Compliance Investigator

Compliance InvestigatorHelp protect the rights and well-being of Montana's workers, employers, and communities through meaningful public service. At the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, the work is grounded in people, purpose, and the impact made every day across the state. The department offers flexible schedules, casual dress, training opportunities, and room for professional growth in an open, supportive, and collaborative work environment. This opportunity is well suited for candidates who are energized by investigative work, public service, problem solving, and helping others navigate complex requirements.This position conducts investigations into alleged violations involving Wage and Hour, Prevailing Wage, Workers' Compensation, and Independent Contractor programs. The role gathers facts and evidence, interprets documentation, analyzes records, and prepares investigative reports with findings, assessments, and fines when supported by the facts and applicable requirements. The position also provides customer service to workers, employers, attorneys, hiring agents, and other stakeholders by responding to questions and explaining program requirements and processes. In addition, this role supports the section manager with workload metrics, outcome tracking, and reporting that inform operational improvements.Serve Montana communities: Contribute to work that helps protect employee rights, supports fair business practices, and strengthens lawful workplaces across the state. Montana's labor standards functions are designed to support both worker protections and employer compliance.Build investigative expertise: Develop and strengthen skills in fact-finding, documentation review, analysis, interviewing, and report writing in a role with real public impact.Grow professionally: Gain experience in compliance, regulatory interpretation, customer service, and public-sector operations while working in an environment that values learning and development.Use transferable skills: Bring experience from investigations, compliance, customer service, legal support, HR, auditing, or operations and apply it in a mission-driven setting that values judgment and practical problem solving.Work in a supportive culture: Join an open, collaborative, and service-focused team environment that values professionalism, communication, and shared success.Strengthen public service impact: Help improve how work is tracked, measured, and delivered by contributing to reporting, trends analysis, and process improvement efforts that support stronger program outcomes.Explain processes and requirements: Guides parties through investigative procedures, timelines, legal standards, and possible outcomes so they understand their rights and responsibilities.Provide compliance guidance: Responds to questions from workers, employers, attorneys, and the public by explaining wage and hour requirements, labor standards, and related compliance expectations in practical terms.Manage wage claim investigations: Review disputed wage complaints, apply state and federal laws and statutes, rules, legal opinions, and case law to specific facts to determine if a violation of law has occurred.Analyze wage and hour violations: Evaluate payroll records, timesheets, employment agreements, contracts, and related documentation to determine whether pay violations occurred, calculate wages owed, and identify applicable penalties.Gather and verify information: Contacts workers, employers, attorneys, and other involved parties to obtain records, clarify discrepancies, and establish a complete factual record.Maintain case documentation: Accurately records case activity, evidence, findings, and communications in the electronic case management system to support transparency, defensibility, and continuity of work.Support data tracking and reporting: Assists in tracking caseload activity, workload trends, and case outcomes and contributes to reporting that supports program oversight, operational planning, and continuous improvement.Candidates must demonstrate the ability to: Regulatory interpretation and application: Interpret and apply laws, rules, policies, legal guidance, and technical requirements to real-world situations and explain them in clear, practical terms. Investigation standards for this field emphasize understanding legal provisions and applying them to specific situations. Analytical problem solving: Break down complex issues, evaluate information, identify relevant facts, and develop fair, well-reasoned conclusions supported by evidence. Wage and hour investigation roles routinely require analysis of written, verbal, and numerical information. Customer-focused communication: Communicate clearly, professionally, and respectfully with diverse audiences, including workers, employers, attorneys, and others involved in sensitive or disputed matters. Montana's wage claim process and public labor standards functions involve direct communication with workers, employers, and the public. Workload management and prioritization: Manage competing priorities, stay organized, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment with multiple active cases or assignments. Judgment and decision making: Make timely, sound decisions by balancing facts, legal standards, fairness, and practical outcomes within established program requirements. Initiative and ownership: Work independently, take action, follow through on assignments, and maintain momentum with limited supervision while knowing when to elevate complex matters. Technology and systems use: Use Microsoft Office tools effectively and quickly learn case management systems, reporting tools, and new technologies that support investigations and documentation. Documentation and reporting: Prepare clear, accurate, and defensible written findings, case notes, and investigative reports that support program integrity and decision making. Investigative roles in this field commonly require clear written communication of findings and conclusions.Demonstrated experience performing investigative, compliance, auditing, legal support, human resources, customer service, or closely related work where fact gathering, documentation review, policy application, interviews, compliance work, and issue resolution are central responsibilities. Experience interpreting and applying laws, regulations, policies, standards, or technical requirements and integrating them into day-to-day decision making. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience explaining complex processes, requirements, or findings to people with varied backgrounds and levels of understanding. Experience reviewing written, verbal, or numerical information, identifying discrepancies, and drawing supported conclusions based on facts and applicable standards. Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and the ability to learn and use case management, reporting, or electronic records systems. A degree in business, public administration, criminal justice, legal studies, labor relations, human resources, accounting, or a related field may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above. Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.A complete state application is not required; however, you will need to initiate the application and attach the resume, cover letter or other required documents at time of application to be considered for this position. Resume will auto fill the application, but the application will not be scored or reviewed. Failure to attach the cover letter and resume will result in your application being considered incomplete and will not be considered further. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process. Tip: When attaching your resume, cover letter or other required documents you must mark the attachments as "RELEVANT" or we will be unable to view your documents. Required application materials: Cover Letter - Your Cover Letter should explain how your experience and education meet the identified required skills and competencies, with examples that demonstrate your qualifications. Resume - include all work experience you have held that would help you qualify for this position, including duties, dates of employment. Only online applications will be accepted. By applying online, you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application. All documents for Veteran or Disability preference must be received or date stamped by the closing date. You will receive an application confirmation email with instructions on acceptable preference documents and how to submit such documents. If you need an accommodation with the application process, please contact the HR office.Being able to enjoy the quality of life in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Our mountains, waterways and open spaces provide not only beautiful scenery but year-round recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling. Montana boasts a high-quality education system and a variety of entertainment including fairs, rodeos, and theaters. Read more about our great state here. See our other incredible benefits here . These are some of our benefits just to name a few: Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana. 38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays. Military leave: You'll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay. Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises. Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP - click here to learn more. Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - click here to learn more. Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. – Click here to learn more. Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- click here to learn more! Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth. State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.