Worker Advocate Specialist (OPA2)

Worker Advocate Specialist (OPA2)

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) is proud to be an equal opportunity; affirmative action employer committed to workforce diversity. We welcome members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S community members, and others to apply.

BOLI, The Legal Policy Division is offering a full-time, permanent Worker Advocate Specialist position. This role supports BOLI's statewide efforts to address immigration and national origin related compliance issues and wage theft affecting vulnerable workers. This position develops and manages policies, procedures, and programs related to U and T visa certifications, statements of interest, coordinates the agency's efforts addressing labor trafficking, while also supporting the division's customer service and enforcement work across a broad spectrum of communities serviced. The position promotes consistent, equitable, and effective enforcement of employment and public accommodation laws across Oregon.

The role works with BOLI's investigative and enforcement divisions, the Legal Policy Division's Customer Service Unit, community organizations serving immigrant and vulnerable workers, and local partners such as task forces and community coalitions. This is a union represented position. This recruitment may be used to fill additional vacancies as they occur.

Note: We are committed to a supportive environment that promotes work life balance and flexibility. This position may be eligible for a hybrid schedule, with occasional in person meetings. The selected employee may work from BOLI offices in Portland, Salem, or Eugene.

Here's What You Will Do:

• Develop, revise, and administer policies and procedures related to immigration and national origin connected outreach and enforcement, including U/T visa certifications.
• Analyze enforcement operations to improve service delivery and close gaps for vulnerable communities.
• Conduct policy research, legislative reviews, and write analytic reports and recommendations.
• Provide statewide training, technical assistance, and outreach to communities and staff.
• Build collaborations with culturally-specific and statewide partners to strengthen protections for vulnerable workers.
• Track, monitor, and coordinate immigration-related certification requests and data.
• Improve processes within investigative divisions to ensure equitable enforcement through an equity lens.

This Is What You Need To Qualify:

A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Behavioral or Social Sciences, Finance, Political Science or any degree demonstrating the capacity for knowledge and skills; and two years professional-level evaluative, analytical and planning work.

OR

Any combination of experience and education equivalent to five years of experience that typically supports the knowledge and skills for the classification. Note: the specific type of experience or education requirements will be listed by the recruiting agency based on the position under recruitment.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess A Combination Of Some Or All The Following Skills: (Desire Attributes)

• Experience developing and implementing organizational policies and/or procedures within structured, regulatory, or compliance-driven environments.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret legislation, analyze complex issues, and prepare clear written policy guidance.
• Experience handling sensitive or complex immigration-related inquiries, workflows, or program processes.
• Ability to develop, and deliver training to staff, partners, or community organizations.
• Experience collaborating with culturally specific or community-based organizations to enhance program outcomes and service delivery.
• Knowledge and professional experience working with the laws BOLI enforces.

Why Join Us

Our mission...

Led by Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson, the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) work to ensure that Oregon jobs are good jobs, where workers get paid what they are owed and have a discrimination-free work environment. BOLI protects workers' rights through enforcement of state labor laws, ensures adherence to civil rights law in public spaces and housing, promotes the development of a highly skilled workforce through registered apprenticeship programs, and provides training and confidential assistance to Oregon employers so they have the tools they need to comply with workplace rules.

Working Conditions:

Daily contact with employees, employers, witnesses and others who may be hostile angry or otherwise emotionally volatile. Must be able to maintain objectivity, negotiate and resolve adversarial and emotional disputes with tact and diplomacy. Interviews and on-site investigations may occasionally be conducted at the employers' work sites, which may be indoors or outdoors. Work sites may be hot, cold, wet, cramped and/or dirty. Long periods of sitting and extensive use of computers, tablets, phones or another electronic device. Position requires occasional evening and/or weekend work and occasional travel to perform field work that may involve overnight stays. Must have a driver's license valid in Oregon and an acceptable driving record or an acceptable alternative. Presentations and outreach work may occasionally be conducted off site, which may be indoors or outdoors.

What's In It For You

• Permanent, full-time employment
• Work/life balance, vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays a year, and personal days off
• Competitive benefits package including medical, vision, and dental
• Pension and retirement programs
• Employee Resources
• Advancement opportunities within BOLI and other State agencies
• Opportunity to expand your technical and professional skills
• Work with others who are passionate about public service
• Make a difference in the lives of Oregonians
• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

How To Apply

Please Note: Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM PDT/PST on Monday, June 22, 2026.

• Click on the "Apply" link above to complete your online application and submit by the posted closing date and time.
• The work experience and/or education section of your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications and desired skills and attributes listed above.
• All applicants (Internal and external) must submit a resume and cover letter, as the information in Workday does not substitute for the application requirements. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training align with the minimum qualifications and requested skills and attributes listed in the post.
• Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages.
• Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the "requested skills" section may receive lower scores than those that addressed the requested skills and attributes. The information in your resume and cover letter will be used to determine which candidates move forward in the process.
• Clearly demonstrate in your resume and cover letter how you meet all the minimum qualifications and required skills and attributes listed above.
• Failure to submit the required resume and cover letter may remove your application from consideration.
• Please do not include pictures in your application materials. Applications that do not meet this requirement will be deemed ineligible for consideration as they do not meet the requirements of the posting.
• Be sure to check Workday and your email for additional tasks and updates. After submitting your application, check your Workday inbox and email for additional required tasks, including the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. These tasks must be completed before the recruitment closes. Current State of Oregon employees will receive these tasks in their Workday inbox.
• Answer the checkbox-style questions in the questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit your application, which completes the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.
• Please save a copy of this job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job closes.
• Warning – Workday will timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity and will not save your application progress unless you use the "save for later" function. If you need to take a break, please be sure to click the save for later button to save your progress. You will find your unfinished application in your Workday inbox.

Additional Information

• Per the Pay Equity Law passed in 2017, a pay equity analysis will be conducted to determine what pay step the successful candidate will be offered. The analysis will be based on the relevant experience, education, training, and certifications documented in the application materials.
• This is a PERS qualifying position. Employees new to the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) will get a 6.95% base salary increase and will pay a 6% employee contribution to PERS, after an initial six-month waiting