Description

The Employment Investigator is responsible for conducting impartial and thorough investigations of employment-based complaints involving harassment, discrimination, failure to accommodate or retaliation. The Investigator will conduct interviews, gather records, draft reports, assist in decision making, and appear in hearings, appeals or reviews as warranted. This position will work with Universities of Wisconsin Administration (UWSA) and Universities of Wisconsin (UWs) contacts to develop model investigation techniques, guidelines, and report templates

Key Job Responsibilities:

Complaint Consultation, Investigation, and Resolution

• Receive substantial and significant complaints of employment-based misconduct, harassment, discrimination, failure to accommodate, or retaliation from staff, students, or other members of the extended UW university communities, as assigned.
• Identify UW universities policies and/or State and Federal law provisions related to a complaint.
• Conduct a prompt, equitable, and impartial administrative investigation into complaints including identifying and interviewing parties and identifying, gathering and assessing information relevant to the investigation. Apply relevant policies and make findings of fact in individual cases.
• Provide comprehensive, detailed written analysis and findings from complaint investigation to appropriate parties in accordance with applicable employee misconduct, EEO, and ADA legal requirements and the UWs investigation format.
• Provide regular updates to the Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer and UWSA about case management approach, status, and progress.
• Maintain accurate, thorough, and confidential investigatory records and reports of finding.
• Prepare materials for, assist with, and participate in appeals hearings, as assigned.
• Interact with students, faculty, managers, administrators, and employees at all levels of the UW universities in performing investigative resolution duties.
• Collaborate with General Counsel in investigations involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of Civil Rights, and State of Wisconsin Equal Rights Division, as well as complaints raised by other applicable outside agencies, organizations, and constituencies.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of investigatory involvement and recommend matters to be referred.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on related policies and procedures. Review and propose updates to university harassment and discrimination policies and procedures to ensure compliance with equal opportunity laws and regulations.
• Identify and recommend best practices in complaint investigations amongst the UW universities.

Outreach & Education

• Develop curriculum and offer programming that informs UW universities subject matter experts on legal rights and responsibilities and relevant procedures relating to employee misconduct, discrimination, harassment, medical leave, accommodations, and related topics.
• Build relationships with colleagues at peer universities; review current literature and research; participate in local, regional, and/or national professional associations and organizations.
• Cultivate, develop, and maintain relationships and clear lines of communication with UWs partners.
• Assist with training development on investigations, mediation, and informal resolution as well as other related topics.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of experience conducting investigations or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience handling internal investigations involving employees’ complaints.
• Working knowledge of applicable state, federal, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, and policies.
• Valid driver’s license required. Travel around the state, which may involve overnight stays and weekends, may occur up to several times per month.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor or related advanced degree.
• Experience working in higher education.
• Certifications in investigation training, such as AWI-CH Certificate Holder is preferred.