What are the responsibilities and job description for the Wage and Hour Investigator position at Wage and Hour Division?

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Office of Regional Enforcement and Support, District Offices. Applicants may select one of the two locations listed when applying to this Job Opportunity Announcement. Applicants must reside, or be willing to relocate with no reimbursement, to the local commuting area of the location for which they are selected.

This job is open to

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Clarification from the agency

Current Wage and Hour Division employees nationwide with competitive status and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) eligibles in each of the local commuting area.

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Duties

As a Wage and Hour Investigator you will perform the following duties which are not all-inclusive :

Provides expert technical advice, guidance, and assistance to other senior and / or junior level investigators on cases in which enforcement precedents may not be applicable, evidence is inconclusive, and / or issues are ambiguous.

Prepares cases for civil or criminal litigation and administrative hearing action, incumbent is responsible for making detailed analysis of all aspects of the case, determining responsibility for the violations, securing signed supportive testimony and other exhibit material, and establishing proof of willfulness.

Coordinates the efforts of other investigators where the incumbent is responsible for communicating assignments, projects, problems to be solved, actionable events, milestones, program issues under review, and deadlines / timeframes for completion.

Maintains liaison with District Directors or appropriate Regional or National Office program representatives and recommends strategies, approaches and tactics including persons to be assigned or removed from an investigative team.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Must be at least 16 years old.

Candidate required to obtain the necessary security / investigation level.

Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.

Qualifications

You must meet the Basic Requirements listed in the Education Requirements section and the Specialized Experience to qualify for Wage and Hour Investigator, as described below.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

The Wage and Hour Investigation Series, 1849, has an Individual Occupational Requirement. Applicants must meet at least two of the following three specialized criteria requirements :

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 the criteria specified above, applicants must have knowledge of and ability to apply the provisions of Federal wage and hour labor laws pertaining to wages, hours of work, or related conditions of employment. Examples of qualifying specialized 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.

AND-

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement for the 1849 occupational series and the specialized criteria requirement listed above applicants must also possess one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, (i. e., GS-12 for a GS-13) in the Federal Service.

For GS-13 : Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-12 in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Qualifying specialized experience for GS-13 includes :

Experience leading a team involving potential civil and / or criminal litigation;

Experience working as a project lead that involves cross regional and / or cross district jurisdiction; and,

Experience developing comprehensive reports which include financial data for presentation to agency leadership and / or other stakeholders.

Education

There is no education substitution for specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level.

Additional information

This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit.

GS Pay Tables : General Schedule

The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. As such, the Department is committed to fostering a workplace and workforce that promote equal employment opportunity, reflects the diversity of the people we seek to serve, and models a culture of respect, equity, inclusion, and accessibility where every employee feels heard, supported, and empowered.

Refer to these links for more information : GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and / or classified materials before they can enter on duty : BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Click here for Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.

Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information.

The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act.

Note : The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.

All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies :

Interpersonal Skills

Leadership

Self-Management

Technical Competence

Click here for evaluation details.

You may preview questions for this vacancy here : https : / / apply.usastaffing.gov / ViewQuestionnaire / 12663738

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, volunteer, and other lived experience, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the OHR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.

INFORMATION FOR CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY : If you are eligible for special priority selection under CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. CTAP eligible(s) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

Benefits

Review our benefits

Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

The following documents must be submitted by 11 : 59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS : Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of 01 / 22 / 2025 the announcement closing date.

The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY) :

AGENCY EMPLOYEES : Please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan / Pay Schedule, Series, Grade / Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.

WARNING : An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.

Resumes are required- provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.

Most recent performance appraisal / evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may / will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended.

In most cases, CTAP applicants must submit this document - see the CTAP link below for more details.

The following documents are required (if applicable) :

Displaced Employee Placement Documents : Only required if requesting priority consideration under Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Click / Review this CTAP link to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.

Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.

Do not upload password-protected documents.

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

How to Apply

Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.

To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.

Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11 : 59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration.

Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.

Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center.

STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. For each employment period , include start / end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.

STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button.

STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy . Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.

STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step , verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button.

STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11 : 59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, thenUpdate Application.

NOTE : It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

For more detailed information on applying for positions with DOL click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.

Agency contact information

Shannon Cavanaugh

Phone

212-337-2357

cavanaugh.shannon.c@dol.gov

Address

Wage and Hour Division

200 Constitution Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20210

Next steps

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days of the issuance date of the certificate.

For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide.

USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.

To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and / or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Fair and Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability

New employee probationary period

Privacy Act

Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service

Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Required Documents