Initial Posting Date:

04/07/2025

Application Deadline:

04/21/2025

Agency:

Oregon Business Development Department

Salary Range:

$5,837 - $8,959

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Compliance Specialist (Compliance Specialist 3) - Hybrid Work

Job Description:

Business Oregon is the state’s economic development agency and is currently hiring a Compliance Specialist (Compliance Specialist 3). This role involves investigating complaints and third-party challenges by reviewing applications, analyzing documentation, conducting site visits, and interviewing relevant parties. Your findings will inform certification decisions and contribute to legal records for judicial review. Additionally, you will develop and refine compliance standards, interpret federal and state regulations, and provide guidance to agencies, businesses, and stakeholders. This includes dispute resolution, training development, and improving program efficiency. This position also involves regulatory interpretation, stakeholder engagement, and industry consultation to enhance certification accessibility and compliance. You will participate in administrative hearings, testify under oath, and support efforts to strengthen program integrity and reduce discrimination.

Note: We are committed to fostering a supportive work environment that promotes work-life balance and flexibility. This hybrid role offers remote work options, with the expectation of occasional in-office presence at the Salem office as needed and for in-person meeting to support business operations.

What you will do:  

• Investigate complaints and third-party challenges. Review and analyze applications and supporting documentation, perform site visits, and conduct interviews. Make recommendations based on findings.

• Accurately apply complex legal and technical resources - Objectively create investigative reports and provide guidance to external partners.

• Independently develop documents - Author sufficient records for judicial proceedings and legally binding notifications to applicants in accordance with federal and state rules and statutes.

• Develop compliance standards - Revise and implement procedures and training courses that cover complex regulatory situations.

• Provide technical guidance - Perform presentations and guide managers, staff, and outside organizations regarding program regulations or standards.

• Case preparation - Participate in the administrative hearing process including testifying under oath in support of investigative findings.

• Review work - Function in a lead capacity overseeing work of other staff making recommendations for performance improvements and professional development training needs.

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of some or all the following skills:

• Analytical and Investigative Skills – Ability to critically assess applications, supporting documentation, and site visits to identify compliance issues, fraud, or non-compliance.

• Legal and Regulatory Expertise – Strong understanding of federal and state regulations related to certification programs, with the ability to interpret and apply complex legal and technical resources accurately.

• Strong Communication and Stakeholder Engagement – Ability to clearly convey complex regulatory information to businesses, agencies, and stakeholders through reports, presentations, and training.

• Independent Decision-Making and Problem-Solving – Capacity to develop legally sound investigative records, resolve disputes, and make informed recommendations while functioning independently.

• Leadership and Mentorship – Experience overseeing casework, guiding staff, and recommending process improvements and professional development opportunities to strengthen program efficiency.

Please note: if you are interested in applying for this position, you must attach your current cover letter and resume to your application. Failure to submit the required resume and cover letter will remove your application from consideration.

What you need to qualify:

Five years’ experience doing administrative research that included compiling and evaluating facts to recommend management action or decide compliance or eligibility with program guidelines and regulations.

Three of the five years must be above the technical support level.

College-level course work may substitute for experience, based on 45-quarter units per year, up to a maximum of three years.

Some Positions May Require:

A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration and two years of the specified experience.

Business Oregon strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed.  We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background.  We encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every one of our qualifications listed.  If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, feel free to contact us to discuss your application. 

What Business Oregon does:

Business Oregon is the economic development agency for the state of Oregon. We have about 200 people on our team, and we work with communities and businesses. We use our programs and expertise to help businesses grow, so they can in turn add jobs, diversify the economy, and increase Oregon prosperity. We work with communities to enhance and expand infrastructure and community safety with projects such as water/wastewater systems, seismic rehabilitation for schools, or rural broadband development. This also sets the stage for future business development. Our mission is to invest in Oregon’s businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy, all carried out with an agency strategic plan.

The Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) is responsible for the certification of businesses under five distinct programs: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), a federally-mandated program for minority and women owned certified firms seeking contracting opportunities with recipients of federally funded, transportation related moneys; Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE), and Service Disabled Veteran (SDV) certification, state programs for certified firms seeking contracting opportunities with state, county, city, and special jurisdictions; and Emerging Small Business (ESB), a race and gender-neutral state program for certified firms seeking contracting opportunities on projects specifically designated for ESB participation.  COBID publishes an on-line directory of certified DBE, MBE, WBE, SDV, and ESB firms.  The directory is used by public contracting agencies, prime contractors, special jurisdictions, and private sector firms to solicit women, minorities, service-disabled veterans, and emerging small businesses for participation in specific projects with contracting goals.  COBID also conducts public outreach related to the certification programs and acts as resource/referral service for small businesses.

How to Apply

Please Note: Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM PST on Monday, April 21, 2025.

• If you are a current State of Oregon employee, you must apply through your employee Workday account through Jobs Hub.

• Click the “Apply” button above to complete your online application.

• Attach your current cover letter and resume. Failure to submit the required resume and cover letter may remove your application from consideration. Clearly demonstrate in your cover letter how you meet all the minimum qualifications and requested skills listed above.

• You may attach your cover letter and resume at the beginning of process or at the end of process of completing your workday application.

• Complete the questionnaire. Warning – Workday will timeout due to inactivity and will not save your application progress unless you use the “save for later” function. If you need to take a break, please be sure to click the save for later button to save your progress.

• Be sure to check Workday and your email for additional tasks and updates. After hitting submit there may be additional required tasks for you to complete prior to the announcement closing.

• The candidates whose work experience most closely matches the qualifications and skills of this position will be invited to interview.

What’s in it for you:

• Family Friendly Work Life Balance: Paid time off, 11 holidays, 3 personal days & optional short- and long-term disability benefits.

• Take Care of Yourself and Your Family: Comprehensive employee benefits, choice of medical plans, vision plan, life insurance, employee assistance program.

• Invest in Your Future: Pension plan, deferred comp, short- and long-term disability plan, flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care.

• Be Appreciated: Employee recognition events, agency unique employee recognition program allowing for additional leave options such as vacation buy-out and sick leave roll-over, dynamic employees doing impactful work.

• Inclusion: At Business Oregon, we value community and foster a sense of belonging for our employees.

Additional Information:

• Per the Pay Equity Law passed in 2017, a pay equity analysis will be conducted to determine what pay step the successful candidate will be offered. The analysis will be based on the relevant experience, education, training, and certifications documented in the application materials.

• It is our policy to provide reasonable accommodations to all applicants who may need them.  Should you need assistance, or an accommodation please contact Lies Wattimena at Lies.Wattimena@biz.oregon.gov to discuss how we can best meet your needs.

• Veterans’ Preference - Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. If you checked that you are a veteran, we will ask you for your documents later in the process. Click on the Veterans’ Preference link for additional information.

• Criminal Records Check - Hiring of the successful candidate will be contingent upon the results of a Criminal Background Check.  Adverse background data may be grounds for immediate disqualification.

• Work Authorization - Business Oregon does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.

• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill the current position and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.

• This position is a classified, full-time position, non-exempt and is not represented by a union.

• PERS – This is a PERS qualifying position. After a six-month waiting period eligible Management Service, Executive Service, and Unrepresented employees will have their base pay increased by 6.95% and the 6% PERS contribution deducted from their base pay rather than a direct 6% contribution by the State of Oregon to the employees PERS account.  This will mirror the bargained SEIU and AFSCME PERS process.

• Are you looking to live in and experience Oregon? Learn more about life in Pendleton, Salem, and Portland.

Need help?

We invite you to contact the recruiter for application questions or job-specific questions.

• The recruiter for this position is Sarah Flores, Human Resource Analyst. If you contact the recruiter, please include the job requisition (REQ-XXXXXX) number at the top of this job post.

• Email: Sarah.J.Flores@Biz.Oregon.gov

• Phone (call or text): 458-221-0205

Applicant FAQ

Business Oregon Career Opportunities

Business Oregon is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer.