- Salary
- $48k – $55k/yr
- Location
- Harrisburg, PA, PA, US
- Workplace
- Remote
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- Engineering
- Education
- High School
- Source
- GovernmentJobs
Description
Section: Tobacco Enforcement Section - Vape Enforcement Unit/Public Protection Division
Class: Civil Investigator I/II
Location: Harrisburg
Telework: This position will report to the headquartered location a minimum of 2 days per week. You may have the opportunity to telework the remainder of the week, if desired and based on business need. Please be advised this position requires work in the field, which will occasionally result in more than two days per week in the headquartered location or in the field.
Position Type: Full-time, Non-civil service, Union
Work Hours: 8:30 – 5:00
Salary Range: Civil Investigator I, Pay Range 6 – Starting salary of $56,541
Civil Investigator II, Pay Range 7 – Starting salary of $64,574
Basic Function
The Vape Enforcement Unit is a new unit that has been created within The Tobacco Enforcement Section (TES) that is tasked with implementing Act 57 of 2025 which was signed into law on December 22, 2025. The act establishes a directory of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products that may be sold in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Vape Enforcement Unit’s primary mission is to administer and enforce the provisions of the act. The ultimate purpose of the unit is to ensure that only products that have been approved by the Office of Attorney General, and are on the directory, are being sold in the Commonwealth.
A Civil Investigator I could perform the below duties under the direction and guidance of an experienced investigator or supervisor. A Civil Investigator II could perform the below duties independently.
- Reviews ENDS manufacturer certifications for adherence to legal standards for inclusion or exclusion from the ENDS directory
- Updates ENDS brand families in the directory to ensure only legal ENDS products are posted
- Conducts field inspections of warehouses and retail venues to enforce the law, search for and seize contraband ENDS products, conduct interviews, and educate citizens
- Creates and maintains Excel spreadsheets for analysis and for investigations
- Reviews PA Department of Revenue reports and databases to identify potential illegal transactions, identify patterns of illegal conduct, and detect misreporting and legal violations
- Reviews federal Prevent All (Electronic) Cigarette Trafficking (E-PACT) reports to identify potential illegal shipments of ENDS products into Pennsylvania
- Analyzes and organizes data, including large sets of data, to assess patterns indicative of trafficking of illegal ENDS products
- Draws sound conclusions based upon facts and makes appropriate recommendations to the supervisor and assigned attorneys
- Creates investigative plans and prioritizes multiple work assignments under deadlines
- Participates in multi-state conference calls to monitor ENDS information bearing on sales of ENDS products in Pennsylvania
- Liaises with the PA Department of Revenue’s Bureau of Enforcement and Taxpayer Assistance, Division of Criminal Tax Investigations, and Bureau of Audits; the Tobacco Tax Fraud Unit and other sections within the Office of Attorney General; other state agencies; and federal agencies to obtain, share, and evaluate information pertaining to the legality of ENDS product sales and provide assistance when appropriate
- Conducts phone interviews to obtain information, further investigations, and evaluate information provided in certifications
- Handles citizen calls and emails to resolve questions and complaints, and when appropriate refers matters to relevant agencies
- Conducts undercover ENDS purchases over the internet to ensure compliance
- Assists in litigation activities, including the production and receipt of potentially voluminous discovery documents, by indexing, redacting, scanning, and coding documents in case management systems
- Attends meetings, trainings, and conferences, and may present at conferences
- Travels across Pennsylvania and other states requiring overnight travel and occasional overtime during evening hours
- Requires the seizing of contraband product, and the loading and transporting of contraband to secure storage locations
- Assists with other work within the Tobacco Enforcement Section when needed
- Prepares notes, memos, and letters and maintains files
- Performs related work as required
Civil Investigator I:
- A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university OR
- Graduation from high school with four years of responsible investigative, accounting, or paralegal experience OR
- A combination of education, experience, and training that would afford the applicant the knowledge to perform the required duties
Civil Investigator II:
- A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university and one year of investigative, accounting, or paralegal experience OR
- Graduation from high school with five years of responsible investigative, accounting, or paralegal experience OR