"Civil Rights Investigator"

Civil Rights Investigator

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.

What You Bring

• 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.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it's ok if you don't.

• 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.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:

To be considered for this opportunity, you must provide a cover letter, resume, and short writing sample that reflects your own writing and analysis.

Your cover letter will be evaluated for writing skills, clarity of thought, and alignment between your background, experience, and professional goals and the responsibilities of this role. We are seeking an authentic, personally written statement that clearly explains why you are interested in this position and how your experience prepares you to succeed in it.

Because this role requires independent analytical writing and careful documentation, we require that your cover letter and writing sample be written by you and reflect your individual voice and analysis. Submissions that do not demonstrate authentic authorship may not be considered.

For your writing sample, you might submit an excerpt of an investigative report or other document that demonstrates analytical and policy-based writing. Please provide a redacted sample by deleting any identifying information.

When applying through our system, please upload your application materials (Cover Letter, Resume, and Redacted Writing Sample) in either Microsoft Word or PDF format. Applicants who best match our needs will be contacted for an interview.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 3 days per week and on-campus 2 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

***Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.***