Civil Rights Investigator

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.

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.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.

• 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. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell

• 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. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Cornell is an equal opportunity employer. For more information click here.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell's non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell's union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

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Online Submission Guidelines:

Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter. You can upload documents either by "dragging and dropping" them into the dropbox or by using the "upload" icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Cornellwelcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.