Farm Labor Program Specialist (Bilingual Spanish/English Required)

Duties
Analyze civil or criminal actions instituted by the Department of Labor against any person found in violation of the Act and provides information to the program manager and/or team lead regarding the fact finding of relevant information obtained through applications and supporting documentation.
Review statistical analysis for the protection of dependent workers in accordance with applicable regulations.
Evaluate complex methods of operation for contractors and employees in comparison with stated farm labor contracting activities in situations where Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act qualifications are extremely difficult to establish.
Conduct extensive in-depth research in named activities of farm labor contracting in order to assist in application determinations.
Prepare regulatory language for policy letters or other correspondence related to appropriate request for information and, where applicable, reviews and evaluates responses to letters.
Review all supporting documentation before a certificate of registration is issued to ensure program compliance.
Conduct statistical analysis and use techniques to derive and interpret data from court systems to perform and analyze court dispositions, case outcomes, and case activities to support felony convictions under WHD jurisdiction.
Examine and analyzes complex court documents for possible areas of violation with respect to the MSPA.
Review data for refusal to issue, issues proposed determinations and determine areas of noncompliance through the review and analysis of court records to prepare recommendations for certificate actions for administrative and judicial reviews.
Prepare complex disposition letters, legal correspondence, and other complex correspondence related to appropriate requests for information from federal, state, county, city, and local law enforcement entities to adjudicate administrative reviews.
Review the authenticity of documents for recruitment, solicitation, hiring, employment, and transportation for the purpose of establishing factual bases for decisions on applications.
Obtain and analyze immigration documentation provided under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) within WHD jurisdiction.
Obtain and analyze various state driver licenses' requirements and commercial motor vehicle safety requirements under the MSPA and as covered by the Department of Transportation (DOT) vehicle safety standards.
Review, analyze and resolve complex and sometimes controversial issues which arise out of processing primarily farm labor certification applications for individuals, corporations, partnerships, firefighters, forestry H-2A temporary agricultural workers, H-2B temporary non-agricultural workers and other visa holders and non-immigrant workers.
Provide information to the team leader and/or certifying program manager for certifications, certificate actions, denials, withdrawal, and revocation of farm labor registration requests in accordance with MSPA.
Review complex applications for farm labor contracting activities in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, standard operating procedures, and directives issued by the wage hour administrator.
Provide technical assistance, advice, and guidance as needed to farm labor contractors with MSPA violations that could result in civil money penalties, back wage assessments, and revocations of certificates of registration.
Maintain quality control systems for farm labor certification operations in the processing office and when conducting mobile events.
Monitor, review, and analyze complex application processing activities covering all 50 states in the nation.
Assist with the execution of certification and compliance policies.
Perform other duties as assigned including education, outreach and mobile processing events.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.
Bilingual Spanish/English Required.
Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.
Notification Concerning COVID-19 Vaccinations. As required by Executive Order 14043 , Federal executive branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to submit documentation of proof of vaccination or to be in the process of requesting an exception to the vaccination requirement before appointment or onboarding with the agency. The agency will provide additional information regarding which forms of documentation can be accepted and how you can request to be considered for a legally required exception from this requirement.
Currently, implementation and enforcement of Executive Order 14043 has been suspended pursuant to an injunction pending further litigation.
Bilingual/Spanish/English is required - at the time of interview you may be interviewed in both Spanish and English and you may be asked to write and translate documents from Spanish to English and vice versa.
Qualifications
Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-07, in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience are as follows:
1. Experience demonstrating knowledge of administrative regulations and operating procedures plus skill in applying fact-finding techniques to gather clear-cut factual evidence of administrative related programs and immigration legislation, rules, regulations, guidelines, and policies concerning farm labor contracting activities in support of a complex organization.
2. Experience in oral and written communication to respond to complex regulatory inquires, advising and consulting with customers, and presenting constructive recommendations based upon technical expertise.
3. Experience in using and researching data systems, applications, and programs to produce documents and presentations and to track and report certifications.

• OR- Education: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D., if related.
• OR- Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Education
Education substitution for specialized experience are as follows: For the GS-9: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.
If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation demonstrating that you meet the substitution of education for specialized experience for this position, your application will be deemed incomplete. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.
If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.
Additional information
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
DOL seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fairness so that all individuals can participate and contribute to their full potential.
Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION , ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION , FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Based on agency needs, additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
Federal employment has many benefits! As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits, such as:
The Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHB). This program offers health insurance for you, your spouse and your children under the age of 26. It offers many different health plan choices, so you can find a plan that works best for you and your family;
Federal Employee Dental Vision Insurance Plan (FEDVIP) for a dental plan, a vision plan, or both types of insurance; life insurance;
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA);
The Federal Employees Retirement System, which, after the appropriate amount of years of service and at the right age, you can retire with a basic monthly annuity. This means a defined pension plan – which many private sector companies do not offer;
The Thrift Savings Plan or TSP, which is a 401K plan for Federal employees;
Earn annual and sick leave every pay period to use for vacation on sick time;
11 paid Federal holidays;
DOL also offers transit subsidy benefits, where you may be reimbursed for commuting;
Work-life balance is valued ! DOL recognizes various expanded workplace flexibilities intended to support and enhance a productive workforce by providing various work schedule options that can help employees balance their responsibilities both at work and at home.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated against the evaluation factors below and will be placed into a category based on your vacancy question responses.
Categories
Category A - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and has successful experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in applying critical competencies required by this position to work of increased levels of difficulty and complexity.
Category B - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in the critical competencies required by this position.
Category C - Meets the specialized experience described in the minimum qualifications requirements section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the basic competencies.
Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:
Compliance - Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance.
Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
The information you provide on your resume may be verified by a review of your work experience, employment start/end dates/hours worked and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the vacancy questions. If not, the OHR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume. Your evaluation may also include a review by a Human Resources Specialist or panel and may include other assessments (ex. interview, panel review, written test, writing sample, etc.)
INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) who are placed into Category B or higher will be considered "well-qualified." Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation. Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
Federal employment has many benefits! As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits, such as:
The Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHB). This program offers health insurance for you, your spouse and your children under the age of 26. It offers many different health plan choices, so you can find a plan that works best for you and your family;
Federal Employee Dental Vision Insurance Plan (FEDVIP) for a dental plan, a vision plan, or both types of insurance; life insurance;
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA);
The Federal Employees Retirement System, which, after the appropriate amount of years of service and at the right age, you can retire with a basic monthly annuity. This means a defined pension plan – which many private sector companies do not offer;
The Thrift Savings Plan or TSP, which is a 401K plan for Federal employees;
Earn annual and sick leave every pay period to use for vacation on sick time;
11 paid Federal holidays;
DOL also offers transit subsidy benefits, where you may be reimbursed for commuting;
Work-life balance is valued ! DOL recognizes various expanded workplace flexibilities intended to support and enhance a productive workforce by providing various work schedule options that can help employees balance their responsibilities both at work and at home.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password-protected documents.
The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):
ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE? If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action” which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, and Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.

• Resumes are required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your computer and USAJOBS profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and the number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
• Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, ICTAP/CTAP applicants must submit this document - please see ICTAP/CTAP links below for more details.
• WARNING : An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.

The following documents are required if applicable:

• DD-214 - verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) , and showing the character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference)
• Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan ( ICTAP ) and Career Transition Assistance Plan ( CTAP ) Eligibility. Click/Review these ICTAP / CTAP links to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.

Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authority Documents

• Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted.
• Land Management Eligible(s): a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act . This service must have been performed in the competitive service, under a time-limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here .
• Applicants who are eligible for consideration, and wish to be considered, under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links below to see the documentation requirements: (a) Persons with Severe Disabilities (SCHEDULE A) (b) Former Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) OR AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers OR Current or Former Peace Corps Employees (PCE) (c) Military Spouses (MISP) (d) Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA)

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship , and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section.
Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (EDT) on the date the application limit was reached or the vacancy closing date, whichever occurs first, to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations .
SAVE your information before the 30 MINUTE TIMEOUT! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center .
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov , including Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS). Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the " Apply" button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click “Start Application” and proceed through the 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. At Step 5, click “Continue to Agency Site”.
STEP 3 – Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL) On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY.” Continue through the 7 progress steps indicated by circles at the top of the DOL page. The 3rd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 4th progress step "Documents" is where you submit required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy. If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission.
STEP 4 – On the “Review and Submit” step, click “Submit Application.” The last “Confirmation” step will turn green noting that your application was submitted successfully.
STEP 5 - Edit Application by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy then "Update Application." If the vacancy closes on the date the application limit is reached, applicants will no longer be able to edit their applications.
Agency contact information
Shannon Cavanaugh
Phone
212-337-2357
TDD
711
Email
[email protected]
Address
Labor, Wage and Hour Division
15 New Sudbury St
Boston, Massachusetts 02203
United States
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency point of contact on the job announcement.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Reasonable accommodation policy
Financial suitability
Selective Service
New employee probationary period
Signature and false statements
Privacy Act
Social security number request
Required Documents
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password-protected documents.
The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):
ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE? If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action” which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, and Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.

• WARNING : An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.
• Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, ICTAP/CTAP applicants must submit this document - please see ICTAP/CTAP links below for more details.
• Resumes are required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your computer and USAJOBS profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and the number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.

The following documents are required if applicable:

• DD-214 - verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) , and showing the character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference)
• Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan ( ICTAP ) and Career Transition Assistance Plan ( CTAP ) Eligibility. Click/Review these ICTAP / CTAP links to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.

Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authority Documents

• Land Management Eligible(s): a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act . This service must have been performed in the competitive service, under a time-limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here .
• Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted.
• Applicants who are eligible for consideration, and wish to be considered, under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links below to see the documentation requirements: (a) Persons with Severe Disabilities (SCHEDULE A) (b) Former Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) OR AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers OR Current or Former Peace Corps Employees (PCE) (c) Military Spouses (MISP) (d) Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA)

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship , and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Help
This job is open to
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
Open to U.S. Citizens; Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) eligibles.