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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over320,000students in 500+ schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Job Summary

Student Protections Investigators within the Office of Student Protections and Title IX (OSP), whichnow includes the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office (EOCO), serve a central role in advancingthe office’s core function: to ensure that student sex-based harassment and misconduct incidents involving gender/orientation discrimination, sexual violence, dating violence, and incidents of staff-to-student misconduct are thoroughly and properly investigated in accordance with district policy, Title IX, and in the bestinterests of the involved students. 

Reporting to the Director of Investigations, the Student Protections Investigator responds to the highest-level incidents reported to OSP. Investigators work closely with schools and parents, utilize best practices, and conduct prompt, thorough, impartial, and equitable investigations in compliance with Title IX. The investigations team coordinates with the OSP Student Protection Specialists to support students and families involved in the OSP process. The investigators conduct trauma-informed interviews, collect physical evidence, and prepare investigative reports. The investigators document all investigative steps and interim measures extended and arrive at a conclusion using a preponderance of the evidence standard. Investigators generate outcome lettersto be communicated to the relevant parties and parents/guardians.

The Student Protections Investigator will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Respond to the highest-level incidents of sexual violence, dating violence, physical/verbal abuse, corporal punishment and other higher level incidents impacting students at the discretion of the Chief Title IX Officer;
• Ensure that every person involved in an investigation is treated fairly, appropriately, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, Title IX, and CPS policies;
• Ensure that their assigned investigations are prompt, thorough, and equitable;
• Ensure that notification is made to the appropriate internal and external partners;
• Update all investigation spreadsheets and case management system;
• Maintain and manage their caseload;
• Testify at administrative or judicial hearings; and
• Communicate information to the Investigations Lead and Director of Investigations.
• Thoroughly, equitably, and expeditiously investigate complaints of student-to-student discrimination, sex based harassment, and retaliation;
• Thoroughly, equitably, and expeditiously investigate complaints of adult-to-student physical/verbal abuse, corporal punishment, and other misconduct against students.
• Coordinate with and obtain documentation from the public, law enforcement agencies, court systems, etc. in the furtherance of an investigation; and
• Partner with Safety Security, other CPS departments and external agencies to ensure staff and student safety and facilitate the delivery of trauma and/or social emotional services
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, Board policies and labor contracts; and
• Stay abreast of emerging government regulations
• Ensure staff and student protected information and records are kept confidential and handled in compliance with all related policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned 

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Student Protections Investigator must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, required
• Advanced degree in a relevant area (e.g., Social Work, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Law,Education Administration, etc.) preferred

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience conducting investigations involving child sexual abuse, sexual assault, problematic sexualized behavior, and/or child physical abuse is required 
• Minimum of two (2) years of other directly related work experience, such as case management, child welfare, education administration, counseling, campus and student affairs, civil rights law, sexual assault advocacy, etc. is required  
• Experience working with youth and families in crisis is preferred;
• Experience in a compliance environment with strong organization and documentation skills is preferred
• Experience working in LGBTQ-youth advocacy is preferred

Other Requirements:

• This position is field-based and requires access to reliable transportation;
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Familiarity with school environments and systems of response to crises and behavioral incidents
• Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive information;
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusivity;
• Ability to work with a wide range of constituencies with diplomacy and tact;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Refined judgment with the ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information;
• Strong skills in the areas of conflict resolution, problem-solving techniques, interviewing, and investigation;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including children, parents, staff, child protection investigators, and law enforcement;
• Demonstrated superior ability to write concise, logical, and analytical reports to convey complex issues;
• Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills demonstrated by the ability to analyze information and facilitate resolution of difficult challenges, including the ability to handle issues of complex and extreme sensitivity;
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple deadlines, and work independently while maintaining high levels of organization

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency -Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 -Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.