Labor Standards Investigator (Compliance Specialist 2)

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) is proud to be an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to workforce diversity. We welcome members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S community members, and others to apply.  

BOLI, Wage and Hour Division is currently hiring seven Labor Standards Investigator (Compliance Specialist 2) positions. The primary purpose of these positions is to support effective compliance and enforcement of Oregon’s wage and hour laws. These are permanent, SEIU-represented positions, consisting of six full-time and one part-time role. This recruitment may be used to establish a list of qualified candidates and to fill additional vacancies as they occur. 

Note:  We are committed to fostering a supportive, flexible work environment. This is a hybrid position with weekly in-person requirements for meetings, site visits, and other in-office responsibilities. The successful candidate may work from the Portland, Salem, or Eugene office and may be eligible for a hybrid schedule. Fluency in Spanish (speaking, reading, and writing) is preferred, and a 5% bilingual pay differential is available when bilingual skills are required and after successful completion of a bilingual assessment. 

Here’s what you will do:    

Below is a sample of job duties. It is not meant to encompass all duties.  

• Conduct investigations by collecting, reviewing, and analyzing records, evidence, documents, and data relevant to the investigation. 

• Conduct on-site inspections to ascertain status of compliance with laws. 

• Conduct research utilizing various online databases and websites to collect critical case details and information.  

• Interview claimants/complainants, employers, attorneys, union representatives, public officials, witnesses, and others, and document interviews through written statements and contact reports. 

• Perform complex wage calculations using Microsoft Excel and analyze a high volume of claims and complaints to insure timely processing in accordance with Division performance standards. 

• Monitor employer business practices, conduct compliance reviews and audits, and consult with other government agencies to clarify regulatory issues and support enforcement activities. 

• Interpret and apply relevant laws, rules, and policies to case findings to determine outcomes or prepare cases for administrative hearings or referral to the Department of Justice for litigation. 

• Facilitate dispute resolution through mediation, negotiation, or referral, and negotiate settlements and compliance agreements with employers and other stakeholders to recover wages and ensure compliance. 

• Prepare correspondence, demand letters, orders of determination, settlement agreements, compliance agreements, and other written documentation.  

• Participate in task forces, research changes in state or federal laws, and perform special assignments or other duties as assigned. 

This Is What You Need to Qualify: 

Four years’ experience doing administrative research that included compiling and evaluating facts to recommend management action or decide compliance with program guidelines and regulations. Two of the four years must be above the technical support level. 

Note: college-level course work may substitute for experience on the basis of 45-quarter units per year, up to a maximum of three years. 

The ideal candidate will possess the following desired skills and attributes: 

• Experience managing a high-volume caseload (e.g., cases, claims, investigations, or similar workload) with the ability to prioritize tasks and consistently meet deadlines.  

• Ability to research, interpret, and apply complex laws, rules, policies, and procedures to determine compliance.   

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal or regulatory information to individuals from diverse backgrounds using a culturally responsive approach.   

• Experience conducting interviews with employees, employers, witnesses, and other parties to assess compliance with statutes and administrative rules.   

• Experience conducting investigations, including collecting and analyzing evidence, performing audits, and completing complex wage calculations to determine compliance or violations. 

• Experience preparing clear, detailed written reports summarizing investigations, findings, and recommendations for use in administrative hearings or court proceedings.   

• Experience mediating or negotiating settlements between parties.   

• Preferred: Ability to speak, read, and write Spanish fluently.

Why Join Us:

Our mission... 

Led by Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson, the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) work to ensure that Oregon jobs are good jobs, where workers get paid what they are owed and have a discrimination-free work environment.  BOLI protects workers’ rights through enforcement of state labor laws, ensures adherence to civil rights law in public spaces and housing, promotes the development of a highly skilled workforce through registered apprenticeship programs, and provides training and confidential assistance to Oregon employers so they have the tools they need to comply with workplace rules. 

Working Conditions: 

Daily contact via phone, email, mail, and/or in-person with employees, employers, witnesses and others who may be hostile, angry or otherwise emotionally volatile. Must be able to maintain objectivity, negotiate and resolve adversarial and emotional disputes with tact and diplomacy. Interviews and on-site investigations may occasionally be conducted at the employers’ work sites, which may be indoors or outdoors. Work sites may be hot, cold, wet, cramped and/or dirty. Position requires occasional evening and/or weekend work and occasional travel to perform field work that may involve overnight stays. Drivers’ license valid in the state of Oregon and acceptable driving record is required. 

What's In It For You 

• Work/life balance, vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays a year, and personal days off.

• Competitive benefits package including medical, vision, and dental. 

• Pension and retirement programs.

• Employee Resources 

• Advancement opportunity within BOLI and other State agencies.

• Opportunity to expand your technical and professional skills.

• Work with others who are passionate about public service.

• Make a difference in the lives of Oregonians.

• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.   

How to Apply 

Please Note: Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM PDT/PST on Wednesday, May 5, 2026.    

• Click on the "Apply" link above to complete your online application and submit by the posted closing date and time.  

• The work experience and/or education section of your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications and desired skills and attributes listed above.   

• All applicants (internal and external) must submit a resume and cover letter, as the information in Workday does not substitute for the application requirements. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training align with the minimum qualifications and requested skills and attributes listed in the posting. 

• Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages.   

• Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the “requested skills” section may receive lower scores than those that addressed the requested skills and attributes.  The information in your resume and cover letter will be used to determine which candidates move forward in the process.

• Clearly demonstrate in your resume and cover letter how you meet all the minimum qualifications and required skills and attributes listed above.   

• Failure to submit the required resume and cover letter may remove your application from consideration.    

• Please do not include pictures in your application materials. Applications that do not meet this requirement will be deemed ineligible for consideration as they do not meet the requirements of the posting. 

• Be sure to check Workday and your email for additional tasks and updates. After submitting your application, check your Workday inbox and email for additional required tasks, including the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. These tasks must be completed before the recruitment closes. Current State of Oregon employees will receive these tasks in their Workday inbox.   

• Answer the checkbox-style questions in the questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit your application, which completes the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.   

• Please save a copy of this job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job closes.  

• Warning – Workday will timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity and will not save your application progress unless you use the “save for later” function. If you need to take a break, please be sure to click the save for later button to save your progress. You will find your unfinished application in your Workday inbox.  

Additional Information   

• Per the Pay Equity Law passed in 2017, a pay equity analysis will be conducted to determine what pay step the successful candidate will be offered.  The analysis will be based on the relevant experience, education, training, and certifications documented in the application materials.    

• This is a PERS qualifying position. Employees new to the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) will get a 6.95% base salary increase and will pay a 6% employee contribution to PERS, after an initial six-month waiting period.  If you are already a PERS member, this position’s base salary will include a 6.95% increase for employee contribution.    

• Employment is contingent upon successfully passing a criminal background check. Adverse background information may result in disqualification.  

• Work Authorization - The Bureau of Labor and Industries does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants are required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States with the appropriate documentation. Learn more.   

• The Bureau of Labor and Industries is an E-Verify employer and uses E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.  

• The successful candidate will further BOLI’s North Star guiding principles of integrity, respect, empowerment, and trust. At BOLI, we lead with integrity and model fairness to fulfill our mission to make Oregon the best place to live and work. 

• The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessment, examinations, and/or interview prohibited. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.   

• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill the current position and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.   

• BOLI is compliant with SB 907 (2025) effective January 1st, 2026. Please do not include any age-related information, such as graduation dates, in your application. For candidates who are existing state employees, please note that you might need to remove existing graduation dates from the “education” section of your candidate profile for your application to go through in Workday.    

Employment Preference    

Veterans’ preference:   

Veterans’ preference information. 

How to submit your Veteran documents for preference. Please do not attach your Veterans’ preference documentation in the Resume/CV field of your application. 

If you have a disability or otherwise require an application in an alternate format to complete the process, you may contact us at:   

Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries   

Human Resources   

1800 SW 1st Ave, Suite 500   

Portland, OR 97201   

Phone (503) 400-7332   

Fax (503) 400-7332   

• The recruiter for this position is Lisa Santiago HR Analyst 2. If you contact the recruiter, please include the job requisition number (REQ#) 

• Email: lisa.n.santiago@boli.oregon.gov