Lead EO Investigator

Job Description: POSITION TITLE: Lead EO Investigator (Full-Time Regular) (Classified)REQUISITION #: req7245 DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office LOCATION: CITY HALL BENEFIT CATEGORY: Classified (Non-CBU) View Classifications & BenefitsEMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time Regular ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $67,199.00 - 111,992.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly) ANTICIPATED ANNUAL HIRING RANGE: $83,000.00 - $102,000.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly.)SELECTION PROCESS: Application deadline is: Open until filled. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile. Post-offer background check required. The Community: The City of Fort Collins sits nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains alongside the banks of the Cache La Poudre River. At 5,000 feet in elevation, residents enjoy a moderate, four-season climate, with an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. With 174,800 residents, Fort Collins is Colorado's fourth-largest city and spans 57 square miles. With the 20 year growth projection, the City of Fort Collins is expected to reach 255,000 residents. The first people who hunted in this region arrived approximately 11,000 years ago, and Northern Colorado remains an integral part of the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Nations. European-American trappers and traders arrived by the early 1800s but rarely established permanent settlements. Gold and silver discoveries in the Colorado mountains in the mid-1800s and the prospect of land for farming and ranching attracted people from eastern cities and across the globe to the Colorado Territory, including what would become the town of Fort Collins; an agricultural colony that emerged from its founding days as a military fort. The expansion included the sugar beet industry's growth, which brought new residents whose descendants still live here today, including Mexican-American families from southern Colorado, New Mexico, and northern Mexico, as well as Germans from Russia. Since 1879, Fort Collins has been the home of the state's land grant institution, Colorado State University, which currently enrolls 34,000 students. Along with the university, the city's major high-tech and manufacturing companies and breweries attract new residents from all over the country and world. The community's overall social diversity continues to grow. There are abundant outdoor recreation opportunities available to the many residents who enjoy healthy lifestyles. The nearby Horsetooth Reservoir is a key attraction, as is the Cache La Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway. The Downtown district provides many venues for live music, shopping, dining, and nightlife within the city. Fort Collins is widely considered the Craft Beer Capital of Colorado. The City has a strong appreciation for arts, culture, and entertainment. Various national organizations and magazines recognize Fort Collins as one of the best places to live in the nation. The City's long list of acknowledgements includes: No. 2 Best Tasting Drinking Water in North America: American Water Works - June 2021No. 5 Best Remote-Ready Cities: Livability.com Jan 2021Top 30 Creative Small Cities: CVSuite - May 2020No. 18 Safest Cities in America: SafeWise - April 2020No. 1 Best Place to Live: Livability.com March 2020No. 9 Most Fitness Friendly Places: SmartAsset - Dec 2019No. 7 Safest Driving Cities: Allstate - June 2019No. 4 Best U.S. Cities to Raise a Family: MarketWatch - April 2019No. 9 Best Performing Cities: Milken Institute - Jan 2019No. 3 U.S. Cities with Highest Economic Confidence: Yahoo - Nov 2018No. 2 Brain Concentration Index: Bloomberg - Nov 2018No. 1 City in America for Cycling: PeopleForBikes-May 2018Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovation Award: Alliance for Innovation-April 2018The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-Nov 201718th Best City for Career Opportunities: SmartAsset - Sep 20173rd Best College Town to Live in Forever: College Ranker - July 201725 Best Towns Ever: Where to Live Now: Outside Magazine - June 2017 No. 1 Stable and Growing Housing Market: Realtor.com-June 201711th Happiest City in America: Yahoo! Finance - March 2017No. 9 Top 150 Cities for Millennials Report: Millennial Personal Finance - Feb 2017No. 2 Best Cities for Small Business Owners: ValuePenguin - Feb 2017 Why Work For the City of Fort Collins? Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, children) - eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hirePaid vacation, paid holidays, and sick Retirement + company contributions - after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability Wellness program, workout facilities Employee/family onsite health clinic Personal & professional learning opportunities including supervisory and leadership development; plus career mobilityCollaborative work environment Job Summary The City of Fort Collins, CO Office of Equity & Inclusion proudly operates with a people-centered, community-focused approach. Our goal is to listen to and integrate diverse community voices, opinions, and beliefs on equity issues affecting our community. It is our determination to dismantle racial disparities and increase equitable access so that persons of all identities, including race, ethnicity, religion, age, class, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and physical and mental abilities can fully participate in City services and experience equitable community outcomes. The City is seeking a new Lead Equal Opportunity (EO) Investigator position who will be a thoughtful and skilled investigator, facilitator, and collaborator with a passion for promoting equity, inclusion, and belonging and expertise in navigating discrimination, harassment, and retaliation concerns. The City is committed to ensuring accurate, fair, timely, and unbiased exploration into workplace conduct concerns related to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. We've adopted a model where we have two investigators on staff: one reporting to Human Resources and the other reporting to the City Manager's Office via the City's Equity and Inclusion Office. This model supports our interest in leveraging effective resources, reducing bias, and strengthening thought-partnership for best outcomes. The Lead Equal Opportunity (EO) Investigator will accomplish this by collaborating closely with HR Business Partners and the City Attorney's office in proactive and preventative Equity and Inclusion training, administrative investigations, and workplace interventions, including conflict resolution, mediation, and facilitated group discussions in support of continuous equity and inclusion growth. This position is expected to be fully in-person between office time and engagement throughout City departments and the greater Fort Collins community. The necessary proficiencies to be successful in this role include investigative skills, experience facilitating meetings and conversations, and adept teaching and training experience in the context of policy and guidelines. Education and related certifications are valuable but are not a substitute for five (5) years of hands-on experience in EEO Investigative work within legal or human resources environments. We invite you to apply! Essential Duties and Responsibilities The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.Lead internal administrative investigations related to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and related inappropriate behaviors in the workplace in very close partnership with HR Business Partners and HR Staff Investigator. Collaborate with HR Staff Investigator to prepare investigation objectives, plans, and timelines. Coordinate witness, respondent, and leadership notification and communication planning. Interview witnesses and respondents; thoughtfully gather and analyze evidence to meet the preponderance of evidence standard. Prepare investigation reports and deliver findings to impacted leadership and HR Partners. Manage confidentiality and attorney-client privileged materials in partnership with City Attorney's office. Recommend interventions or actions following an investigation based on legal risk factors, policy, and best practice. Document investigation steps and findings in HR Case Management System (HR Acuity). Report metrics, trends, and insights to City leadership. Demonstrate compassion and empathy throughout investigation and follow-up activities. With guidance from the City Attorney's Office, navigate the dynamic landscape of Colorado and federal laws and trends related to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation including Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights (POWR) Act and related. Coordinate external investigation activities in close partnership with HR Business Partners and the City Attorney's Office. Create a bridge between the resources and initiatives available in both the Equity and Human Resources teams having shared commitment to cultivating a sense of belonging in the workplace and supporting the best outcomes across the City. Develop and deliver in-person and virtual trainings for Manager and Employee groups to strengthen equal opportunity and anti-harassment practices and pro-actively build a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Advise on training topics related to equal opportunity, anti-harassment, anti-retaliation, equity, inclusivity, and belonging when being developed by Human Resources, external facilitators, or other City groups. Respond to requests to support facilitation or discussions within departments to as they grow cultures of equity, inclusivity, and belonging. Following an investigation and in partnership with HR Business Partners, develop or contribute to remedial interventions and follow-up activities when appropriate. May include team training, leader dialogue, or employee mediation activities. Maintain complaint records of internal and external claims of discrimination, harassment or unethical conduct in the City's secure database system and ensure action towards addressing these claims. Act as Lead role for a state or federal agency compliance audit. Prepare and report metrics and trends in complaints, findings, actions, and costs. Measure effectiveness of proactive and reactive trainings and intervention efforts. Recommend or advise on policy related to Harassment, Inclusion, and related City topics. Management Responsibilities No City CompetenciesDemonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork. Required Knowledge Skills and AbilitiesKnowledge of workplace investigation techniques including active listening, credibility determinations, analysis, critical thinking, and research in order to determine what is most likely to have occurred based on evidenceStrong communication skills and the ability to establish rapport while impartially navigating sensitive discussionsKnowledge of all state and federal regulations including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (Title II), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Fair Housing Act, and other federal and state laws the City is required to comply with as a result of receiving federal and state grantsKnowledge of current and emerging equal opportunity and affirmative action legislation, federal and state employment laws and regulations, public sector employment policies and procedures, and federal and state civil rights laws, regulations, policies, and standards, as applicable to public employmentKnowledge of conflict resolution, complaint resolution, and mediation applied conceptsStrong understanding of complex and nuanced concepts with the demonstrated ability to write, implement and audit information, documents and proceduresAdept at collaborating with others and garnering support without formal authority; able to work under pressure, manage tasks to completion, meet deadlines, problem solve, influence decisions and negotiate in a constructive and effective mannerSkill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and proceduresAbility to determine informational needs, to collect and analyze information, and to perform and interpret statistical analysesDemonstrated skill to interact with all in a courteous, culturally sensitive and tactful mannerStrong analytical, problem solving, and critical thinking skills gained within a complex, demanding work environmentAdvanced verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present effectively to small and large groups Required QualificationsMinimumPreferredCollege degree or equivalent work experience. Some positions may require functionally related certification or advanced degrees Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field from an accredited college or universityAdvanced credentials in Human Resources, Harassment / Discrimination or Employment Law, Facilitation, Education, or other related skill sets. Experience RequirementsFive or more years experience including two or more years experience in Law and Government, Personnel and Human Resources, Employment Mediation and Coaching, and other related fields of study and experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role. Certifications/Licenses/Specialized TrainingAdvanced credentials in Human Resources, Harassment / Discrimi