The Compliance Specialist is responsible for the administration, monitoring, and management of prevailing wage and related project compliance requirements across the Company's federal, state, commercial, and other applicable projects.
The position serves as the subject-matter resource for Davis-Bacon Act (DBA), Service Contract Act (SCA), applicable state prevailing wage requirements, apprenticeship requirements, Owner-Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIP), Owner-Supplied Insurance Programs (OSIP), and related project compliance obligations.
The role works closely with Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, Contracts, Legal, Procurement, Project Management, Field Operations, and project leadership to ensure employees and projects are properly classified, paid, documented, and administered in accordance with contractual, statutory, and regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Prevailing Wage Administration
Serve as the primary administrator and subject-matter expert for prevailing wage compliance across federal, state, commercial, and other applicable projects.
Review contracts, solicitations, wage determinations, project specifications, and contractual documents to identify applicable wage and labor requirements.
Determine appropriate wage determinations, labor classifications, fringe benefit requirements, and other compensation obligations.
Establish and maintain project-specific prevailing wage requirements within HR, payroll, and compliance systems.
Monitor changes to wage determinations and regulatory requirements.
Partner with Payroll and HR to ensure employees are paid correctly based on project assignment, classification, hours worked, and applicable prevailing wage requirements.
Review certified payroll and related payroll records for accuracy and compliance.
Identify and coordinate correction of underpayments, classification issues, missing fringe benefits, incorrect deductions, and other deficiencies.
Maintain documentation supporting prevailing wage determinations and compliance decisions.
Support internal and external audits and government or customer inquiries.
Federal Contractor Compliance
Administer compliance requirements associated with federal projects, including applicable DBA, SCA, FAR provisions, wage determinations, and apprenticeship requirements.
Work with Contracts and Legal to identify labor-related compliance obligations during contract review and project mobilization.
Maintain a centralized repository of federal project wage determinations, classifications, and requirements.
Monitor regulatory developments affecting prevailing wage administration.
Support responses to Department of Labor, contracting agency, customer, or governmental inquiries.
Apprenticeship Compliance
Manage apprenticeship compliance requirements associated with federal, state, and other applicable projects.
Verify that apprentices are properly registered in qualifying apprenticeship programs where required.
Maintain records of apprenticeship registrations, classifications, wage progression, hours, ratios, and program requirements.
Monitor apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios and project-specific apprenticeship requirements.
Coordinate with HR, Payroll, Operations, and apprenticeship programs to ensure apprentices are appropriately classified and compensated.
Monitor applicable state and local apprenticeship requirements.
OCIP / OSIP Compliance
Coordinate the Company's administrative responsibilities associated with Owner-Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIP), Owner-Supplied Insurance Programs (OSIP), and similar project-specific insurance arrangements.
Review project requirements and ensure applicable employees, subcontractors, and project activities are appropriately addressed.
Coordinate with Risk Management, Project Management, Procurement, HR, and insurance representatives regarding enrollment, reporting, claims, payroll exposure, and related requirements.
Maintain project records supporting insurance program compliance.
Assist with project audits, insurance reporting, payroll reconciliation, and closeout activities.
Identify and escalate potential gaps between project insurance requirements and actual project activity.
Project Compliance Management
Establish compliance requirements during project mobilization.
Develop and maintain project-specific compliance checklists and tracking mechanisms.
Conduct periodic reviews of active projects to identify compliance risks.
Partner with Project Managers, Superintendents, Field Supervisors, HR, Payroll, and Finance to resolve issues.
Track corrective actions through completion.
Support project closeout, including final payroll reviews and compliance documentation.
Auditing and Reporting
Conduct periodic internal compliance audits.
Review projects, employees, payroll records, classifications, wage determinations, apprenticeships, and supporting documentation.
Develop compliance reports and dashboards identifying project status, open issues, corrective actions, and emerging risks.
Establish controls to identify compliance issues proactively.
Analyze recurring issues and recommend process improvements.
Maintain audit-ready documentation.
Training and Stakeholder Support
Provide guidance and training to HR, Payroll, Project Management, Operations, Procurement, Contracts, and other stakeholders.
Develop practical guidance, procedures, tools, and training materials.
Serve as the primary point of contact for routine prevailing wage, apprenticeship, OCIP/OSIP, and project compliance questions.
Promote consistent application of compliance requirements across the organization.
Compliance Governance and Continuous Improvement
Develop and continuously improve prevailing wage and project compliance processes.
Identify opportunities to automate compliance monitoring, reporting, and data validation.
Maintain compliance procedures, templates, checklists, and reference materials.
Stay current on applicable federal and state regulatory developments.
Escalate significant compliance risks to HR leadership, Legal, Contracts, or other appropriate stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, Finance, Construction Management, Compliance, or related discipline preferred, or
3-5+ years of experience in prevailing wage, government contracting, payroll compliance, construction/project compliance, labor compliance, or a related field.
Practical knowledge of the Davis-Bacon Act and prevailing wage administration.
Working knowledge of federal contracting requirements and applicable FAR provisions.
Experience interpreting wage determinations and labor classifications.
Understanding of apprenticeship requirements.
Experience reviewing payroll and/or certified payroll records.
Strong analytical and organizational skills.
Excellent attention to detail.
Ability to interpret contractual and regulatory requirements and translate them into practical processes.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting a federal government contractor.
Experience with the Service Contract Act.
Experience with LCPtracker or similar labor compliance/certified payroll systems.
Experience with OCIP, OSIP, or other controlled insurance programs.
Experience with state prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.
Experience in construction, engineering, manufacturing, field service, or industrial projects.
Experience with HRIS, payroll, project management, or compliance systems.
Relevant professional certification.
Core Competencies
Prevailing Wage Expertise
Regulatory and Contract Interpretation
Compliance Risk Management
Data and Payroll Analysis
Audit Readiness
Attention to Detail
Problem Solving
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Project Management
Communication and Influencing
Confidentiality and Professional Judgment
Continuous Improvement
Key Performance Indicators
Success in this role will be measured through:
Accuracy of prevailing wage determinations and employee classifications.
Timely implementation of new or revised wage determinations.
Reduction in payroll and prevailing wage compliance errors.
Timely identification and resolution of compliance issues.
Accuracy and completeness of certified payroll and supporting documentation.
Apprenticeship compliance and documentation.
OCIP/OSIP compliance and timely project administration.
Audit results and resolution of audit findings.
Completeness of compliance documentation across active projects.
Timeliness of project mobilization and closeout compliance.
Effectiveness of compliance reporting and risk identification.
Scope of Role
This is intended to be a dedicated project and labor compliance role, rather than a general HR compliance position.
The primary purpose is to establish strong centralized ownership of prevailing wage and associated project compliance requirements and to ensure compliance is managed proactively throughout the project lifecycle-from contract award and project mobilization through payroll administration, ongoing monitoring, audit, and project closeout.
The position should have appropriate access to HR, Payroll, Contracts, Finance, Project Management, and project information to identify compliance risks and coordinate corrective action.
Reporting Relationship
Reports to: Global Human Resources Director / Federal Program Leader.
Key Internal Partners: HR, Payroll, Finance, Contracts, Legal, Procurement, Project Management, Operations, Field Service, Risk Management, and Executive Leadership.
External Interfaces: Department of Labor, federal contracting agencies, customers, insurance program administrators, apprenticeship programs, auditors, and other regulatory or project stakeholders.
In our 75+ year history, Powell has always known that our employees are at the heart of our success. Without question, we have the most talented people in all parts of our organization. As a manufacturer, we recruit and hire experienced and knowledgeable applicants to ensure our product is engineered, fabricated, and assembled to customer specifications!
Powell's culture has and will always be founded in our "can do" attitude. If we can imagine it, we can do it. Become a part of our story and let us help you write yours. Hard work pays off in all our teams, with opportunity for advancement and promotion without sacrificing work-life balance. Successful candidates must have a legal authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis, with only those candidates selected for interview contacted.
Powell offers comprehensive health insurance for you and your family, 401k savings, annual bonus potential, generous paid time off, professional development opportunities, company-sponsored wellness programs, and a collaborative work environment.
EOE Protected Veterans/Disability
If you need an accommodation in the hiring process, you may contact 713.378.2685. Application status inquiries will not be accepted in this manner.
