Chief Investigations Officer

The Pennsylvania State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State is seeking an experienced investigations leader to serve as the inaugural Chief Investigations Officer (CIO). The CIO will build and lead the Office of Investigations, a centralized unit responsible for intake, triage, and resolution of policy violations and discrimination/harassment complaints across the university.

The role requires senior leadership experience, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to work with diverse campus communities while maintaining

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Juris Doctor or advanced degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience planning and conducting complex internal investigations.
• At least 3 years of experience supervising investigative staff.
• Experience applying laws/policies to employment and civil rights matters in higher education is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish and refine the full intake-to-resolution process.
• Develop a jurisdictional triage framework for investigation pathways.
• Standardize investigation templates and communications.
• Oversee hotline and case management systems with data reporting.
• Lead, mentor, and train investigators within a two-investigator model.
• Consult with subject-matter experts before investigations and final reports.
• Maintain neutrality, objectivity, and confidentiality in sensitive matters.
• Collaborate with OCCR, GC, HR, Labor & Employee Relations, and campus units.
• Possibly serve as lead investigator on complex, high-profile matters.
• Organize reporting on case volume, trends, and time-to-close metrics.
• Oversee the investigations budget and staffing.

Skills

Investigations leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Stakeholder collaboration

Discretion & confidentiality

Objective judgement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Juris Doctor or advanced degree

Tools

Maxient

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

Penn State is seeking an experienced investigations leader to serve as the inauguralChief Investigations Officer (CIO), responsible for building and leading the newOffice of Investigations- a centralized, University-wide unit of approximately 8 full-time staff (plus part-time/flex investigative capacity) responsible for the intake, triage, and resolution of policy violation allegations and discrimination and harassment complaints (including cases arising under Title VI, VII, and IX), involving employee respondents. This is a new, senior leadership role central to the University's ability to resolve matters thoroughly, fairly, consistently, and efficiently, while serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.

Program Design, Standardization & Process Oversight

• Establish and continuously refine the full case-intake-to-resolution process including protocols for matters where no policy violation is found, consistent with system capabilities and best practices
• Develop and maintain a decision-tree rubric to guide consistent jurisdictional and pathway determinations across all incoming matters, informed by risk and community impact. Potential pathways include outside counsel investigation, internal investigation, administrative case review, referral to HR, Unit Head or another office, provision of resources/information
• Standardize written work-product templates and complainant/respondent communications templates across all case types
• Oversee the hotline and case management system, including data reporting and trend/issue-spotting in partnership with OCCR subject-matter experts

Investigative Leadership

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of investigators operating under a two-investigator model for full Investigations and a one-investigator model for Administrative Case Reviews, providing training, feedback, and day-to-day guidance
• Consult with the relevant subject-matter expert(s) both before launching an investigation or administrative case review (to establish parameters, key factual questions, and legal framework) and before finalizing any report (to confirm all necessary investigative steps have been taken)
• Remain neutral, independent, and objective at all times - including in controversial, high-profile, or politically-sensitive matters
• Collaborate closely with OCCR, the Office of General Counsel, Human Resources, Labor & Employee Relations, and other key University constituents throughout the lifecycle of a case
• Occasionally serve as a lead investigator on the University's most complex, sensitive, or high-profile matters, including interviewing subjects and witnesses, evaluating evidence, and drafting credibility assessments, findings of fact, and findings of responsibility

Reporting, Metrics & Administration

• Organize, manage, and report on the work of the Office of Investigations to University leadership, including case volume, pathway distribution, time-to-close metrics, and outcome trends, measured against a documented baseline
• Directly support the University's goal of reducing the median number of days to resolve employee compliance and discrimination/harassment allegations
• Oversee the Office of Investigations' budget, expenses, and staffing

Qualifications

Essential Education

• Bachelor's degree required
• Juris Doctor or advanced degree preferred

Essential Experience

• At leastten (10)of experience planning and conducting complex internal investigations, including witness interviews, evidence evaluation, and preparation of high-quality investigative reports
• At leastthree (3)of experience managing or supervising investigative staff or a comparable team
• Demonstrated experience applying laws, regulations, and/or institutional policy to employment, Title IX, and/or civil rights matters (including Title VI and VII), with higher education experience preferred

Essential Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify key issues, synthesize complex information, and apply relevant laws and policies across a broad range of subject matters
• Demonstrated ability to design and operate a jurisdictional triage framework, distinguishing among investigation, administrative review, referral, and no-action pathways
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies - including faculty, staff, administrators, and external parties - with discretion, diplomacy, and tact
• Superior judgment, discretion, and confidentiality in handling sensitive and privileged matters; ability to maintain objectivity while treating all individuals with respect, dignity, and empathy
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, well-supported, legally defensible investigative reports reflecting both factual findings and policy/legal determinations
• Demonstrated ability to build, develop, and supervise a high-performing investigative team, including both full-time and flex/part-time staff, within a service-oriented organization
• Ability to build and maintain productive, collaborative relationships with senior University leaders, OCCR subject-matter experts, and campus-wide constituents across a large and decentralized institution
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex, concurrent cases in a time-sensitive environment
• Fosters a climate of inclusion and is attentive to diverse perspectives and cultural norms across multiple organizational units and campus locations
• Proficiency with Maxient or comparable case management systems, and Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Penn State is committed to providing an inclusive, welcoming, and lawful educational and working environment for all members of its community. The Chief Investigations Officer will be central to delivering on that commitment through a rigorous, well-documented, and efficient case resolution process across a large, multi-campus, decentralized institution.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

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