Statement of Duties

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Racial and Social Justice, the Racial & Social Justice (RSJ) Investigator will be a part of the RSJ team working to advance the goals of the department. This position will provide a single point of entry for individuals with concerns or complaints related to hate, bias, and social injustice incidences to be heard and responded to. The Investigator is responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination within the jurisdiction of the RSJ Department’s work. The investigator will work closely with the community and key stakeholders to ensure that investigations are completed in a timely and equitable manner. The investigator shall ensure high standards for the quality of RSJ deliverables, projects and initiatives related to the division; draft strategic plans, advocate on RSJ issues; oversee management of relative programs and provide support to for projects and training for the Human Rights Commission.. Employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Receives, investigates, and manages a caseload of civilian complaints related to allegations of hate, bias incidences and or any other identified social injustice.
• Coordinates and completes highly complex, difficult, and sensitive investigations.
• Conducts investigations in a thorough and timely fashion, including appropriate discretion in management of confidential information.
• Advances methods and techniques of administrative investigations include developing an investigative plan and writing an investigative report.
• Analyzes and interprets rules, regulations, and policies.
• Researches and secures confidential and sensitive documentary evidence for cases.
• Identifies, gathers, reviews, and analyzes information from a variety of sources.
• Conducts fact finding and mediation conferences. Provides technical assistance and information including but not limited to employers, business owners and members of the public, as well as to city agencies and community organizations.
• Follows up on intakes and investigates claims through effective communication impacted Somerville constituents and stakeholders.
• Legal writing including, but not limited to, drafting complaints, letters, memos, and administrative appeals; and non-legal writing including community advisories, issue briefings, and other reports and proposals.
• Supports the development of surveys, focus groups, and other research initiatives as well as the drafting and publication of reports.
• Communicates with outside parties such as attorneys, law enforcement, administrative agencies, school districts, school administrators, etc.
• Develops training for school districts, colleges, law enforcement, lawmakers, and other institutions that respond to incidents of hate.
• Develops and implements training for the Somerville Human Rights Commission.
• Performs in-depth legal and policy research on issues of hate incidents, race & social injustices, and their intersections.
• Researches and meets with strategic partners including nonprofits, government entities, foundations, and academics to reach intersectional and collaborative solutions to prevent hate.
• Works to develop and distribute information on hate, and other injustices to educate and empower diverse community members on their rights through community presentations and material distributions.
• Participates in outreach activities through community events and coalition meetings.
• Assists in collecting information and performing data analysis that can inform training, advocacy, law makers, and partners on the types of hate and their impact on the communities we represent.
• Supervises professional and support staff assigned to the department with a strong emphasis on leadership, team building, and staff motivation.
• Supervises and works closely with the HRC Committee for hate and bias incidents.
• Supervises and works closely with RSJ Case Manager.
• Furthers education and outreach to impacted communities on how to report, address, and heal from incidents of hate, bias, discrimination, and other social injustices.
• Assists in developing training for the city and other institutions that respond to incidents of hate, bias, discrimination, and other social injustices.
• Invests additional capacity and resources in developing strategic partnerships with nonprofits, government entities, foundations, and academics to reach intersectional and collaborative solutions to preventing hate, bias, discrimination, and other social injustices.
• Formulates recommendations to the RSJ Director on hate/bias complaint incident tracking and prevention.
• Collaborates with the RSJ Director to establish monitoring and evaluation plans to track and assess progress of relative RSJ initiatives.
• Commits to continuous learning/improvement in DEI knowledge, cultural proficiency, and self-awareness.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in public policy, civil rights, EEO, investigations, law, or a similar field, and five (5) years of experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Applications demonstrating lived experience with proper knowledge of federal and state civil rights law, discrimination investigations, mediation, and conflict resolution skills in lieu of education are strongly encouraged.
• Master’s degree in a related field or JD preferred.

Special Requirements
Strong demonstrated commitment to equity, community empowerment and capacity building.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge:

• Program management, operations, finance, leadership, grassroots organizing and a knowledge of building and sustaining trust.
• Knowledge of laws related to equal opportunity, discrimination, human and civil rights; working knowledge of other applicable laws, regulations, and guidance as they pertain to investigation and analysis of hate, bias, discrimination, and harassment complaints.
• Knowledge of federal civil rights laws or similar, including case law and agency interpretation; familiarity with witness interview and investigation techniques; experience conducting complex legal analysis, reaching legally sound determinations, and producing high-quality written work products.

Ability:

• Ability to meet and deal appropriately and effectively with City employees, City officials and members of the general public. ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to handle problems and emergencies effectively; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in organizational settings. Remain focused in the face of pressure, delivers against timelines.
• Ability to operate a computer; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; Be detailed oriented with a commitment to accuracy. Distinguish initial requests from true underlying needs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage caseload of multiple complex investigations simultaneously; strong organization skills, including the ability to manage time and tasks effectively, prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to understand and interpret laws and policies, to work within a large organization to accomplish given ends through negotiation and dialogue.
• Demonstrated ability to write concise, detailed, analytical reports.
• Be comfortable in a fast-paced environment and capable of juggling multiple initiatives simultaneously, often against tight deadlines.
• Have strong collaboration skills, but also the ability to work autonomously.
• Apply effective judgment and discretion to maintain a high level of confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Ability to develop templates and tools to provide guidance and support to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to Conduct fact-based investigations including scheduling, witness interviews, evidence reviews, and drafting of investigative reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships with diverse stakeholders regarding strategy, policy, operations, deliverables, timelines, and responsibilities; problem solve and think strategically, analytically, and creatively; learn new concepts quickly; collaborate, build consensus, and lead; be self-motivated and organized.

Skill:

• Excellent organizational skills; excellent data processing skill in the use of personal computers and office software including word processing, data base internet, and spreadsheet applications. Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to work cooperatively in a diverse community and to maintain effective relationships with parties who may have conflicting opinions. Conducts intakes of informal and formal complaints and makes recommendations of necessary interim measures in collaboration with the RSJ Director.
• A high level of professionalism, diplomacy, patience, and confidentiality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. De-escalation, mediation, and supervisory skills. The ability to listen, adapt and consider qualitative as well as quantitative data. Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. Strong organizational, critical thinking, and analytical skills. Ability to effectively present information to diverse groups. Interpersonal skills necessary to interact successfully with a wide range of individuals.

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings, weekend events or complete work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements
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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills
Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills
Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.

Cognitive Visual Skills
Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $86,151.43 annualized, plus benefits
Union: Non-Union
Date Posted: May 15, 2023

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• Completition of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:

To better protect the health and safety of staff and the public, all City of Somerville employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of November 1, 2021. Exemptions and/or reasonable accommodations are not guaranteed and will be reviewed by the City of Somerville Human Resources Department on a case-by-case basis. Learn more at www.somervillema.gov/HR/COVID19.

Overview of Benefits Somerville Offers:

• 4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.

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