Senior Director of Equal Opportunity & Compliance/Title IX Coordinator

Senior Director of Equal Opportunity & Compliance/Title IX Coordinator

Search conducted by Ferra Executive Search

Core Responsibilities

The Senior Director of Equal Opportunity & Compliance/Title IX Coordinator is responsible for the leadership, management, and execution of Georgia Tech’s equal opportunity and Title IX compliance program. The role encompasses institution-wide responsibilities and requires a high level of discretion, judgment, and professional expertise.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION

• Serve as Georgia Tech’s designated Title IX Coordinator as well as Title VI Coordinator, with institution-wide authority and responsibility.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Office of Equal Opportunity, Compliance, and Conflict Management.
• Develop, implement, and regularly review institutional policies and procedures related to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation.
• Ensure alignment of policies and practices with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and guidance.
• Manage resources, staffing, and workflows to support effective and timely program operations.

INVESTIGATIONS AND RESOLUTION

• Oversee the intake, assessment, investigation, and resolution of complaints involving discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation.
• Ensure that investigations are prompt, thorough, impartial, and conducted in accordance with institutional policies and legal requirements.
• Provide oversight and guidance to investigators, hearing officers, and decision-makers.
• Ensure appropriate coordination with campus partners, including Human Resources, Student Integrity, and Public Safety, as applicable.
• Support fair and consistent outcomes while maintaining confidentiality and procedural integrity.

COMPLIANCE OVERSIGHT AND RISK MANAGEMENT

• Monitor institutional compliance with Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, VAWA, the Clery Act, the ADA, Section 504, and related requirements.
• Track regulatory developments and assess their implications for institutional policy and practice.
• Advise senior leadership on compliance risks, emerging issues, and mitigation strategies.
• Prepare and coordinate responses to external inquiries, audits, and investigations by regulatory agencies.
• Ensure accurate documentation, recordkeeping, and reporting in accordance with legal and institutional requirements.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND PREVENTION

• Design and oversee related education and training programs for students, faculty, staff, investigators, and decision-makers.
• Ensure that training content is current, effective, and aligned with legal requirements and best practices.
• Support prevention initiatives addressing discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.
• Develop related educational resources and communications to support awareness and understanding across the campus community.

DATA, ASSESSMENT, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Oversee systems for data collection, case tracking, and trend analysis.
• Analyze patterns and trends to identify systemic issues and opportunities for improvement.
• Use data to inform policy updates, training priorities, and strategic planning.
• Support continuous improvement of processes to strengthen consistency, transparency, and effectiveness.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION

• Serve as one of the Institute’s primary liaisons with external agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, the Department of Justice, the EEOC, and state or local oversight bodies, as appropriate.
• Coordinate with legal counsel and the university system office on complex matters, litigation, and regulatory compliance.
• Represent Georgia Tech in external forums related to equal opportunity and Title IX, as appropriate.

Experience and Professional Judgment

Georgia Institute of Technology seeks a leader whose experience reflects both deep technical expertise and the professional judgment required to manage complex, sensitive matters in a highly visible institutional environment. The successful candidate will bring a demonstrated record of sound decision-making, discretion, and credibility across a range of equal opportunity and Title IX responsibilities.

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND AND CREDENTIALS

• Master’s degree required; an advanced degree such as a J.D., Ph.D., or equivalent is strongly preferred.
• Formal training or certification in Title IX, civil rights compliance, investigations, or related areas is desirable.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Significant, progressively responsible experience in equal opportunity, civil rights, Title IX, or related compliance work.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing or conducting complex investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation.
• Experience interpreting and applying federal and state regulations in an institutional context, including Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, VAWA, the Clery Act, ADA, and Section 504.
• Leadership and supervisory experience within higher education, the public sector, or similarly complex organizations.
• Experience working effectively with legal counsel, senior administrators, and external agencies.

PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES AND JUDGMENT

• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in complex and sensitive matters.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with wide-ranging constituencies, including senior leadership.
• Capacity to build trust and credibility across the institution.
• Ability to balance independence with collaboration in support of fair and consistent outcomes.
• Commitment to equity, fairness, and accountability in institutional practice.

This role requires the ability to operate independently while engaging collaboratively with senior leadership, faculty, staff, and students. The Senior Director must be comfortable exercising authority, navigating ambiguity, and communicating clearly in high-stakes situations.

Organizational Context and Reporting Structure

OFFICE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, COMPLIANCE, AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

The Office of Equal Opportunity, Compliance, and Conflict Management plays a central role in supporting Georgia Institute of Technology’s compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and in reinforcing consistent, credible institutional processes. The office is responsible for coordinating the Institute’s response to matters involving discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation, and for ensuring that policies and practices align with applicable legal requirements.

The Senior Director of Equal Opportunity & Compliance/Title IX Coordinator provides leadership for this function and serves as the Institute’s designated Title IX Coordinator. In this role, the Senior Director carries institution-wide authority and operates with the professional independence necessary to support fair, impartial, and defensible outcomes, consistent with federal expectations.

The office’s work spans policy development, complaint intake and resolution, education and training, and coordination with campus partners. The Senior Director works closely with the Office of the University System of Georgia, the Office of General Counsel, Human Resources, Student Integrity, Public Safety, and academic leadership to ensure that matters are addressed consistently and in accordance with institutional standards.

CORE FUNCTIONS OF THIS OFFICE INCLUDE:

• Oversight of the Institute’s equal opportunity and Title IX compliance framework
• Intake, assessment, investigation, and resolution of complaints
• Development, review, and implementation of policies and procedures
• Education, training, and prevention programming
• Data tracking, reporting, and trend analysis
• Coordination with external agencies and oversight bodies, as appropriate

The Senior Director reports to the Vice President for Equal Opportunity, Compliance, and Conflict Management and engages regularly with senior leadership across the Institute. The role requires the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics, maintain discretion, and support confidence in institutional processes through clarity, consistency, and sound judgment.

Procedure for Candidacy

Applications, nominations, and inquiries are welcomed and will be handled in confidence.

Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae or resume and a letter of interest that addresses relevant experience, leadership approach, and alignment with the responsibilities of the role. Materials should reflect experience in equal opportunity compliance, Title IX, investigations, and institutional leadership, as applicable.

The full job description can be found at https://www.ferrasearch.com/title-ix-search

SALARY RANGE

$159,048 - $200,000

Onsite five days per week.

Please send all inquiries, nominations, and/or applications to:

Kevin Ferra, Founding Partner

Ferra Executive Search

kevin@ferrasearch.com