Civil Rights Investigator

Cornell University • City of Ithaca, NY

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

Cornell is committed to upholding the civil rights of all community members and fostering learning, living, and working environments of equal opportunity, fairness, and accessibility. The university has entrusted the Cornell Office of Civil Rights (COCR) with ensuring these commitments are met through policy and process, prevention and training, data collection and analysis, and incident response and resolution.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Director of Civil Rights Compliance, this role primarily conducts investigations of alleged violations of protected class discrimination and harassment prohibited under Cornell University Policy 6.4 (“Prohibited Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual and Related Misconduct”).
The investigator serves as a neutral and impartial administrative investigator who independently plans, conducts, and documents investigations concerning complaints of protected class discrimination and harassment, to include assessments of potential hostile environments based on race, national origin, sex, religion, disability and other statuses protected by federal, state, and local laws, as well as Cornell Policy 6.4.
The investigator also assists with responding to bias incidents, alternative resolutions, supportive measures and adjudicative processes as appropriate, as well as with the development of policies, procedures, and practices. This role supports and provides compliance training and education sessions and programs, community engagement, outreach, and communication projects. This position is essential to meeting Cornell's civil rights obligations under federal, state, and local laws.
While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.
Hybrid/Hub Remote
This position’s home location is Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, New York. The successful applicant will typically be expected to work on-site at least 2 days a week and will have the option to work remotely 3 days per week.
The New York Convenience of Employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside New York State.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of experience conducting investigations or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to independently produce thorough, objective investigative reports and high-quality professional communications for diverse audiences, including senior leadership, reflecting sound judgment, legal analysis, and authentic authorship.
• Extensive knowledge of relevant laws (e.g., Title VII, NYSHRL, Title VI, Title IX, ADA, etc.).
• Research and analysis and analytical writing experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Ability to be neutral and impartial and to analyze information without being judgmental of people/their actions.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines with a workload that can be unpredictable and reflective of an academic calendar cycle.
• Demonstrated judgment, problem-solving, as well as critical thinking and analysis.
• Ability to work independently, and as part of a team.
• Ability to work with faculty, staff, and student populations.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

• J.D. or other advanced degree in a relevant field, including Human Resources.
• Certification or experience in conducting internal civil rights investigations.
• Experience conducting trauma-informed interviews and/or knowledge of trauma-informed practices.
• Higher education experience, particularly in a student conduct, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, or other civil rights/equal opportunity role.

Responsibilities

• Conducts investigations of alleged violations of protected class discrimination and harassment prohibited under Cornell University Policy 6.4
• Serves as a neutral and impartial administrative investigator who independently plans, conducts, and documents investigations concerning complaints of protected class discrimination and harassment, to include assessments of potential hostile environments based on race, national origin, sex, religion, disability and other statuses protected by federal, state, and local laws, as well as Cornell Policy 6.4.
• Assists with responding to bias incidents, alternative resolutions, supportive measures and adjudicative processes as appropriate, as well as with the development of policies, procedures, and practices.
• Supports and provides compliance training and education sessions and programs, community engagement, outreach, and communication projects.
• Foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

What This Job Offers

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