Lead, Prevailing Wage Compliance Specialist

Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued. People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals. We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey. About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $30 to $34 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities. American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Indexfor the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Position Information Lead, Prevailing Wage Compliance Specialist Camden, NJ $83,550 - 137,380 The base salary range represents a good faith salary range for this position. This position is eligible for annual incentive pay and has the opportunity for continued salary growth. If you are hired at American Water your base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as market, geography, skills, education and/or experience. At American Water, we are committed to pay equity. In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more! American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally! Primary Role Leads the administration and continuous improvement of Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) and Service Contract Act (SCA) prevailing-wage compliance across the MSG portfolio. Serves as the primary subject-matter resource and liaison among Contracts, installation teams, Human Resources, Finance, and other internal stakeholders. Interprets applicable wage determinations and contract requirements; establishes and maintains compliance processes, controls, documentation, and training; recommends corrective actions; and escalates significant compliance risks to appropriate leadership to support accurate, timely, and consistent implementation across contracts and locations.Key Accountabilities

• Provides day-to-day functional guidance to compliance specialists and operational stakeholders; reviews complex or escalated prevailing-wage matters; coordinates work priorities; and promotes consistent compliance practices without direct supervisory responsibility.
• Interprets and applies DBA, SCA, applicable U.S. Department of Labor requirements, contract clauses, wage determinations, and internal policies.
• Reviews new and modified contracts and wage determinations with Federal Contracts, Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, and operations to identify required wage, fringe-benefit, classification, and effective-date changes.
• Maintains current master wage determinations and related records for covered employees, contracts, and locations.
• Tracks changes to minimum wages, prevailing wages, health and welfare rates, and other required fringe benefits; coordinates timely implementation and validation.
• Conducts periodic audits of the DBA/SCA compliance program and supporting systems; documents and communicates findings; recommends corrective actions; escalates material or recurring issues; and monitors remediation through completion.
• Develops, updates, and delivers compliance procedures, guidance, tools, and training for relevant stakeholders.
• Maintains compliance activities and evidence within CrossComply or other designated systems of record.
• Monitors regulatory and policy developments and assesses potential impacts on MSG contracts, employees, processes, and controls.
• Maintains complete, accurate, and audit-ready documentation demonstrating compliance with prime-contract and subcontract obligations.
• Supports internal and external audits, inquiries, and corrective-action plans by compiling records, analyzing issues, and coordinating responses.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.Knowledge/Skills
• Advanced knowledge of DBA, SCA, prevailing-wage principles, wage determinations, employee classifications, and required fringe benefits.
• Working knowledge of federal contracting requirements, recordkeeping obligations, audit practices, and corrective-action processes.
• Knowledge of payroll and human resources processes that affect wages, benefits, classifications, and employee records.
• Knowledge of compliance-program design, internal controls, risk assessment, policy development, and training practices.
• Strong command of business writing, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Broad knowledge of organizational operations, policies, procedures, and cross-functional decision-making.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 applications.
• Ability to interpret complex laws, regulations, contract clauses, and wage determinations and translate them into practical requirements.
• Strong analytical, auditing, problem-solving, and data-validation skills with close attention to detail.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication, presentation, listening, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to prioritize competing deadlines, manage multiple workstreams, and produce accurate results independently.
• Ability to influence, collaborate, and build effective relationships in a culturally and geographically diverse, multi-company matrix organization.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, cooperation, consultation, and negotiation.
• High level of initiative, sound judgment, professional discretion, and ability to safeguard confidential information.Experience/Education
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, human resources, labor relations, accounting, finance, contract administration, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in compliance, contract administration, human resources, labor standards, or a related field, including at least 5 years supporting prevailing-wage or government-contract labor compliance involving DBA and/or SCA requirements.
• Experience interpreting wage determinations, conducting compliance audits, resolving complex pay or classification issues, and coordinating corrective actions across functions.
• Experience providing functional guidance, training, or work coordination is preferred.Work Schedule/Environment
• Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm (core hours)
• Hybrid 3:2 schedule (after training and probationary period); office environment with regular computer and virtual meeting use.
• Work may require coordination across multiple locations and time zones.
• Up to 10% travel, including occasional visits to contract or installation locationsScope
• Serves as the enterprise-wide functional lead for prevailing-wage compliance across applicable MSG contracts and locations. Coordinates cross-functional implementation, advises stakeholders, supports audit readiness and risk reduction, and provides work direction and subject-matter guidance without direct supervisory responsibility unless otherwise assigned.

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