Prevailing Wage & Apprenticeship Compliance Manager (m/f/d)

Nordex Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 107,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Basic Life and AD&D

Health & Dental Care

RRSP Match

Weekly Indemnity

Long Term Disability

Pension Plan

Job summary

Nordex Group is seeking a Project Compliance Manager for Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship to ensure compliance with IRA, Davis-Bacon Act, and state labor laws across onshore wind projects. You will coordinate payroll audits, monitor apprenticeship participation, and work with contractors and legal teams to address compliance gaps.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years in labor compliance, with strong analytical and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, HR, PM, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in labor compliance, prevailing wage enforcement, or apprenticeship program management.
• Strong knowledge of prevailing wage laws (Davis-Bacon Act, IRA provisions) and wage determinations.
• Understanding of Davis-Bacon Act, IRA regulations, and related labor laws.
• Experience in payroll data audits and contractor oversight.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• PMP certification is a plus.
• Ability to work in Canada with no sponsorship & travel to US.

Responsibilities

• Lead prevailing wage compliance efforts across projects per regulations.
• Oversee apprenticeship participation and labor ratios per IRA requirements.
• Coordinate audits of contractor payroll data and wage determinations.
• Collaborate with project teams, legal advisors, and regulators.
• Provide training to contractors on wage and apprenticeship compliance.
• Maintain documentation for audits and regulatory reporting.

Skills

Prevailing wage compliance

Apprenticeship programs

Regulatory compliance

Data analysis

Project management

Bilingual EN/FR

Payroll audits

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/HR/PM

Tools

Payroll software

Data reporting tools

Job description

Do you want to be part of an agile team where colleagueship truly matters? As a global company, we interact with a variety of people and cultures. Integrity, Respect, Colleagueship and Ownership are the unifying force for all departments and regions around the world. It’s the individual that defines the team. And it’s the team that makes the difference. Join the #TEAMNORDEX and shape the future of energy with us.

Position Summary

The role of Project Compliance Manager, Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship directly supports the company’s mission to develop and deliver clean power plants that make 100% renewable energy a reality for the world. The Project Compliance Manager for Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship will lead Nordex’s compliance efforts related to prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards across onshore wind projects, ensuring full alignment with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), state regulations, and client contract requirements. This role will play a critical part in both shaping and enforcing contractual commitments, ensuring that client agreements reflect applicable labor standards, and that project execution meets those obligations. The role will serve as a critical link across project management, subcontractor coordination, and payroll operations, ensuring cohesive collaboration and full regulatory compliance. It includes oversight of labor contractors, rigorous wage compliance monitoring, and verification of apprenticeship participation throughout the lifecycle of each qualified project.

What You’ll Do

Prevailing Wage Compliance:

• Identify and determine appropriate prevailing wages for each job role per federally mandated standards.
• Monitor labor contractors to enforce prevailing wage compliance and facilitate accurate wage payments.
• Conduct thorough audits of payroll data submitted by contractors to the PWA Agent, ensuring compliance with all regulations surrounding prevailing wages.

Apprenticeship Program Oversight

• Ensure onshore wind projects fulfill all apprenticeship participation and minimum hour thresholds as required by the IRA.
• Regularly track and assess contractor and subcontractor adherence to apprenticeship labor ratios set forth in relevant laws.
• Collaborate with contractors and apprenticeship providers to swiftly address and rectify any compliance gaps or discrepancies.

Data Management And Reporting

• Collect, analyze, and effectively manage compliance-related data concerning both prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.
• Prepare and submit timely compliance reports to internal and external stakeholders as mandated.
• Maintain an organized repository of records to support any future audits and compliance inspections.
• Ensure subcontractor compliance documentation is collected, reviewed, and retained in accordance with regulatory and contractual requirements.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with project managers, contractors, and legal advisors to ensure a thorough understanding of compliance requirements across all project teams.
• Act as the primary liaison between Nordex, PWA Agents, and labor providers to facilitate smooth communication and compliance efforts.
• Provide ongoing training and resources to contractors on best practices for wage and apprenticeship compliance.
• Partner with business stakeholders and People & Culture to ensure proper job classifications are aligned with existing wage determinations or submitted for review to the Department of Labor.
• Liaise with the sales team during early project development to support cost projections for proposals that may qualify under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
• Serve as a point of contact with external regulatory bodies (e.g., Department of Labor) and legal counsel to address compliance issues, resolve inquiries, and ensure alignment with evolving requirements.

Other

• Other responsibilities as assigned

What You Have

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Project Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in labor compliance, prevailing wage enforcement, or apprenticeship program management.
• Strong knowledge of prevailing wage laws and standards (e.g., Davis-Bacon Act, Inflation Reduction Act provisions), including wage determinations, certified payroll, and documentation requirements.
• In-depth understanding of the Davis-Bacon Act, IRA regulations, and other pertinent labor laws.
• Familiarity with prevailing wage administration and compliance measures.
• Proven ability to analyze complex regulations and develop effective, actionable compliance strategies.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal capabilities.
• Proficiency in data management tools and reporting software.
• Background in the renewable energy or construction sectors is a significant advantage.
• Understanding of labor union practices and the standards of apprenticeship.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus.
• Ability to successfully complete all Canadian regulatory laws surrounding pre-employment screening requirements.
• Must be able to work in Canada with no Company sponsorship and have the ability to obtain a passport to travel to the US for orientation and training.
• Fluency in English and French is mandatory. Spanish and/or German is a plus.
• Driving is an essential function of the job. Must possess a full valid driver’s license and be insurable under our auto insurance policy. This position will be subject to periodic driver’s abstract checks to confirm continued insurability.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening.

Nordex Places The Highest Priority On The Safe Operations Of Its Business. As Such, we Are Seeking a Candidate Who Is Committed To Maintaining And Promoting Safety Standards At All Times. The Ideal Candidate Must

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of and commitment to safety protocols and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with all safety regulations and company policies.
• Proactively identify and mitigate potential safety hazards.
• Properly use applicable safety equipment, including but not limited to eye protection, hearing protectors, steel-toe boots, and hard hats. Loose-fitting clothes and jewelry are not permitted.
• Communicate effectively with team members and management to ensure a safe working environment.
• Speak and understand English fluently to effectively communicate safety and job-related information, follow safety instructions, and collaborate with English-speaking supervisors and team members.

The pay for this role is exempt at $150k - $170k CAD salary with up to a 15% bonus. Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.

In addition to the opportunity to make our world a little more sustainable, we offer you:

• Basic Life and AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Optional Life & Spousal Optional Life
• Optional AD&D
• Weekly Indemnity
• Long Term Disability
• Extended Health Care
• Dental Care
• RRSP Match - up to $5k based upon what you contribute

Equal Opportunity

Nordex adheres to a policy of equal employment opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Dei

We are committed to creating an environment and culture in which Diversity and Inclusion is recognized as a true opportunity and value for the organization. We welcome you to learn more by visiting this link: Diversity & Inclusion - Nordex SE