Investigation Support Team Lead-Sexual Allegations Unit

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing approximately 40,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is the independent oversight body for Chicago's approximately 650 public, contract and charter schools. The Office of Inspector General is charged with the responsibility of investigating allegations of waste, fraud and financial mismanagement in public education within the jurisdiction of the Chicago Board of Education. The Office's Sexual Allegations Unit (SAU) investigates allegations of sexual misconduct by a CPS-affiliated adult, including employees, contractors, vendors and charter schools, where the victim is a CPS student and/or a minor.
Job Summary:
Reporting to the Deputy Inspector General, the Investigation Support Team Lead-SAU will supervise the Intake and Investigative Specialist teams in the Sexual Allegations Unit. The Investigation Support Team Lead-SAU will oversee the teams responsible for responding to all complaints made to the OIG Sexual Allegations Unit and ensure that initial findings are documented and directed to the appropriate team or department. This role will oversee the processing of complaints/allegations, conduct preliminary interviews, prepare reports based on interviews, conduct background investigations on subjects, and prepare case materials for investigators.
The Investigation Support Team Lead-SAUwill be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Ensure operational efficiency of the team, including
• Editing the team's work, providing guidance, tracking progress, writing reports, and triaging select cases to determine if they need further investigation.
• Assign tasks, oversee work, and review performance of Intake and Investigative Specialist teams
• Create and implement training for assigned teams
• Guide the response to all complaints/allegations made to the OIG Sexual Allegations Unit.
• Ensure that intake and early investigations are prompt, thorough, and equitable, and that the work complies with applicable laws and regulations
• Review each new complaint received by the SAU, ensure all administrative steps are conducted for each complaint, direct the work of Intake Specialists responding to each complaint, and collaborate with the Office of Student Protections
• Escalate urgent complaints and assist in any immediate response to such complaints, as necessary.
• Ensure the SAU hotline and main number is answered, and calls routed to the appropriate investigator.
• Edit reports from the Intake and Investigative Specialist teams, and write reports for any investigative work performed by the Chief Investigation Specialist.
• Lead Intake and Investigation Specialists' investigations; Discuss the investigative approach for new complaints and provide assistance as needed.
• Collaborate with internal departments and external agencies to move complaints/allegations forward
• Identify, review, and perform background research on subjects.
• Lead the development of the Intake and Investigative Specialist teams.
• Communicate regularly with the investigation teams, Deputy Inspector General and Inspector General.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and Board policies.
• Closely coordinate with CPS's Law, Safety and Security, and Title IX Offices, other departments, and external agencies to ensure student safety and facilitate the delivery of trauma and/or social-emotional services to students, families, and staff.
• Identify, recommend, and execute operational improvements to elevate internal processes and increase efficiencies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Investigation Support Team Lead-SAU must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Experience Required:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of full-time professional experience working in an investigation-related and/or child welfare role (E.g., , including but not limited to, crisis response, sexual violence, and domestic violence, etc.), preferably in an investigation capacity or a minimum of five (5) years as an investigator
• Experience in a supervisory role preferred
• Experience working with youth and families in crisis situations preferred

Other Requirements:

• Access to reliable transportation to travel within the city of Chicago
• Work outside of regular business hours is required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to effectively lead people and teams
• Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills demonstrated by the ability to analyze information and facilitate resolution of difficult challenges
• Demonstrate superior ability to write concise, logical and analytical reports to convey complex issues
• Demonstrate ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple deadlines and work independently while maintaining high levels of organization
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse constituencies, including children, parents, faculty, staff and law enforcement
• Ability to work with a wide range of constituencies with diplomacy and tact
• Experience conducting investigations, interviews, and research
• Ability to exercise considerable independence and initiative in the performance of responsibilities; operate with minimal guidance and direction
• Refined judgment with the ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information
• Strong skills in the areas of conflict resolution, problem solving techniques, interviewing, and investigation
• Knowledge of sexual assault or sexual harassment issues and the relationship of sexual assault or sexual harassment on victims or the ability to quickly gain this required knowledge

Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.