Labor Compliance Specialist

Willdan Engineering, a subsidiary of Willdan Group, Inc., is seeking a Labor Compliance Specialist. This is a remote position based in California.

The Labor Compliance Specialist at Willdan Engineering ensures regulatory adherence and ethical standards across infrastructure, energy, and municipal engineering projects. This position oversees labor compliance requirements tied to federally, state, and locally funded public works contracts, strongly emphasizing prevailing wage laws, certified payroll, and subcontractor coordination.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Regulatory Compliance Oversight:
  • Ensure full compliance with applicable federal, state, and local labor laws, including the Davis-Bacon Act, California Labor Code, and SB 854 DIR requirements.
  • Monitor public contract codes and agency-specific labor standards such as Caltrans LAPM Chapter 10, HUD Section 3, Skilled and Trained Workforce, and Project Labor Agreement requirements when applicable.
• Project Support & Certified Payroll:
  • Review, process, and audit Certified Payroll Records (CPRs) submitted by contractors and subcontractors via platforms such as LCPtracker, Elation Systems, eMARS, or Procore.
  • Cross-check payroll submissions with DIR eCPR system and internal project documentation.
  • Track project-specific wage determinations and classifications using DIR and DOL databases.
• Client & Contractor Engagement:
  • Provide training and technical assistance to prime and subcontractors regarding compliance requirements.
  • Participate in pre-construction meetings, compliance kickoff sessions, and field visits.
  • Coordinate with public agencies such as Caltrans, cities, and counties to ensure alignment with contract requirements.
• Reporting and Records Management:
  • Prepare detailed compliance reports, deficiency letters, and documentation for internal leadership and agency reviews.
  • Support internal and third-party labor compliance audits.
  • Maintain organized and auditable documentation of labor compliance for each project.
• Internal Collaboration & Process Improvement:
  • Partner with project managers, field engineers, and finance teams to proactively identify and resolve potential compliance risks.
  • Contribute to internal SOPs and knowledge-sharing across Willdan's compliance network.
  • Additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned by supervisor as business needs dictate.

Job Requirements/Qualifications:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Construction Management, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 2-5 years of experience in labor compliance for public works or infrastructure projects.
• Strong working knowledge of California DIR requirements, Davis-Bacon, HUD Section 3, and applicable municipal wage mandates.
• Experience using labor compliance platforms such as LCPtracker, Elation, or similar systems.
• Experience supporting municipal, utility, energy, or other publicly funded projects.
• Familiarity with Caltrans LAPM and federally funded transportation infrastructure.
• Experience managing DIR apprenticeship requirements, fringe benefit tracking, and wage restitution resolution.
• Excellent attention to detail, with strong written and verbal communication skills for interaction with public agencies, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Bilingual capabilities (Spanish/English) are a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time, with regular travel to project sites and agency meetings; field audits and contractor interviews may be required during project execution.