Senior EEO Investigator

Summary

The Senior Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Investigator is responsible for overseeing and conducting thorough investigations into complaints of discrimination, harassment, and other EEO-related issues within the organization. The Investigator will also assist in facilitating reasonable accommodations for employees under the authority of the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer.

The Investigator conduct annual workplace rights training for all members of the workforce, collects and analyzes trends data and appears on behalf of NYPA in internal and external forums on relevant topics. Through these efforts, the Investigator ensures that NYPA's commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility continue to drive employee engagement and accountability. #LI-CJ1

Responsibilities

• Under minimal supervision of leadership, perform the responsibilities listed below
• Investigate and make recommendations regarding complex complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on protected class status by and against NYPA employees and affiliates
• Draft investigative reports and deliver associated findings regarding investigations to appropriate stakeholders, including EMC per OCRI-PRO-02
• Prepare accommodation determinations for review and issuance by the Designee for Reasonable Accommodations (DRA), investigate claims of improper denial
• Ensure that updated policies and procedure are communicated enterprise-wide via various platforms
• Meet regularly with internal and external stakeholders, including senior staff/EMC, Law, ITC, OER and ODIM regarding relevant issues
• Develop and deliver training content in 1:1, small and large group formats, including to civil groups, professional/trade organizations and other SMEs

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work independently, maintain the highest level of confidentiality and interact effectively with all levels of management required
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines related to labor and employment and affirmative action
• Ability to analyze and interpret Agency rules and regulations, as well as laws and other pertinent guidelines relating to the HR specializations of classification, staffing, labor relations, and employee relations
• Thorough understanding of mediation processes and techniques (e.g., negotiation and arbitration) strong people skills, impartiality, and the ability to protect confidential information.
• Proven ability to manage a large workload within tight time constraints and complete tasks in a timely manner
• Knowledge of diversity & inclusion principles, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmation action laws & regulations
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply federal, state and local laws and regulations (including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and related non-discrimination statutes, state and local laws, Executive Orders and guidelines) pertaining to equal opportunity, access and inclusion to employment, services and activities of the NYPA/Canals
• Strong organizational, planning, and investigatory skills
• Ability to assess and negotiate highly complex, confidential, and sensitive matters of discrimination, harassment, and disproportionate impact, while maintaining objectivity and neutrality

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD or Master’s Degree in related field preferred
• Minimum 5 years of experience preferred

Physical Requirements

Ability to travel up to 25% of the time primarily within NY State