Manager, Investigation and Resolution Unit

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity supports the role of the Metropolitan Council as an Equal Opportunity Employer and its employment practices and business operations, to reflect a sense of value and respect for diversity among its employees, customers, and the citizens of the seven-county metropolitan area.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:
The IRU Manager is responsible for managing the unit, supervising and developing several direct reports, delivering trainings, and providing strategic direction and technical assistance for development and implementation of the Civil Right Act of 1964 and other nondiscrimination laws with the emphasis on Title VII and Title VI program to ensure a work environment and public service that is free from discrimination and harassment.

• Supervise, coordinate, distribute work, provide work instruction, coach, monitor work, train, and evaluate performance of direct reports.
• Coordinate work assignments for contracted services with external investigators.
• Act as a neutral party throughout investigatory process of protected class discrimination and harassment to determine whether policies, federal law, state law, local rules, or regulations were violated.
• Interview complainants, respondents, witnesses, and other individuals, and conduct site visits and review records of past practices.
• Prepare and submit fact-finding reports and participate in resolution to reports.
• Testify in legal proceedings.
• Mediate and utilize resolution and problem-solving processes to resolve internal reports.
• Develop, review and revise from time to time the Council's Affirmative Action Plan to reflect changes in the workforce in compliance with federal and state requirements and to complement the strategic vision of the Council.
• Work in collaboration with the OEEO leadership to engage leaders, managers, and supervisors in systemic change in practices, review processes with an equity lens, and identify training needs for supervisors, managers, and employees on inclusion, bias, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment related issues.
• Partner with Occupational Health leadership on accommodation requests and reviews and training new managers.
• Revise and update policies and procedures for council-wide adherence. Productively communicate policy and procedure to all employees within OEEO and across the Council.
• Remain knowledgeable of federal and state law and regulations, and trends within OEEO services related to discrimination, harassment, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Civil Rights Act Title VI, Title VII and other related practices, case law, statutes and regulations.
• Attend conferences and training courses and participate in Council committees that further the work of OEEO.

Any of the following combinations of education (in law, human resources, public administration, social sciences, or similar) and relevant experience in a diversity-related field:

• Juris Doctor (JD) and 2 years of experience, including 2 years in a supervisory or management position.
• Master's degree and 3 years of experience, including 2 years in a supervisory or management position.
• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience, including 2 years in a supervisory or management position.
• Associate's degree and 7 years of experience, including 2 years in a supervisory or management position.
• High school diploma/GED and 9 years of experience, including 2 years in a supervisory or management position.

• Knowledge of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action program administration and principles of conducting investigations, including interview methods and techniques, conducting, planning, organizing and leading investigations, facilitation and preparation of reports and recommendations.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws governing standard investigative practices, equal opportunity, affirmative action, civil rights laws, related case law, and the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, due process and just cause standards sufficient to ensure the legality and defensibility of the investigation and protection of individual rights.
• Experience developing and implementing Affirmative Action Plans and related programming. Experience working with HR staff and others to ensure the Affirmative Action Goals are met in hiring, promotion and retention of employees from protected groups.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds of community and staff.
• Skill in development of policy, procedure, and process with an equity lens.
• Effective written and oral communication skills to communicate policies, procedures, present investigative reports, testify in proceedings, and conduct training.
• Skill in mediation, negotiation, problem-solving, analytical and conflict resolution.
• Skill in working with individuals in high stress situations in a compassionate, professional, and courteous manner and to diffuse and manage situations involving intense conflict.
• Ability to organize and conduct synthesis and analysis of varied and complex information and problems.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to tolerate a high degree of ambiguity, while exercising independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional relationships in dealing with sensitive, complex civil rights, legal and human resource matters.
• Ability to coordinate and distribute work appropriately, provide work instruction, and evaluate, coach, and monitor work of staff.
• Ability to utilize computer technology used for communication, data gathering and reporting.
• Ability to work flexible work hours with some evening and/or weekend hours required.

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

Union/Grade: Metropolitan Council Management Association (MANA)/Grade I
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:
Work is performed in a standard office setting. Some positions may require travel between primary work sites to other sites. Ability and willingness to travel in metro area occasionally.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured panel interview.
• We conduct a selection interview.