Employee and Labor Relations Investigator (SY24-25)

Overview:

Boston Public Schools serves 53,000 children in 125 schools. We fundamentally believe that schools are the unit of change where our school leadership teams and educators create rigorous, supportive, and safe environments for every child to reach their full potential. Our work as a district is to ensure this is possible at every one of our schools.

Position Summary:

The Investigator will partner with attorneys in the Office of Labor Relations and the leadership of the Office of Human Resources (OHR) and other responsibility center leaders to investigate allegations of employee misconduct and allegations of contract violations brought by our union partners. This individual will be responsible for conducting fair investigations, drafting investigation reports and participating in internal disciplinary hearings, arbitrations and litigation in state courts or before the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations. The Investigator will also develop and deliver training to school leaders and department heads on conducting timely, thorough and impartial investigations.

Reports to: Director of Labor Relations

Responsibilities:

• Completes or collaborates with school leaders and supervisors to complete timely, thorough, and impartial investigations of complaints involving violations of federal or state law, BPS policy, applicate collective bargaining agreements or other-enforceable workplace standards.
• Conducts witness and subject interviews, reviews relevant background information, conducts necessary research, prepares factual findings and conclusions, and provides recommendations to the appropriate decision-makers for the purpose of enabling the BPS to provide a safe, welcoming, respectful and inclusive learning and workplace environment for all BPS students and employees.
• Prepares, gathers and maintains accurate and complete records of all investigative processes.
• Performs difficult and complex factual and legal analyses and research.
• Works closely with the Division of Schools, developing and delivering education programs and training designed to proactively address workplace issues and increase compliance with BPS policies.
• Develops trust and rapport and influence with partners, the BPS Executive Team, and City leaders.
• Promotes and encourages a positive environment while working respectfully and effectively within and for a diverse group of people at all levels of the organization.
• Uses a variety of advanced conflict resolution techniques to guide departments through options to successfully resolve employee conflicts.
• Prepares and maintains summary reports of the status of all investigations.
• Supports the Office of Labor Relations in writing reports and responding to records requests as needed.
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications - Required:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three plus (3 ) years of progressively responsible experience conducting impartial fact-finding investigations in the employment context, establishing familiarity with the requirements of labor law and employment law.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting mediation and/or other dispute resolution processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across geographical and cultural boundaries with an ability to discern systemic issues revealed during the investigative process, which requires a high degree of empathy balanced against an ability to provide direct feedback and confront witnesses with difficult information.
• Ability to exercise confidentiality and discretion with highly sensitive information.
• Ability to exercise good judgement and focus on detail as required by the job.
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing.

Qualification - Preferred:

• A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Knowledge of the scope of Title IX investigations.
• Experience working for a municipality or school district.

Terms: Managerial, D61. City of Boston Residency is Required.

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.