If you possess specific experience upholding Employment Standards laws, you will want to read on. This position offers the opportunity to both utilize your litigation skills and apply your experience identifying compliance of Employment Standard laws. You will become the statewide technical expert for the Employment Standards Program. The position serves as the statewide program technical expert in connection with department responsibilities regarding the administration of 49.46 RCW, 49.48 RCW, 19.30 RCW and other employment laws (not all inclusive). The position advises the program manager and senior agency executives on highly visible and precedent setting cases and issues. You will serve as a member of the program management team regarding policy development and interpretation, determinations, training and outreach. Reporting to the Program Manager for Employment Standards, the position may be assigned to represent the agency to lead highly visible case investigations and to represent the department in major litigation as a program technical expert.

The Employment Standards Technical Specialist will:

Serve as the designated statewide technical expert for the Employment Standards Program.

Provide direction and technical assistance for Industrial Relations Agents on a statewide basis regarding difficult and complex questions and cases involving multi-employer worksites, multiple statute violations, legal and politically sensitive or very large financial implications and may include resolution to complex issues in wage complaints.

Lead the Wage Payment Act, RCW 49.48 to develop policies and strategies for continuing implementation of the act, including case handling, citations, notice of assessment and determination of compliance documents.

Refer to Fraud & Compliance Unit for collection of wages and interest owed to employees and collection of penalties assessed against employers.

Lead ingestions, package cases for formal adjudication and represent L&I before the Office of Administrative Hearings on major litigation as a program technical expert.

Review complaints and determinations involving non-compliance of various employment law statutes.

Develop and respond to questions from legislators, attorneys, worker advocates, employers, organized labor and other government agencies regarding the various employment law requirements of this state.

Develop and present training to internal and external customers, conduct outreach in connection with employment law statutes the department enforces.

During the legislative session, will be a key member of the program legislative team and responsible for evaluating and reporting on the impacts proposed legislation.

Serve as a member of the program management team regarding policy development, interpretation, determinations, training and outreach.

Preferred Qualifications:

A combined total of at least 6 years of experience as an Industrial Relations Agent 2 and/or Industrial Relations Agent 3;
OR
A Master’s Degree with emphasis in employment law; AND three years experience in labor/employment relations and regulations; collections of revenue/taxes from employers/businesses; investigations of complaints of misconduct; audit of employer financial records; interpretation and explanation of Labor and Industries rules, regulations, policies, and practices regarding employment standards, prevailing wage, wage and hour, and child labor laws; or related experience.

Knowledge of:

Laws governing all phases of labor relations, general policies, principles and practices of labor and management; state wage and hour laws, related federal laws and regulations and applicable case law decisions; contracts and related labor relations; ability to apply such knowledge to mediation, arbitration, and resolution; the principles, standards and techniques of personal investigations, rules of evidence, auditing, accounting and bookkeeping procedures.

Skills & Abilities

• Testify at legislative hearings, court proceedings and coordinate litigation.
• Prepare bill analysis and complete fiscal notes.
• Present complex information in a clear concise manner.
• Organize and complete special projects.
• Direct the work activity of staff during specialized or complex investigations.
• Prioritize staff workload; monitor workload output; provide on-the-job training; compile complex reports.
  Interpret complex laws, rules and regulations.
• Analyze issues involving wage disputes and formulate suggestions for compromise and settlement of disputes, prepare written documents and oral presentation.
• Communicate complex information concisely and effectively, organize facts, arguments and conclusions in clear and logical sequence.
• Gather; preserve, and present material, relevant and pertinent evidence.
• Exercise mature judgment in wide variety of public contact.
• Develop methods and techniques for solving employer wage and hour problems.
• Establish and maintain productive working relationships.
• Prioritize and manage work schedule.
• Work independently.
  
  
  
  
  

Special Note:

• Prior to any new appointment into L&I, a background check, including criminal record history, will be conducted.
• Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver’s license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately-owned vehicle.
  
  
  

Application Process:

We are looking for evidence that you have the skills and abilities required for this job. The information you provide will be used to decide who will be selected for the next step in the process.

1. Fill out this version of the L&I Employment Application
2. Submit a resume
3. Include a letter of interest. Demonstrate your experience with the following;
   
   • Employment Standards laws
   • Ability to interpret laws
   • Enforce laws and bring companies into compliance
     

Submit your completed Labor & Industries Job Application form, resume and letter of interest responding to supplemental questions using one of the following methods:

NOTE: We are unable to accept .ZIP attachments.

Some locations where you may access computer terminals:

• Work Source Centers.
  (See locations at: http://www.wa.gov/esd/work/localconnections.htm)
• Public libraries.
  (See locations at: http://wlo.statelib.wa.gov/libsearch.cfm)
• Department of Personnel, 600 S. Franklin, Olympia, Washington.
  

As a condition of employment the successful candidate accepting this position will be required to comply with the Union Security clause contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington and the Washington Federation of State Employees or the Coalition.

Persons with a disability, who need assistance in the application or assessment process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 902-9152. Applicants that are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1.

The State of Washington is an Equal Opportunity Employer