Civil Rights Investigator and Hearing Officer

Job Summary

The Civil Rights Investigator and Hearing Officer will provide support to the Assistant Vice President, Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, who is responsible for creating a safe and respectful campus environment through education and outreach and preventing and addressing instances of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and sexual and gender-based misconduct on campus (Title IX and Equal Opportunity Compliance). The Civil Rights Investigator and Hearing Officer will provide prompt and effective action when complaints of sexual misconduct, harassment, discrimination, and/or bias incidents are reported. This person will play a key role in creating a safe and respectful workplace and educational environment for our University community and ensure that individuals are provided with all relevant information and resources regarding preventing, reporting and addressing sexual misconduct, harassment, discrimination and bias incidents. This position will be responsible for individually managing and investigating complaints; directing and implementing institutional response efforts; and leading informal resolutions needed to address instances of discrimination and harassment and prevent their recurrence. This position is also responsible for the equitable, fair, and just resolution of matters that are brought to a hearing.

Essential Functions

• Generally the Civil Rights Investigator and Hearing Officer must:
  
  
  
  • Remain up to date and knowledgeable of relevant federal, state and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to, Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, the Violence Against Women Act, the Clery Act, FERPA, the ADA, the PHRA, and the FLSA
  • Remain up to date and knowledgeable of guidance documents from the Department of Education, including the Dear Colleague Letters and OCR resolution agreements with other institutions.
  • Remain up to date and knowledgeable of guidance documents from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  • Act as a collaborative member of the University's Title IX Team, providing information and resources to members of the University community regarding prevention of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sex-based harassment, and pregnancy and related conditions, and the University's policy and procedures to address complaints of such conduct when they occur
  • Act as a collaborative member of the University's Bias Incident Response Team, providing information and resources to members of the University community regarding prevention of discrimination and harassment based on any protected identities, as well as the University's policies and procedures to address complaints of such conduct when they occur
  • Responsible for aiding any University employee regarding how to respond appropriately to a report of bias, harassment, discrimination and sexual and gender-based misconduct (sexual violence, stalking or intimate partner violence)
  • Participate in the planning and implementation of educational programs for students, faculty, and professional staff on discrimination and harassment prevention, including, sexual harassment and misconduct prevention, as needed.
  • Develop and maintain positive collaborative relationships with University stakeholders (i.e. academic advisors, faculty members, coop advisors, coaches) and external support groups to ensure that faculty, professional staff, and campus guest are aware of and can access the resources and support they need to report or respond to a complaint of discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual and gender-based misconduct
  • Analyze reports and data in Maxient to identify patterns and propose recommendations for improved workflow.
  • Coordinate with investigative team for quality assurance.
  • Maintain up-to-date records of all EIC-1 and EIC-3 case files at the University and manage the collection and maintenance of records of the status of all investigations, inquiries, and resolutions, requested or completed, using Maxient.
  • Assess, develop, and implement institutional policies and procedures for data compliance and documentation by reviewing institutional policies and practices to ensure they meet regulatory standards. * Oversee the management of data systems related to regulatory compliance.
  • Ensure data integrity, privacy, and confidentiality in accordance with regulatory standards.
  
  
  
  
• When serving as the Title IX & EO/Civil Rights Investigator, the employee will:
  
  
  
  • Conduct prompt, thorough, and fair investigations of complaints of discrimination, harassment, bias incidents, and sexual misconduct, when appropriate
  • Responsible for compliance with all procedural requirements and time frames outlined in the University's Discrimination, Harassment, and Bias Incident Prevention Policy (EIC-1), Reasonable Accommodation of Individuals with Disabilities Policy (ODR-1), and the Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy (EIC-3)
  • Responsible for individually managing and investigating complaints, directing institutional response, and leading informal resolutions needed to address instances of discrimination and harassment and prevent their recurrence
  • Provide guidance to managers and university stakeholders regarding the issues and dynamics related to bias, harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking
  • Compose detailed investigative reports and make legally sound determinations with respect to the inclusion of information that will be relied upon in adjudicating complaints and aiding the fact finder in determining responsibility
  • Attend and provide testimony at hearings adjudicating complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct made against students
  • Responsible for writing detailed and legally sound determinations/adjudications of responsibility under the University's policies in matters involving EIC-1.
  
  
  
  
• When serving as the Hearing Officer, the employee will:
  
  
  
  • Adjudicate allegations of sexual misconduct and/or sexual harassment.
  • Conduct live in person or virtual hearings to receive evidence and determine whether there is sufficient evidence, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a respondent is responsible or not responsible for the alleged sexual misconduct and/or sexual harassment.
  • Rule on all procedural matters and objections to evidence and participant testimony. * Question witnesses who testify at a hearing.
  • Manage the entire hearing process for an assigned case, including pre-hearing meetings, scheduling, and post-hearing discussions.
  • Review the investigative report, all exhibits, and the relevant policies prior to any pre-hearing meetings as well as prior to any hearing.
  • Research and analyze relevant laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for any hearing and to render a decision.
  • Prepare detailed, legally sufficient written decisions and transmit them to the necessary parties.
  • In consultation with the appropriate representatives from Drexel University, determine sanctions where a respondent is found responsible for a policy violation.
  
  
  
  
• Other duties as may be assigned

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of Master's Degree or the equivalent combination of education and work experience.
  
  
  
  • Please review the Equivalency Chart for additional information.
  
  
  
  
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Higher Education and/or Academic Medical Center is strongly desired
• Conflict resolution and mediation experience preferred
• Investigative experience preferred

Location

• University City - Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information
This position is classified as Exempt, grade N. Compensation for this grade ranges from $ 90,430.00 to $ 135,640.00 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position typically aligns with the minimum to midrange of this grade, but it can vary based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel's compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel's Benefits Brochure.

Special Instructions to the Applicant
Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.