Equal Opportunity Compliance Office Investigations Team Lead

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The mission of the Office of Student Protections and Title IX (OSP) and the Equal Opportunity Compliance Office (EOCO) is to provide an equitable, inclusive, safe, supportive, and secure learning and working environment, in every school and neighborhood, in a district that is free from discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation, ensuring that all students, faculty, staff, vendors, and visitors can thrive.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director of EOCO Investigations, the EOCO Investigations Team Lead will manage a team of EOCO investigators and an intake specialist to ensure the district’s compliance with the full range of federal, state, and local laws as well as Title VI, VII, and Title IX requirements. As part of its commitment to ensure a safe and nurturing learning environment for all students and staff, the OSP/EOCO are charged with oversight of all aspects of the response, prevention and education initiatives pursuant to sexual abuse, harassment and misconduct in addition to other Title VI, VII and Title IX program activities. Additionally, EOCO oversees the district’s response, prevention and education initiatives to complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against all protected categories in compliance with CPS policies ensuring that all complaints are adjudicated and all parties are supported. The Investigations Team Lead will lead a staff of at least 4 investigators and an intake specialist and assist the Director of EOCO Investigations with the development and management of the EOCO’s strategic priorities.

This Job Will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

1. Develop, implement, and oversee investigations and case management plans for reports of violations of the Non-Discrimination Policy, Title VI, Title VII and Title IX

2. Team Management

• Develop and maintain follow-up protocols for schools and staff to identify and address ongoing challenges
• Continuously identify and integrate best practices with regard to EOCO investigations, and non-discrimination; stay abreast of current developments in conducting investigations
• Direct, evaluate and manage staff engaged in conducting conflict-free, prompt, and unbiased investigations and interviewing parties and witnesses using trauma informed culturally relevant techniques
• Train investigations staff to successfully support individuals and groups representing a wide range of diverse cultural, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Utilize district metrics to analyze the effectiveness of EOCO programs, communications & engagement campaigns, and training
• Manage the organization, tracking and reporting of all cases via the appropriate confidential case management and/or database system

3. Team Development

• Implement ongoing training and support to investigators and other department staff to ensure compliance with changing laws and requirements
• Ensure comprehensive reports of investigations with findings of fact that are completed in a timely manner
• Conduct targeted prevention training and professional development on Title IX and nondiscrimination policies and procedures for staff and students to promote and maintain a culture of compliance
• Utilize available data to identify patterns and/or systematic problems related to EOCO cases and develop action plans to address trends as needed
• Monitor changes in equal opportunity and Title IX laws and provide ongoing guidance to leadership in reviewing and altering policies and procedures

4. Training Assistance

• Collaborate with the Director of EOCO Investigations and senior CPS leaders, the Communications Office and external partners to develop content and materials to implement district-wide awareness campaigns
• Assist the Compliance and Training team with the ideation, creation, execution and evaluation of trauma informed, culturally relevant EOCO educational programs for CPS staff with internal and external partners

5. Assist the Director of EOCO Investigations with overseeing the district’s federal and state Title IX and Office for Civil Rights compliance obligations by ensuring prompt and thorough investigations into complaints

6. Refer, track and lead (where appropriate) all sexual harassment, abuse or misconduct investigations, including referrals for investigations to the Office of Inspector General or Law Department

7. Ensure appropriate, complete responses, and resolutions are carried out for all reports of misconduct falling under the purview of EOCO

8. Partner with Law, Safety & Security, Office of Equity, Talent, Office of Social Emotional Learning, Student Voice and other departments and external partners to ensure student and staff safety and facilitate the delivery of trauma informed culturally responsive and/or social-emotional services to students, families and staff

9. Testify at arbitration, administrative hearings and court proceedings related to investigations as required

10. Other duties as assigned
Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required
• Juris Doctorate degree highly preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience, preferably in a Title IX and/or EEO position or a related role; K-12 experience strongly preferred
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience conducting trauma-sensitive investigations. Leading an investigations team in education, law, compliance or a similar field is strongly preferred
• Experience in the development and facilitation of training programs, informational materials and stakeholder consultations
• Completion of sexual abuse, misconduct and/or violence prevention and response training with a nationally recognized organization preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Expertise and skill in exercising independent judgment in the assessment, investigation, and resolution of Title IX and Title VII concerns
• Ability to keep track of upcoming, ongoing, and prior work products
• Quickly adjust to shifting priorities and deadlines and can juggle multiple and varied projects simultaneously
• Develops realistic action plans and utilizes team effectively to achieve department goals
• Ability to analyze statistics, identify trends, and make balanced, objective recommendations in a proactive manner to achieve maximum results Initiates, builds, and manages cohesive partnerships and professional relationships both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated intercultural competency and proven effectiveness in working with people from diverse backgrounds including students, staff, families and community partners
• Communicates at a high level in both written and verbal form with detail-orientation and a focus on customer service and relationships
• Has a strong regard for confidentiality and employs sound reasoning to make quick determination
• Demonstrates knowledge of best practices and methodologies for conducting investigations, fact-finding and investigative interviewing Demonstrates knowledge of current state and federal laws and regulations related to Title VII and Title IX compliance, and other applicable laws and regulations for educational institutions
• In-depth knowledge and experience in data-driven practices at a systems level

Conditions of Employment:

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.