Wage and Hour Investigator
What you'd do
Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is an essential labor law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing significant labor laws affecting nearly 150 million workers. There are two vacancies being recruited in the West Region through this announcement, one General Wage and Hour Investigator and one Wage and Hour Investigator to focus on Agriculture. The selected candidate(s) must report to a designated District or Field Office within the West Region.
Major duties
The Wage and Hour Investigator (Regional Enforcement Coordinator) serves as the principal advisor to the Regional Administrator, Deputy Regional Administrator, Director of Enforcement, Deputy Director of Enforcement, and/or District Directors of the assigned WHD region regarding issues and compliance activities, with responsibility for overseeing enforcement of various assigned Acts and enforcement programs. Duties include: Evaluates case files considering Investigator standards and provides feedback on case deficiencies to the employee as well as the appropriate District Office manager. Assesses priorities and recommends changes in planned enforcement programs on the basis of current knowledge of industry practices, economic conditions, prevalent attitudes, and other factors; selects individual employers for investigation and determines appropriate remedies, considering such factors as evidence of violations, frequency of certain violations, probable extent of violations, need for clarification in questionable cases of coverage, and degree of compliance. Coordinates program activities with related activities of other Department of Labor, State, and Federal agencies, regarding contributions to defined benefit plans, concurrent investigations conducted by state or criminal enforcement agencies, etc. Leads or conducts the full range and scope of investigations in assigned program areas. Investigations frequently involve coordinating efforts and the incumbent serves a leadership role where enforcement activities involve multiple District Offices and/or Regions. Conducts negotiations with employers, their legal counsels, accountants, and representatives of employers and industry associations to get voluntary compliance and obtain back wages and liquidated damages, when appropriate, due employees. Identifies potential litigation cases and works closely with representatives of the Solicitor's Office in building the most effective case where litigation is involved. Provides technical advice and assistance to District Office investigators on cases in which enforcement precedents are not applicable, evidence is inconclusive, and issues are ambiguous. Develops and conducts specialized training programs in these program areas. Plans, develops, and actively participates in an aggressive public relations, information, and educational programs regarding protections for workers covered by the various acts enforced by the Wage and Hour Division and within the assigned enforcement programs.
What you need to qualify
You must meet all requirements listed below to qualify for the Wage and Hour Investigator: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements described below. A full year of work experience is defined as 35-40 hours per week. All experience listed on your resume must include month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited based on the actual time spent performing qualifying duties. Applicants seeking credit for part-time experience must clearly describe their duties and responsibilities and indicate the number of hours worked per week. In describing your experience, be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your qualifications. Step 1: Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) Applicants must first meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR). Applicants MUST satisfy at least two (2) of the following three criteria: General knowledge of Federal wage and hour labor laws, industrial occupations, wage scales, employment practices, or salary and wage administration practices. Skill in analyzing written/verbal information and numerical data and making decisions on issues based on interviews, records review, reconstruction of missing or fraudulent records and applying legal or regulatory provisions, precedents, and principles to specific investigative matters. Skill in personal contacts requiring the ability to explain requirements or rights and obtain information and cooperation from people with diverse backgrounds and levels of understanding, reconcile conflicting interests, and persuade others to comply voluntarily with requirements. In addition to meeting two of the three criteria above, applicants MUST also demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to apply Federal wage and hour labor laws pertaining to wages, hours of work, or related conditions of employment. Examples of qualifying experience include: Developing, interpreting, or applying policies, procedures, and operating standards in determining compliance for an organization or government-based program. Conducting interviews and providing information about laws and/or regulations. Industrial personnel or salary and wage administration or responsible work in a certified public accounting firm. Analyzing or applying labor legislation. Reviewing and evaluating operations and procedures through analysis, audits, or surveillance inspections. Federal, State, or self-regulatory agency work involving obtaining compliance with appropriate program requirements. Step 2: Specialized Experience In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement, applicants must possess 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically related to the work of the position being filled. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Planning, coordinating, and/or conducting compliance activities and analysis for a complex enforcement program. Coordinating with other organizations, or parts of the organization, to manage cross-regional projects, monitor progress, and evaluate outcomes. Experience conducting Wage and Hour investigations of national or large multi-unit enterprises. Ability to effectively mediate, conciliate, and apply techniques required to achieve agreement with others. For Wage and Hour Investigator that will focus on Agriculture, the following are additional examples of qualifying specialized experience: Experience planning and conducting large complex agricultural investigations dealing with MSPA and H-2A statutes. Experience planning and presenting at agricultural outreach events. Additional Eligibility Requirements Applicants must also meet the following eligibility requirements: Time-in-grade: 52 weeks at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent Federal service. Time after competitive appointment: 90 days, if applicable. All minimum qualification requirements. To be eligible for consideration, all requirements must be met within 30 days of the announcement closing date.
Before you apply
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