigator performs investigative work in connection with estate administration under the Office of the Public Administrator; serves as the conservator of the person and estate and acts on behalf of an individual’s interests and/or functions as the representative payee – both under the Office of the Public Guardian. Responsibilities include investigations and case management in order to execute fiduciary duties such as database research for next of kin, property searches, asset and benefit determination, in person visits, collateral contacts with relatives, government and private entities, real and personal property management, and decision making regarding legal, financial, medical and similar issues. The estate investigator must provide accurate and timely documentation while adhering to and enforcing policies and procedures in compliance with federal, state, and local laws. Employees under this classification may be assigned to one or multiple programs under this division:

1. As the conservator of person and estate in Office of the Public Guardian,
2. As the estate administrator for decedent in the Office of the Public Administrator, and/or
3. As the representative payee to manage funds from Social Security Administration and other benefits/entitlements.

Incumbents in this position will work in areas, such as conservatee’s or decedent's homes to conduct thorough searches of residence, which may have bad odors, pest infestations, garbage and other refuse, and similar unpleasant conditions. This position involves working with family members, case managers, outside agencies and other members of the public in potentially stressful situations.

Essential Duties and Functions

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list; may include additional duties as assigned.

1. Performs fiduciary and legal responsibilities on behalf of conservatees and decedents, including estate administration and decision-making related to medical and financial matters.
2. Conducts investigations to secure assets, including gathering information, locating and inventorying property, and addressing claims or disputes.
3. Manages and oversees assets, such as real and personal property, financial accounts, and income, ensuring proper use, preservation, and disposition.
4. Coordinates care through case management services for conservatees, including placement, treatment, benefits management, and ongoing monitoring of well-being.
5. Maintains records and processes transactions, including property logs, financial activities, and legal documentation related to estates and conservatorships.

In addition to the duties above, incumbents may perform the following duties:

** Position Description for Deputy Public Guardian Estate Investigator**

Under general supervision, the Estate Investigator (also known as a Deputy Public Guardian) serves as the conservator of the person and estate and acts on behalf of the conservatee's interests. The Estate Investigator makes decisions related to the person, such as, medical care and placement issues as well as manage finances.

In addition, other essential functions may include:

1. Coordinates the care of the conservatee, including the arrangement of placement and treatment, managing the income and assets of the conservatee.
2. Marshals assets of the conservatee (may include managing/selling real estate, investment accounts, retirement accounts, stocks and bonds, bank accounts, and other property of value).
3. Visits the conservatee quarterly and assure that care needs are met.
4. Serves as the decision maker in medical and end-of-life decision-making for the conservatee.
5. Manages level of care and placement issues when care needs change.
6. Reviews and approves payment of monthly and/or periodic bills and makes prudent financial decisions.
7. Communicates and works collaboratively with the Public Guardian legal team.
8. Documents activities and prepares reports for the Superior Court, and performs other duties as required.

Incumbents in this position will occasionally work in areas, such as, conservatee's homes, that have bad odors, pest infestations, garbage and other refuse, and similar unpleasant conditions.

This position involves working with family members, case managers, outside agencies and other members of the public in stressful situations.

Incumbents may be required to lift and carry household goods weighing up to 60 pounds up and downstairs.

** Position Description for Deputy Public Administrator Estate Investigator**

Under general supervision, the Estate Investigator (also known as a Deputy Public Administrator) is responsible for decedent estate administration for individuals without family or with whom family cannot or is unwilling to manage the decedent estate. Responsibilities include investigating cases, marshalling assets, identifying beneficiaries, and managing legal and estate matters for final disposition and distribution.

In addition, other essential functions may include:

1. Works with mortuaries, hospitals, and Medical Examiner’s Office on disposition of the body.
2. Interviews relatives and support system and performs genealogical research.
3. Removes items for safekeeping from residence and/or financial instructions
4. Collects assets and manages real estate or businesses of decedent and related affairs
5. Works closely with legal team, accountant, and real estate professionals to ensure the timely and accurate performance of various duties in compliance with California laws, Probate Code, and department policies and procedures
6. Prepares inventory and appraisal, status reports, and other court documents.

Incumbents in this position will occasionally work in areas, such as, conservatee's homes, that have bad odors, pest infestations, garbage and other refuse, and similar unpleasant conditions.

This position involves working with family members, case managers, outside agencies and other members of the public in stressful situations.

Incumbents may be required to lift and carry household goods weighing up to 60 pounds up and downstairs.

** Position Description for Deputy Representative Payee Estate Investigator**

Under general supervision, the Estate Investigator performs investigative and case carrying work as per its fiduciary responsibilities as representative payee under the Public Guardian’s Office as well as working collaboratively with family members, case managers, outside agencies and other members of the public.

In addition, other essential functions may include:

1. Applies for and maintains income and benefits for a large caseload of clients.
2. Works with case managers and support system to maintain benefits and eligibility.
3. Reviews and approves payment monthly and/or periodic bills.
4. Communicates with government agencies, such as Social Security, Veterans Administration, and other similar entities.

This position involves working with family members, case managers, outside agencies and other members of the public.

Qualifications

Education

Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience

One (1) year of professional experience in: Probate, Financial/ Fiduciary Services, Social Work, Case Management or investigations related to one of the above areas.

License and Certification

Positions may require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Substitution

Possession of a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, public administration or business administration may substitute for the required education and experience.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise stated.

Verification of Experience and/or Education

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training, and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included in your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification, or may lead to lower scores.

Selection Procedures

Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation: (Weight= 100%)

Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be invited to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination; this exam is designed to measure knowledge, skills and/or abilities in job-related areas which may include, but not be limited to:

Knowledge of: Requires knowledge of legal documents, titles to property, both real and personal; office and court procedures; processes involved in the administration of estates including real estate practices, banking and other financial procedures.

Ability or Skill to: Requires ability to: deal courteously and effectively with others in handling difficult personal situations; perform investigations; administer the estates of deceased persons; prepare reports.

Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director.

A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation to continue in the selection process.

Candidate exam responses will be vetted as appropriate using AI use detection software. Evidence of use of AI, plagiarized answers, or falsified information in exam responses will be addressed in accordance with Civil Service Rules related to fraud and cheating.

The above test components are considered standardized and, therefore, test questions and answers are not available for public inspection or review.

Additional Information

Eligible List/Score Report

A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 12 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods, and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations. [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/.] The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications, and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at http://sfgov.org/civilservice/rules.

Additional Information

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Position Based Testing Information
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

How to Apply

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit: https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Carmen K. Lewis, by telephone at (415) 557-5241 or by email at carmen.lewis@sfgov.org.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.