Equal Opportunity Investigator, OEO - 25129

NYC Public Schools; New York (NY); On-site; USD 73,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Education of the City of New York seeks an Equal Opportunity Investigator to conduct investigations of discrimination and harassment under EEO laws and NYCPS policy. The role involves interviewing parties, reviewing documents, and preparing confidential findings.

Reports to the Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management; travel to schools across the five boroughs may be required; strong writing and organizational skills are essential, with

Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and three years of full-time satisfactory professional experience in equal employment opportunity, human rights, or related fields.
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and seven years of full-time satisfactory professional experience.
• Education and/or experience equivalent to the above, with a four-year high school diploma or its equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interviews of complainants, respondents, witnesses, students and staff; travel to schools as needed.
• Analyze complaints, develop investigative plans, gather evidence, and prepare confidential reports with findings.
• Maintain investigative files and data; ensure timely record updates.
• Liaise with internal and external entities regarding investigations and non-discrimination policy.

Skills

Strong writing

Negotiation

Organizational skills

Education

Baccalaureate degree

High school diploma + 7 years

Equivalency to 1 or 2

Job description

Position Summary: The Equal Opportunity Investigator will conduct investigations of complaints of discrimination and unlawful harassment pursuant to federal, state, and local EEO laws and the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Non-Discrimination policy. Performs related work.

Reports to: Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management

Direct Reports: N/A

Key Relationships: Serves as a liaison between OEO and both internal and external entities that request complaint information, including NYC Corporation Counsel, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the Special Commissioner of Investigation, and the NYCPS’s Office of Legal Services. Collaborates, when necessary, with the Office of Special Investigations regarding overlapping investigative issues.

Responsibilities

• Conducts interviews of all relevant parties to a discrimination complaint including the complainant, the respondent, witnesses, students, parents of students, and staff members. School-based investigations may require travel to schools in any of the five boroughs.
• Analyzes complaints, develops investigative plans, conducts fact-finding, reviews documents, gathers and assesses evidence, conducts related research, prepares related correspondence, drafts memoranda, and submits confidential reports and memoranda containing investigative findings.
• Maintains investigative files and data and ensures that records are updated in a timely fashion.
• May serve as a liaison between OEO and both internal and external entities, with regard to requests for information about investigations.
• Works to ensure compliance with the NYCPS’s non-discrimination policy and internal complaint procedures.
• Assists in the preparation, dissemination and implementation of rules, regulations, procedures and guidelines related to the review of internal complaints of alleged discrimination.
• May serve as an Intake Unit Investigator and, if serving in this capacity, responsibilities will include:
• Receives and reviews newly filed complaints and conducts quick assessments to spot issues and determine appropriate next steps.
• Conducts intake interviews for the purpose of gathering more information to determine the appropriate course of action for complaints, including whether they should be assigned for full investigation and whether aspects of a complaint should be referred to a supervisor, another office, or another agency.
• Gathers and reviews documents and other evidence, drafts correspondence, keeps detailed notes of investigative interviews, and creates and maintains investigative case files and electronic case records.
• Fields and responds to complaints received via OEO’s intake phone line, email address, online complaint form, mail, fax, and walk-in.
• Provides parties and other individuals that make inquiries with information regarding the NYCPS Non-Discrimination Policy and internal complaint procedures.

Qualification Requirements

Minimum

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and three years of full-time satisfactory professional experience in one or more of the fields of equal employment opportunity, human rights, community relations, law, social services, education, investigation, human resources or public relations.
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and seven years of full-time satisfactory professional experience as described in " 1 " above; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "'1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s department of education or a recognized accrediting organization.

Note: To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II, individuals must have, in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements, one year of supervisory experience in one of the fields listed in "1." in the above Qualification Requirements, or one year of experience as an Equal Rights Compliance Specialist – AL I.

Preferred

• Strong writing, negotiation, and organizational skills.

Salary

$73,380 - $79,133

(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)

• New York City Residency is NOT Required

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DOE Non- Discrimination Policy

The Department of Education of the City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's actual or perceived sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or pregnancy. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.