Assistant Director of Investigations

The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH

1d • $81,800 - $106,900 • Onsite

About The Position

The Civil Rights Compliance Office (CRCO) investigates allegations of protected class-based discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct across the university, including the Medical Center and regional campuses. These matters are complex and carry significant institutional, legal, and reputational risk. The Assistant Director of Investigations will mentor, directly supervise, and manage Civil Rights Investigators. Working with CRCO leadership to provide operational guidance to investigative staff, the Assistant Director of Investigations will utilize their knowledge of CRCO policies and processes, investigative strategy, campus partnerships, and on-and-off campus resources to assist Civil Rights Investigators in the development of case-specific action steps. As part of the leadership within Investigations, this position will assist the Director of Investigations in the assessment, processing, and assignment of investigative cases as needed. This role will provide active support and guidance to members of the investigative staff when urgent issues arise while simultaneously elevating the matter to the Director of Investigations and/or CRCO leadership. The Assistant Director of Investigations will further support the Director of Investigations in the effectuation of timely investigations through the review of case documentation, drafts, and development of investigative procedures. As a critical member of the Investigative Team, the Assistant Director of Investigations will represent Investigations and/or CRCO in meetings with campus partners when appropriate, supports the Director of Investigations in the training of investigators, and contributes to the development and management of investigative projects to increase efficiencies within the case management lifecycle. The candidate may maintain a caseload of investigations involving significant complexity and/or sensitivity and will perform all duties of a Civil Rights Investigator. The Civil Rights Investigator investigates complaints involving protected-class discrimination and harassment involving students and/or employees; serves as a Title IX investigator for student and employee cases related to sex- and gender-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, and retaliation; acts as a neutral party through all aspects of investigation process and ensures equitable treatment of all parties; ensures prompt, impartial, well-documented, and trauma- informed investigation processes; maintain privacy of sensitive information; collaborates and consults with appropriate university offices in the course of investigations, including Student Conduct and Human Resources; maintains accurate, thorough and unbiased investigatory files; creates comprehensive written investigative reports; partners with other university offices and community resources throughout the investigative process to facilitate timely response, investigation, and resolution of complaints; understands and follows established university policies and procedures, as well as all state and federal guidance; may assist with adjudicating any reported allegation of student misconduct as necessary; attend trainings to maintain knowledge of non-discrimination laws and regulations and investigatory processes and practices; maintains privacy and ensures compliance with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other state, federal, and institutional student record policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, student affairs, counseling, higher education, public health, law or related field
• A minimum of Five (5) years of relevant experience
• Knowledge of laws and regulations that pertain to students, faculty and university staff, including Title IX, Clery Act, Title VI, Title VII, Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other civil rights laws
• Demonstrated success in completing complex tasks independently
• Skilled at effectively cultivating relationships and collaborating with colleagues
• Ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information
• Expertise in providing outstanding support for numerous individuals in distress
• Proven ability to quickly connect parties with appropriate resources, including crisis management and/or law enforcement services
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to assess and negotiate multifaceted, highly sensitive situations
• Ability to maintain neutrality and work under pressure
• Demonstrated success in working with broad and varied populations
• Strong and effective interpersonal skills including the ability to listen well and demonstrate an awareness of and respect for individual needs
• Exceptional organizational and prioritization skills
• Expertise in presenting ideas clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to appropriately manage challenging issues with compassion and cultural competence
• Prior experience performing data or record verification duties while working within large database systems
• Prior informal or formal supervisory responsibilities
• Proven successful case management of numerous highly complex and sensitive matters
• Past engagement, participation, or facilitation in auditing processes
• Experience in thorough, timely, and efficient assessment and processing of information for a unit or department
• Participation in policy, protocol, and/or process review
• Demonstrated relationship building and successful representation of a unit or department when engaging with internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated success in case management, record-keeping, and/or documentation of issue management within a large organization or system

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in social work, student affairs, counseling, higher education, public health, law or related field
• Eight to twelve (8-12) years of experience working in the areas of civil rights compliance, student conduct, human resources, or a similar field
• Experience with trauma-informed support services
• Supporting individuals who have experienced sexual violence or civil rights issues, conducting investigations, or crafting alternative resolutions
• Crisis management
• Advancing compliance with government regulations that pertain to students, faculty and university staff, including Title IX, Clery Act, Title VI, Title VII, Section 504, ADA, and other civil rights laws and regulations
• Experience working within NAVEX and/or Maxient databases

Responsibilities

• Mentor, directly supervise, and manage Civil Rights Investigators.
• Provide operational guidance to investigative staff.
• Assist Civil Rights Investigators in the development of case-specific action steps.
• Assist the Director of Investigations in the assessment, processing, and assignment of investigative cases.
• Provide active support and guidance to members of the investigative staff when urgent issues arise.
• Support the Director of Investigations in the effectuation of timely investigations through the review of case documentation, drafts, and development of investigative procedures.
• Represent Investigations and/or CRCO in meetings with campus partners.
• Support the Director of Investigations in the training of investigators.
• Contribute to the development and management of investigative projects to increase efficiencies within the case management lifecycle.
• Maintain a caseload of investigations involving significant complexity and/or sensitivity.
• Perform all duties of a Civil Rights Investigator.
• Investigate complaints involving protected-class discrimination and harassment involving students and/or employees.
• Serve as a Title IX investigator for student and employee cases related to sex- and gender-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, and retaliation.
• Act as a neutral party through all aspects of the investigation process and ensure equitable treatment of all parties.
• Ensure prompt, impartial, well-documented, and trauma-informed investigation processes.
• Maintain privacy of sensitive information.
• Collaborate and consult with appropriate university offices in the course of investigations, including Student Conduct and Human Resources.
• Maintain accurate, thorough, and unbiased investigatory files.
• Create comprehensive written investigative reports.
• Partner with other university offices and community resources throughout the investigative process to facilitate timely response, investigation, and resolution of complaints.
• Understand and follow established university policies and procedures, as well as all state and federal guidance.
• Assist with adjudicating any reported allegation of student misconduct as necessary.
• Attend trainings to maintain knowledge of non-discrimination laws and regulations and investigatory processes and practices.
• Maintain privacy and ensure compliance with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other state, federal, and institutional student record policies.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage, with Ohio State paying a significant portion of the cost.
• Paid time off, including sick and vacation time and 11 holidays.
• State retirement plan or an alternative retirement plan, both with generous employer contributions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager