Equal Opportunity Investigator

Description

• Conduct thorough and timely Equal Opportunity investigations to include (but not limited to) race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health choices, pregnancy, marital/familiar/partnership/caregiver status, family structure, predisposing genetic characteristic, genetic information or mental/physical disability, low-income and minority status, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and/or sex offenses, or any legally protected basis. Investigations will range from routine to complex and include interviewing employees, applicants, customers, and community members as a neutral fact finder, reviewing documents, and analyzing data in a timely manner.
• Prepare written reports and summary of findings, with supporting documentation, that are fair, impartially representing the facts, and investigatory analysis to determine whether the facts suggest the complaining party was subjected to behavior (or incident) that constitutes a violation of MTA policy.
• Provide Information for and attend discipline review meetings to provide investigation findings, as needed.
• Liaise with appropriate business units and HR to convey all HR related concerns resulting from investigations.
• Support internal and external Equal Opportunity related investigations, complaints, inquiries, and charges across the enterprise.
• Assist in the response to external inquiries and charges in partnership with appropriate business areas and Legal.
• Conduct research and analysis in partnership with Agency Equal Opportunity leads to provide insight into environmental trends as it relates to internal and external EEO complaints.
• Other duties as assigned by senior management.

• Perform intake of informal and formal complaints and identify the relevant scope of complaints and make recommendations of interim measures, when needed.
• Compose investigative plans, which include deciding which witnesses to interview, outlining which questions to ask, and planning which documents to request and how to acquire documents.
• Interview witnesses to obtain complete and thorough responses to questions.
• Write investigative reports and make recommendations to the Chief Equal Opportunity Officer based on investigatory findings.
• Secure relevant documentation to prove or disprove allegations in complaint.
• Conduct thorough analysis of evidence gathered in accordance with applicable equal opportunity laws, regulations and established internal policies and procedures.
• Follow up on all new complaints in a timely manner.
• Work under the direction of senior Equal Opportunity staff and on complex (or cross Agency) investigations to ensure prompt and thorough resolution of complaints.
• Maintain accurate and thorough records and notes of investigatory process.
• Manage and track multiple intake and investigations at any given time with competing priorities, while handling other projects simultaneously.
• Facilitate informal resolution of complaints, when appropriate. Document efforts and conclusion of informal resolution.
• Collaborate with Legal Department on investigations involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Attorney General’s Offices, and New York State Human Rights Commission as well as complaints raised by other applicable outside agencies, organizations, and constituencies.
• Communicate investigative factual determinations and analysis to complainants, subjects, departments, and others with a business reason to know.
• Input complaint data into Master Complaint tracking database.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, city and local laws and regulations governing nondiscrimination of employees, applicants, and customers and mitigation of disproportionate impact/burden to communities.
• Strong investigative skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including: the ability to both be impartial and project impartiality, and the ability to establish rapport with a diverse range of community members.
• Excellent critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze information, evaluate results, and facilitate resolution of difficult challenges.
• Ability to manage issues of complex and extreme sensitivity with a high level of professionalism.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and plan one’s work to meet critical deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare complex written reports and provide reliable testimony explaining the investigation’s process, findings, conclusions, and rationales.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team.

• BA/BS from an accredited college or university is required. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• A Master's degree may substitute for two years of experience. A Juris Doctorate may substitute for three years of experience.
• A minimum of 5 years demonstrated experience conducting thorough investigations pertaining to allegations of discrimination is required. An additional 5 years of experience exclusively investigating civil rights related complaints may be substituted in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree.

Salary : $90,000 - $95,000