Equal Opportunity Investigator

Description

Opening:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Position Objective:

Under the general direction of the Deputy EO Officer or the Director of Investigations, the Equal Opportunity Investigator will conduct moderately to complex, sensitive, and multi-faceted investigations for both internal employees and external applicants, customers, and communities pertaining to alleged discriminatory treatment. The Equal Opportunity Investigator will also assist with trend analysis and partnering with stakeholders to develop appropriate action planning to address areas of concern made visible through the complaint data.

Responsibilities:

• Fundamental duties of the Equal Opportunity Investigator include but are not limited to:
  • Conduct thorough and timely Equal Opportunity investigations to include (but not limited to) race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health choices, pregnancy, marital/familiar/partnership/caregiver status, family structure, predisposing genetic characteristic, genetic information or mental/physical disability, low-income and minority status, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and/or sex offenses, or any legally protected basis. Investigations will range from routine to complex and include interviewing employees, applicants, customers, and community members as a neutral fact finder, reviewing documents, and analyzing data in a timely manner.
  • Prepare written reports and a summary of findings, with supporting documentation, that are fair, impartially representing the facts, and an investigatory analysis to determine whether the facts suggest the complaining party was subjected to behavior (or incident) that constitutes a violation of MTA policy.
  • Provide Information for and attend discipline review meetings to provide investigation findings, as needed.
  • Liaise with appropriate business units and HR to convey all HR related concerns resulting from investigations.
  • Support internal and external Equal Opportunity related investigations, complaints, inquiries, and charges across the enterprise.
  • Assist in the response to external inquiries and charges in partnership with appropriate business areas and Legal.
  • Conduct research and analysis in partnership with the Agency Equal Opportunity leads to providing insight into environmental trends as they relate to internal and external EEO complaints.
  Other duties as assigned by senior management.
  
• Specific programmatic responsibilities of the EO Investigator:
  • Perform intake of informal and formal complaints and identify the relevant scope of complaints, and make recommendations for interim measures when needed.
  • Compose investigative plans, which include deciding which witnesses to interview, outlining which questions to ask, and planning which documents to request and how to acquire documents.
  • Interview witnesses to obtain complete and thorough responses to questions.
  • Write investigative reports and make recommendations to the Chief Equal Opportunity Officer based on investigatory findings.
  • Secure relevant documentation to prove or disprove allegations in the complaint.
  • Conduct thorough analysis of evidence gathered in accordance with applicable equal opportunity laws, regulations, and established internal policies and procedures.
  • Follow up on all new complaints in a timely manner.
  • Work under the direction of senior Equal Opportunity staff and on complex (or cross-agency) investigations to ensure prompt and thorough resolution of complaints.
  • Maintain accurate and thorough records and notes of the investigatory process.
  • Manage and track multiple intakes and investigations at any given time with competing priorities, while handling other projects simultaneously.
  • Facilitate informal resolution of complaints, when appropriate. Document the efforts and conclusion of informal resolution.
  • Collaborate with Legal Department on investigations involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Attorney General’s Offices, and New York State Human Rights Commission, as well as complaints raised by other applicable outside agencies, organizations, and constituencies.
  • Communicate investigative factual determinations and analysis to complainants, subjects, departments, and others with a business reason to know.
  • Input complaint data into the Master Complaint tracking database.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, city, and local laws and regulations governing nondiscrimination of employees, applicants, and customers, and mitigation of disproportionate impact/burden to communities.
• Strong investigative skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to both be impartial and project impartiality, and the ability to establish rapport with a diverse range of community members.
• Excellent critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze information, evaluate results, and facilitate resolution of difficult challenges.
• Ability to manage issues of complex and extreme sensitivity with a high level of professionalism.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and plan one’s work to meet critical deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare complex written reports and provide reliable testimony explaining the investigation’s process, findings, conclusions, and rationales.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team.

Required Education and Experience:

• BA/BS from an accredited college or university is required. An equivalent combination of education and experience from an accredited college may be considered in lieu of a degree. A Juris Doctorate degree is preferred.
• Plus, a minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience conducting thorough investigations pertaining to allegations of discrimination is required.

Other Information

May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends)

Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”).

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.