Bilingual Worker Protection Field Investigator for Systemic Wage Violations

Full Job Description

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO COLORADO RESIDENTS ONLY

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 5:00 PM ON MONDAY, APRIL 13^TH, 2026. WE ANTICIPATE A START DATE IN JUNE 2026.

This position is intended to be 100% remote but may still be required to report to the listed address at the discretion of the supervisor and based on business need.

The Department of Labor and Employment keeps Colorado strong and competitive. We connect workers with great jobs and assist those who have been injured on the job.

We help people who are unemployed through no fault of their own by providing temporary wage replacement and we ensure fair labor practices.

We provide an up-to-date and accurate picture of the economy that helps in decision making.

And we protect the workplace – and Colorado communities – with a variety of consumer protection and safety programs.

This is a values-driven organization, committed to accountability, agility, collaboration, and respect.

We believe in outstanding customer service, an inclusive culture, continued process improvement and in our role as a trusted and strategic partner.

Recognizing that knowledgeable employees drive our success, we are seeking dedicated individuals who exhibit our shared values and our passion for quality and excellence in all we do.

In addition to rewarding and meaningful work, we offer excellent benefits:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• MotivateMe employee wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Access to participate in employer-supported employee affinity spaces
• RTD EcoPass Commuter Program
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information go to https://dhr.colorado.gov/dhr-resources/student-loan-forgiveness-programs

Our agency website: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

CDLE has implemented a pilot program on March 1st, 2022 which will award Disability Hiring Preference Points similar to the Veterans’ Preference Points program.

During your application process you will be asked if you would like to be considered for either of these programs for additional points in the hiring process.

To learn more about Disability Hiring Preference and what will be required to participate, please visit our website: https://sites.google.com/state.co.us/disability-hiring-preference/home

PLEASE NOTE: With the beginning of this program, CDLE will no longer accept attachments of any kind with applications.

Please be as thorough as possible in documenting your education and work history in the application system.

Attachments will not be accepted or considered during any phase of the hiring process including minimum qualification screening, comparative analysis, or interviews.

Requirements

The salary range for this posting is:

HOURLY
$28.30 - $33.95
BIWEEKLY
$2,264.31 - $2,716.04
MONTHLY
$4,906.00 - $5,884.75

The Direct Investigations Unit of the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics is hiring one Compliance Investigator I position (“CI”) to serve as a worker protection field investigator for systemic wage violations.

The Direct Investigations Unit handles Division-initiated investigations of employers for systemic labor law violations, rather than the investigation of individual complaints.

The Direct Investigations Unit employs a range of enforcement and educational tools to remedy systemic violations of Colorado labor laws — primarily wage-based violations related to overtime, rest and meal breaks, tips, paid sick leave, time worked, and employee classification.

This enforcement includes compliance audits and site visits around the state, attending worker outreach events, building relationships with community-based organizations, and conducting complex employer-wide investigations involving large groups of workers and a broad range of potential violations for one employer.

The Direct Investigations Unit primarily serves vulnerable and marginalized workers, especially in the agricultural and construction industries, including Spanish-speaking immigrant communities.

This work requires a broad range of program support, from ordering “swag” for worker outreach to researching specialized equipment for measuring water temperatures to organizing and reviewing voluminous document production in investigations.

The Direct Investigations Unit is hiring a Compliance Investigator to work in the misclassification enforcement team, which investigates and uses other compliance tools to remedy misclassification of employees as independent contractors. Much of this compliance work is in the construction industry.

A key part of Direct Investigations' misclassification enforcement is onsite presence at worksites for audits and worker interviews, and in-person outreach and education.

This investigator will plan, conduct, and manage follow-up for compliance visits to active construction sites or other worksites, and for outreach and engagement efforts.

This position will provide education to workers and their representatives, employers and business organizations, and other members of the public.

Because many workers, employers, and witnesses in misclassification Direct Investigations speak Spanish primarily or exclusively, speaking Spanish is very helpful.

CIs gather and analyze evidence from workers, employers, and other sources to determine whether a labor law violation occurred.

This investigator will draft case documents, including “discovery” type requests to employers; analyze and organize large volumes of documentation, including numerical data; communicate with employers and workers; interview witnesses; and facilitate voluntary compliance and settlement efforts.

The investigator will help craft case strategy, analyze evidence to determine if a violation occurred, and determine what remedies (wages, penalties, fines, etc.) are appropriate.

CIs at the Division receive training, coaching, and continuing education — to help them not only succeed as CIs, but also develop their skills, and advance their careers.

CIs are trained on labor law, investigation techniques, drafting, and strategic enforcement principles and techniques.

CIs performing successfully may be (A) invited to participate in Division outreach, policy, and rulemaking efforts; and (B) eligible for promotion to Compliance Investigator II positions.

CI II positions may be a leadership role (a Work Lead or Team Lead, etc.), or a Staff Authority (a CI who becomes an expert in one or more specific areas -- misclassification, whistleblower retaliation, complex major investigations spanning entire workplaces or sectors, etc.).

CI positions typically qualify for public service loan forgiveness programs. Bilingual fluency (speaking, reading, and writing) in Spanish, or other languages spoken by Colorado immigrants or refugees, may earn a pay differential of up to $150 per month.

Qualifications

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

You must be a resident of the state of Colorado in order to be eligible to apply

Class Code & Classification Description:

H6K2TX – Compliance Investigator I

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Please be sure to clearly document your professional experience on your application, including detailing: your duties in each role; the number of years and months in each; and whether each was full-time, or if not, the number of hours in each.

You can include unpaid work (internships, volunteer work, etc.) that you see as relevant professional experience.

Experience Only:

Five (5) years of relevant education or experience in a field of study or occupation related to the work assigned to this position: litigation or investigations; graduate-school-level or legal research or writing; community organizing and outreach; or training/outreach on a complex subject matter.

At least one year of this experience must be either (1) work (including student and volunteer work) for a government agency, law firm, law school clinic, or nonprofit, in labor or employment law or advocacy for marginalized groups (e.g., housing advocacy); (2) community outreach or organizing at a program- or project-management level, with strategic decision-making and public visibility (e.g., providing workshops, meeting with stakeholders, hosting community meetings, etc.); or (3) education relevant to this kind of work.

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience (as outlined above) in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to five (5) years

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with:

• labor law investigations;
• community organizing/outreach to marginalized communities; and
• the construction industry.
• Experience writing important decisions, especially involving facts being applied to rules.
• Experience in interpreting and applying statutes, rules, and regulations.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively, by phone, email, and in person, with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Performing duties similar to those assigned to the position as a classified State of Colorado employee.

Required Competencies/Skills:

• Communication: Comfortable articulating complex information to a wide audience in writing and verbally, and can do so effectively and in a timely manner.
• Critical Thinking: Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. Takes initiative in identifying existing and potential challenges. Confidently considers solutions and presents options.
• Transparency and Accountability: Embraces government transparency and accountability to the program, the team, and the general public.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Is able to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information, and use sound reasoning to arrive at decisions.
• Customer and Team Focused: Approaches work with a collaborative, customer-centered mindset. Driving Results: Ability to meet organizational goals as well as customer expectations. Ability to coordinate several competing priorities within strict time constraints and ensure effective performance.

Conditions of Employment:

• This position is open only to residents of the state of Colorado; you must reside in-state at the time of application in order to be eligible to proceed in the recruitment.
• You must pass a thorough background check prior to employment, which will include E-verify.
• These positions are intended to be 100% remote but may still be required to report to the listed address at the discretion of the supervisor and based on business need.
• This position must be fluent (read, write, speak) in both English and Spanish.
• Position is required to travel for site visits and events 3 to 10 times per year.

Appeal Rights:

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative.

This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department’s action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.

Additional Information

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact: david.stevenson@state.co.us

Minimum Qualification Screening

A Human Resources Analyst will only review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying.

Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of the official State of Colorado online application, CDLE does not accept attachments of any kind during the application process.

Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience and qualifications must be specifically documented on your online application.

Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application. CDLE does not accept attachments of any kind during the application process.

Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review

After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process for this position will involve a review and rating of all the information you submit with your application materials.

Therefore, it is extremely important to document in the work experience/job duties portion of your online application the extent to which you possess the education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement.

It is also important to thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase.

Supplemental Questions

Answer the supplemental questions on the application completely and thoughtfully. Your answers may be rated based on your writing ability (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing) as well as the content of your answer.

Work Visas

CDLE does not sponsor Work Visas of any type.

Applicant Use Of AI

The use of AI tools to aid in preparing application materials is allowed under the condition that the applicant independently verifies and confirms the information's accuracy before submission.

Applicants are fully accountable for the content of their submissions and must ensure the safe and ethical use of any AI tools.

Furthermore, active and direct participation in the interview process is required.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE AND/OR FUTURE VACANCIES

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them.

Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship.

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Sean Montoya, at sean.montoya@state.co.us.

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For all other inquiries about this recruitment effort, please call 303-318-8200.

While a salary range is posted for this position, an eventual salary offer is determined by a comprehensive salary analysis, which considers multiple factors including but not limited to education and experience compared to others in the organization doing substantially similar work.