Coordinator for Title IX, Investigations, and Campus Accessibility

Under the general direction of the Vice President for Community and Inclusivity, the Coordinator for Title IX, Investigations, and Campus Accessibility (Coordinator) will facilitate and coordinate Hood College's compliance to Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Clery Act, and Campus SaVE Act. The Coordinator serves as the College's primary administrator for cases alleging sexual misconduct, gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and intimate partner/dating violence and stalking. The Coordinator develops and implements educational programs regarding discrimination and sexual harassment prevention, ensuring faculty, staff and students understand their rights and responsibilities under the law. The Coordinator also conducts investigations pursuant to the Hood College Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Bias, and collaborates with campus entities and leadership to identify and address systemic problems with respect to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Essential Duties include three main areas of responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Title IX Investigation, Consultation and Compliance (50%)

• Oversees Title IX related civil rights laws to maintain a discrimination and harassment-free learning, living and working environment.
• Reviews new regulations and best practices in Title IX and related fields to make plans to implement required changes and to make recommendations for improvements to existing policies and procedures.
• Oversees, coordinates and ensures investigations of reports and complaints of sexual misconduct are thorough, reliable, timely, confidential and impartial; reviews proposed sanctions for sexual misconduct before they are imposed to ensure that they are reasonably calculated to stop the sexual misconduct and prevent its recurrence.
• Ensures ongoing compliance with Title IX by collecting and analyzing data, writing comprehensive reports and maintaining records of investigations.
• Identifies systemic problems relating to complaints and determines whether campus-wide resources should be adopted in response, including review and revision of the College's sexual misconduct policies, increased monitoring, supervision or security at locations where sexual misconduct is reported to occur.
• Collaborates with leadership and campus constituencies to disseminate information, redesign processes, and support the College's investigative processes, compliance needs and responsibilities.

Education and Outreach

• Develops, implements, coordinates and conducts educational programs and initiatives designed to educate and support faculty, staff, and students regarding their rights and, where applicable, obligations under Title IX, including reporting options/responsibilities, support services, College policy and applicable disciplinary code, grievance procedures, confidential resources, etc.
• Cultivate relationships with campus stakeholders to engage these groups in prevention and education efforts.
• Selects, trains, and oversees investigators across critical areas of the institution; ensures investigators, adjudicators and those involved with processing Title IX complaints are adequately trained in compliance with Title IX guidance.
• Communicates with local law enforcement and government agencies to ensure reports are handled appropriately and in a timely manner; coordinates with local victim advocacy organizations and service providers.
• Leads the campus' Victim Services Committee which brings together campus and community partners to coordinate services and review trends related to sexual assault and prevention.
• Serves on various College planning and policy making committees; recommends and participates in the development of College policies and procedures.
• Ensures the College's compliance with mandatory reporting requirements.
• Serves as a Campus Security Authority as outlined by the Clery Act.
• Occasional evenings or weekends may be required for programming and educational outreach.

Investigation and Compliance (40%)

The Coordinator will work with the Director of Campus Safety to ensure that campus investigations are conducted in a confidential and fair manner, in adherence to applicable federal, state and local regulations.

General Investigative Duties

• Conduct detailed investigations of criminal activities and other violations of local, federal, or state law in coordination with the Chief of Campus Safety.
• Collect, analyze, and preserve evidence.
• Direct crime scenes and support law enforcement personnel with investigations.
• Employ deductive reasoning and analysis to make informed decisions and conclusions that lead to resolution of campus incidents.
• Write detailed case reports, and file and maintain records.
• Assists the Director of Campus Safety in the coordination of search warrants of College property.
• Undergo continuous training and professional development as required.
• Assists the Director of Campus Safety to promote crime prevention and awareness services to the campus community.
• Conducts investigations of the Hood College Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Bias and ensures the College's compliance with applicable federal and local laws by working with the vice president for community and inclusivity to review and revise the policy as needed.
• Participates in campus in-service training for safety officers.
• Provides orientation and field training for new officers related to investigations.
• Be available to consult regarding a crisis or emergency.

ADA Compliance (10%)

The Coordinator is responsible for the development, delivery, and evaluation of all reasonable accommodations and related support services for faculty, staff and campus visitors with disabilities.

• Works with Human Resources and Director of Accessibility Services to directly provide reasonable accommodations for faculty and staff with disabilities; and accommodations for community members and visitors with disabilities related to campus access.
• Be knowledgeable of national, state, and local trends; legislation; and best practices related to accessibility services.
• Works with Marketing and Communications, and Facilities to publish and disseminate information about access to campus for individuals with disabilities, including information about accessible routes on campus.
• Serves as decision-maker in appeal process for students who dispute decisions related to housing or academic accommodations.
• Facilitates sign language accommodations for significant campus events.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We seek a candidate who values diversity, equity and inclusion in all that they do. Candidates must have strong organizational skills, a proven ability to work collaboratively across departments and disciplines, and be able and willing to provide ongoing training and workshops to employees and students.

Competencies

The successful candidate will possess these key competencies in order to successfully meet the expectations for this role:

• Ability to fully embrace the primary principle of student-centeredness that directs all aspects of a small liberal arts college.
• Ability to understand the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, language, ability and backgrounds of college students.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of diplomacy, sensitivity, and problem-solving.
• Ability to communicate and share and receive information using clear oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Model and promote the College's policies and practices on inclusion and non-Discrimination.
• Demonstrate commitment to enforcing Title IX with fairness and impartiality, colleagues, and the College and its mission.
• Uses personal knowledge and professional experience to envision the future, anticipate change, capitalize on opportunities, and develop innovative options that further the strategic direction of Hood College.
• Demonstrates responsibility for one's own career path and continuous learning by identifying and applying new skills as needed to perform successfully on the job.
• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and efficient stewardship of resources in a manner consistent with the College's policies.
• Values and delivers high quality, professional, responsive and innovative services.
• Collaborates with colleagues in order to achieve results in alignment with the operations and mission of Hood College.

Education and/or Experience

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications

Masters degree required in counseling, law or criminology, social work, sociology, human resources or related field with at least five to seven years of experience in the area of investigations, interpersonal violence, Title IX processes, and mediating conflict or combination of education and experience.

Understanding of higher education institutions is a plus. Knowledge of investigations, interviewing and report writing, and federal and state public safety reporting requirements and other applicable crime data reporting.

A JD is preferred.

Preferred Skills and Characteristics

• Knowledge of federal, state, laws/regulations and institutional policies and practices specific to the applicable compliance specialty as well as knowledge of current and emerging legislation, issues, and trends as appropriate to the position.
• Ability to develop and present educational programs and/or workshops.
• Ability to provide effective and appropriate advice and expertise to all levels within the College community.
• Ability to provide technical advice and information to faculty and staff in area of expertise.
• Project planning skills.
• Ability to investigate and analyze claims information and to draw conclusions.
• Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
• Employee development and performance management skills.
• Experience with crime prevention programs, procedures and practices, as well as safety training administration.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Conflict resolution and/or mediation skills.
• Advanced analytical, evaluative, and objective critical thinking skills and the ability to effectively summarize and present information.
• Ability to gather data, compile information and prepare reports.
• Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart confidential information.
• Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• Ability to develop and implement new strategies and procedures

Technology Skills

Proficient in MS Office tools (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), e-mail and Internet. Ability to learn new applications quickly including organization-wide information systems and department-specific software applications. Experience with Maxient a plus.

Language Skills

Strong written and oral command of the English language essential. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write routine reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals in the English language with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of faculty, staff, students, alumnae and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to track information and data, make projections, set goals and interpret reports. Must be able to draw conclusions from reports and make cost effective decisions regarding programs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a number of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to work independently and as a member of a group in developing and executing project plans. Ability to work in theoretical arena and apply logic as appropriate.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use fingers, hands, reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee is required to sit. The employee may occasionally be required to stand and lift and move up to twenty-five pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Work Environment

The work environment described here is representative of what an employee will encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level is usually moderate, and could include interaction with other employees, students, the public, telephones, and other office equipment.

Compensation

This is a position with an annual starting salary range of $76,500 to $85,000 depending on circumstances including an applicant's skills and qualifications, certain degrees and certifications, prior job experience, training, and other relevant factors. Hood College has provided a compensation range representing its good faith estimate of what the College may pay for the position at the time of posting. The College may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. Hood College offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, and tuition benefits. Learn more about Hood College.

To Apply

We invite qualified candidates to apply on-line via our electronic application which requires submission of a résumé and three professional references.

If you need assistance with the on-line application process, please email humanresources@hood.edu or call (301) 696-3592.

Hood College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, religion, or age in recruitment, admission and access to, or treatment, or employment in its programs, services, benefits, or activities as required by applicable laws including Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and complies with the law regarding reasonable accommodation for disabled applicants and students. Inquiries about discrimination or reasonable accommodation should be referred to the Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator at Alumnae Hall, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD. 21701 (AD 308), (301) 696-3123. For complete information on Hood College's nondiscrimination policy, please visit http://www.hood.edu/non-discrimination/