Investigator - Worker Protection

Salary: $63,736 - $73,296 (annual)

*DCWP is currently hiring for this position either on a provisional basis or through the 55a program. Permanent employees in the civil service title, and comparable title (under 6.1.9) are also eligible to apply.* This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Flexible Work Pilot Program. The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses nearly 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The Office of Labor Policy & Standards (“OLPS”) enforces the City’s worker protection laws, including the Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek scheduling laws that protect fast food and retail workers, Delivery Worker Laws that provide minimum pay and other protections for app delivery workers, and wrongful deactivation protections for Uber and Lyft drivers. We also administer the Freelance Isn’t Free Act (FIFA) program, which assists freelance workers who have experienced wage theft and other violations. We obtain monetary compensation for workers for violations and bring companies into compliance. More information about our office is available at nyc.gov/workers. OLPS is seeking an Investigator to investigate potential violations of NYC worker protection laws. Key responsibilities include: • Maintaining a strong understanding of the laws OLPS enforces • Interviewing workers, employers, and witnesses by telephone and in-person • Obtaining, documenting, and analyzing documentary evidence, including employer policies, payroll records, employee schedules, time records and other employment-related documents • Performing research using public sources, law enforcement databases, and other investigative tools • Applying the law to facts gathered during an investigation to identify appropriate charges • Writing investigation reports identifying violations uncovered during an investigation and containing recommendations for enforcement action • Calculating money owed to employees and civil penalties owed to the City • Engaging directly with businesses and attorneys to negotiate a resolution of the charges • Drafting document demands, findings letters, and settlement agreements • Testifying at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings’ Trial Division about investigation findings • Independently investigating and managing a high volume of cases, using appropriate judgment to elevate complex issues with a Supervising Investigator • Investigating cases that are complex and/or broad in scope, in collaboration with investigation teams of data scientists and attorneys

Minimum Qualifications

• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and four years of full-time, satisfactory experience conducting investigations or inspections for a consumer or worker protection agency; or 2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; or 3. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience, which is equivalent to "1" above. College education may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of 30 semester credits for each year of required experience. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent. License Requirement: Possession of a Motor Vehicle Driver License valid in the State of New York at the time of appointment. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge and experience in labor standards investigations or low-wage worker issues • Analytic, research and writing skills • The ability to gather detailed information from workers through interviews • The ability to understand various laws, rules, and regulations sufficiently to analyze issues, identify evidence needed to evaluate compliance, and present findings and recommendations • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including the ability to analyze data in Excel • Experience handling multiple assignments with competing deadlines with a high degree of detail and accuracy • Strong written and verbal communication skills • Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish, French, Bengali, or Mandarin Chinese

In addition, the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) offers competitive salaries and the following benefits: Paid Time Off and Holidays • Paid time off for vacation and personal leave • Paid time off for sick leave • A generous holiday package of up to 13 days Health Benefits • Medical insurance plans • Dental and vision insurance plans • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Financial and Savings Benefits • 529 College Savings Plan • Direct Deposit • Flexible Spending Account Programs • New York City Municipal Credit Union Savings Program • Transit Benefit Programs Retirement and Pension Plans • New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS) pension plan • New York City Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) 401(k) and 457 plan Additional Benefits for Union Members • Disability Insurance • Health Club Reimbursements • Life Insurance • Supplemental Hospital Coverage • Tuition Reimbursement *Please note only employees represented by a labor union may qualify for additional benefits provided by the union welfare fund. Student Loan Forgiveness • DCWP qualifies as a public service employer, which means our employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. If you have federal student loans, you may be able to have your loans forgiven by working full-time in public service. To learn more about PSLF and its eligibility requirements, visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program website. Employee Discounts • Apple and Dell products • Cell phones and plans • Gym memberships • Special pricing on event tickets through Barclay Center, Plum Benefits and Working Advantage • And more!