At the State of North Dakota, our mission is to empower people, improve lives and inspire success. To achieve this mission, the State of North Dakota has over 70 state agencies which, along with the ND University System, employ approximately 15,000 employees. Our talented workforce is committed to providing exceptional services to the citizens of North Dakota. We make a difference, whether working to keep us safe, supporting the vulnerable, educating our future leaders, serving as responsible stewards of our resources, assisting with public policy, and everything in-between.

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State of North Dakota

Do you enjoy digging into facts, asking the next question, and figuring out how a law or rule applies when the answer is not immediately obvious?

The North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights is seeking a Compliance Investigator II who can take complex information, identify what matters, and apply it to real-world situations. This position investigates complaints involving labor standards, wage and hour requirements, and human rights laws and turns detailed facts, evidence, and legal requirements into fair, well-supported decisions.

You do not need to begin this position knowing every law the Department administers. You do need the ability to learn complex information and then use it effectively to analyze a situation, recognize what information is missing, carefully consider risk and consequences, organize competing priorities, and work through difficult problems to a sound conclusion.

Summary Of Work

What You'll Do

Manage investigations from intake through determination by interviewing parties and witnesses, reviewing documents and records, identifying missing information, evaluating conflicting evidence, and determining appropriate next steps.Interpret and apply labor, wage and human-rights laws, regulations, policies, and established standards to the specific facts of each case, including situations that may not fit neatly into a checklist.Analyze complex or incomplete information, identify the underlying issue or root cause, evaluate potential risks or consequences, and develop well-supported findings and recommendations.Prepare clear, thorough written findings and decisions that explain how the evidence and applicable requirements support the conclusion.Communicate with employers, employees, complainants, respondents, attorneys, and members of the public, including people who may be frustrated, emotional, or disappointed with the outcome.Organize and manage a caseload containing multiple investigations, deadlines, priorities, documentation requirements, and levels of complexity while maintaining accuracy and consistency.

What Makes Someone Successful In This Role

The strongest investigators are more than good researchers. They can take what they have learned and determine what to do with it.

You May Be a Strong Fit If You

Enjoy learning complicated laws, regulations, processes, or technical information and can translate that knowledge into practical decisions.Break complex situations into their key facts and distinguish relevant information from information that does not affect the outcome.Ask thoughtful follow-up questions rather than stopping with the information initially provided.Consider risks, consequences, inconsistencies, and missing information before reaching a conclusion.Can organize multiple pieces of information, deadlines, stakeholders, and priorities without losing sight of the larger issue.Enjoy diagnosing difficult problems, identifying why something occurred, and working methodically toward a resolution.Exercise sound judgment when the answer is not obvious and can explain the reasoning behind your decision.Remain objective and professional when parties disagree and can follow the evidence without taking sides.Write clearly and can connect facts + applicable requirements + analysis + conclusion in a way another person can understand.Are comfortable receiving feedback and discussing cases with others because consistency and continuous learning are important in regulatory work. 

A Realistic Look at the Work

This is an investigative position, but much of the work occurs at a desk and by telephone rather than in the field.

The work is research-, writing-, and documentation-intensive. Investigators manage multiple cases at different stages and regularly work with disputed facts, detailed records, legal requirements, deadlines, and individuals who may strongly disagree with one another.

Sometimes the applicable law will be straightforward. Other times, you will need to determine which facts matter, identify what additional information is needed, evaluate conflicting information, and decide how the law applies to a situation that does not perfectly match an example you have seen before.

If you enjoy solving fact-and-law puzzles, owning a case from beginning to end, asking questions, and turning complicated information into a clear and supportable answer, you may find this work especially rewarding.

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered, you must meet one of the following qualification pathways:

Bachelor's degree in any field and at least two years of relevant professional experience;Associate degree or recognized paralegal/legal studies credential and at least four years of relevant professional experience;High school diploma/GED and at least six years of relevant professional experience; orAn equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position. 

All qualification pathways must include at least two years of directly related experience involving structured fact-finding, investigation, analysis, or application of rules or standards to individual circumstances.

Relevant experience may include complaint investigation, claims adjudication, auditing, regulatory compliance, workplace or employee-relations investigations, legal or paralegal case development, fraud or program-integrity investigations, law enforcement investigations, licensing or enforcement, mediation/conciliation, or other closely related work.

An advanced degree may be considered as part of your overall qualifications but does not replace the need for demonstrated applied experience.

Location and Salary

Remote work available anywhere in North Dakota or hybrid work with office space in Bismarck

$66,000 per year or $5,500 monthly with up to a 5% increase after successful completion of one year probation.

How To Apply

Apply online at www.nd.gov/careers by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date.

Be Sure To Attach

A cover letter

Your resume

Contact information for three professional references

For questions or to request an accommodation during the application or interview process, contact Jess at jessicaj@nd.gov or 701-328-2660.

About Team ND

"Far and away the best prize life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Theodore Roosevelt

More than 7,500 talented, hard-working people across sixty-three agencies have come together as Team North Dakota. At Team ND, we are driven to succeed through gratitude, humility, curiosity and courage. Our purpose is to empower people, improve lives, and inspire success. Join us in being legendary.

Total Rewards: The State of North Dakota is committed to providing team members with a strong and competitive rewards package that support you, your health and your family.

Considering a new position on Team ND? How does your current position stack up? Use our Total Rewards Calculator to estimate.

Equal Employment Opportunity 

The State of North Dakota and this hiring agency do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. Sect. 23-12-10.