Background Investigation Adjudicator

Location: Onsite at Nashville, TN 37203

Contract length: 3.5 months

Work schedule: Monday to Friday, 8AM-5PM (can be flexible with start/stop times)

Job Overview

We are seeking an objective, detail-oriented Background Investigation Adjudicator to evaluate background screening reports, review derogatory information, and render fair employment decisions. In this role, you will act as a neutral decision-maker to determine whether discrepancies between candidate disclosures and verified records pose a risk to the organization or justify disqualification.

Operating independently in a complex regulatory environment, you will collaborate with Legal, Ethics & Compliance, and HR Business Partners to maintain adjudication standards, manage reporting metrics, and ensure full compliance with employment laws and company policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Review background investigation results to identify credentials or record discrepancies not explicitly covered by the standard adjudication matrix.
• Conduct objective risk assessments, balancing legal requirements, internal policies, precedent, and business impact before issuing approval or denial determinations.
• Interview background screening vendors or candidates as needed to clarify report findings, dispute details, or mitigating circumstances.
• Maintain complete, audit-ready records of all adjudication decisions, documenting detailed justifications for every course of action.
• Review, update, and maintain the talent acquisition adjudication matrix to align with evolving state, federal, and local hiring regulations.
• Partner regularly with Operations Management, Legal, Ethics & Compliance, and HR Business Partners to handle complex cases and mitigate organizational risk.
• Track decision analytics and generate compliance reports to monitor background screening trends and operational performance.
• Safeguard all candidate background materials and personally identifiable information (PII) with strict confidentiality.
• Recommend process and workflow improvements to enhance the speed, fairness, and compliance of the background screening program.

Qualifications & Required Skills

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Criminal Justice, Business, Risk Management, or a related field.
• Experience: 1+ years of direct experience in background check adjudication, HR compliance, risk management, or talent acquisition operations.
• Legal & Regulatory Knowledge: Practical understanding of FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act), EEOC background check guidelines, ban-the-box laws, and relevant employment privacy regulations.
• Analytical & Critical Thinking: Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex, ambiguous facts impartially and make defensible, sound risk-based decisions.
• Communication & Collaboration: Strong oral and written communication skills to articulate decision justifications clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in background screening vendor portals, HRIS systems, and data analytics tools (e.g., Excel) for documentation and reporting.