Wage Protection Investigator

Title: Wage Protection Investigator

State Role Title: Compliance/Safety Officer III

Hiring Range: $66,875 + Full State Benefits

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept of Labor and Industry

Location: Dept of Labor and Industry

Agency Website: www.doli.virginia.gov 

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), Wage Protection Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with Virginia’s comprehensive worker protection laws affecting more than 4.3 million workers across the Commonwealth. DOLI is seeking highly motivated and skilled individuals to work as full-time Wage Protection Investigators to support its enforcement efforts including the protection of workers’ wages, protection from independent contractor misclassification, child labor protections and prevailing wage requirements on public works contracts. In the future, investigators will also enforce Virginia’s laws providing paid sick days and family and medical leave. Investigators are the cornerstone of the Commonwealth’s compliance efforts and their responsibilities include:

• Conducting investigations to determine employer compliance with Virginia’s worker protection laws including properly paying workers and affording them their rights as required by the law.
• Helping ensure that law-abiding employers are not undercut by employers who violate the law.
• Promoting compliance through outreach and public education initiatives.
• Supporting efforts to combat worker retaliation and worker misclassification as independent contractors.
• Protecting young workers

The Wage Protection Investigator enforces labor laws as charged in the Code of Virginia and the regulations of the agency in the most effective and efficient manner possible. This position is responsible for conducting comprehensive investigations, issuing findings, reaching compliance agreements, and resolving cases at the administrative level, and sometimes through court proceedings.

The home base for this position is flexible and may be established in either the Harrisonburg office or Henrico Headquarters office. The final location will be determined upon selection of the successful candidate, taking into consideration organizational needs and operational considerations.

Minimum Qualifications

• General knowledge of labor laws, industrial occupations, wage scales, employment practices, or salary and wage practices.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze written, verbal, and quantitative information to conduct thorough investigations, evaluate evidence, and make sound, well-reasoned determinations. Experience reviewing records, reconstructing incomplete or inaccurate information, and applying applicable laws, regulations, policies, and legal principles to complex investigative matters.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interview individuals from diverse backgrounds; clearly explain legal requirements, employee and employer rights and responsibilities; gather critical information; resolve conflicting accounts; and foster voluntary compliance through effective communication and professionalism.
• Experience preparing clear, accurate, and comprehensive investigative reports that effectively document findings, support conclusions, and withstand legal and administrative review.

Additional Considerations

• Significant working knowledge of Federal and State employment laws.
• Professional training/certifications in areas related to industrial relations, human resources, personnel administration, business administration, labor economics, law, law enforcement or other fields related to the position.
• Experience with court procedures to include providing courtroom testimony.
• Knowledge of mediation or dispute mediation techniques.
• Experience creating educational information and conducting group presentations.
• Verifiable fluency speaking, reading, and writing Spanish or other languages.
• Demonstrated ability to use office management software such as Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and operating standards.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to occasionally travel overnight.
• Ability to perform moderate physical activity that includes, but is not limited to climbing stairs and ladders, bending, walking up and down inclines, occasionally lifting and carrying loads up to 20 to 30 pounds, etc.
• The selected candidate must pass a criminal background investigation, and successfully serve a 12-month probationary period effective from the date of employment if beginning employment as an original hire or re-employment.

Special Instructions:

The salary for the Wage Protection Investigator is $66,875 annually, plus the State’s benefits package. Please note, the agency will not entertain salary negotiations for this position.

The opening date for this position is July 30, 2026. Applicants for this position will be reviewed after a minimum of five consecutive business days, and this position may close when a suitable pool of applicants has been generated.

To apply, you must submit a completed State of Virginia Application for Employment at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home.  A resume can be attached within the state application. The application and/or resume must be completed in a comprehensive manner and reference all pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any training and experience that relates to the position. You must also provide your education on your state application. Interview candidates may be required to demonstrate the skills and abilities necessary for satisfactory performance of work.

Virginia Department of Labor and Industry does not provide sponsorship; therefore, applicants must be a citizen or national of the U.S., Lawful Permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work in the United States.

Current and former employees of the Commonwealth of Virginia who have either been laid off or will be laid off from State service, who indicate preferential hiring rights in the form of a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (yellow card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (blue card), must submit the card to our office by the application deadline. The card may either be scanned and attached to the application as a supplemental document or faxed to (804) 786-0139. Please include a fax cover sheet with your name and the position number for which you are applying.

The Department of Labor & Industry is committed to the goal of equal employment opportunity, with the intention that every employee and applicant for employment shall have an equal opportunity to be judged on the basis of their fitness and merit to participate in the terms, conditions, privileges, and benefits of employment. All candidates are afforded opportunities without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability.

DOLI Talent Management and Communications will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of accommodation in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. If any assistance is needed when applying online, please contact DOLI HR at [email protected]. 

Contact Information

Name: Department of Labor and Industry

Phone: No Phone Calls

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.