HUMAN RIGHTS REPRESENTATIVE, C15

BASIC PURPOSE:
Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities involving the processing and investigation of complaints concerning discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age,  handicap, and familial status in housing complaints.  This includes receiving and processing reports or complaints of discrimination, conducting appropriate interviews and investigations, preparing reports and other materials, collecting evidence, and other related activities.

TYPICAL FUNCTIONS:
The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:

•Receives and processes complaints of discrimination. 

•Organizes and conducts investigations concerning complaints of discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap, and familial status in housing complaints. Reviews and analyzes information obtained through interviews, interrogatories, requests for information, and other sources; prepares correspondence, subpoenas or other documents as needed to obtain evidence and information; conducts interviews with complainants, respondents, attorneys and others as needed.

•Prepares reports on results of investigations electronically, including both substantive as well as procedural issues; makes recommendations concerning disposition of complaints.

•Conducts on-site inspections of premises and records of employers and institutions associated with the housing industry, such as realtors, brokers, property management firms and mortgage lenders; interviews officials, employees and others concerning employment and housing issues; determines if patterns and practices have an adverse inequitable effect on protected groups.

LEVEL DESCRIPTORS:
There are three levels in this job family which are distinguished by the complexity of work assigned, the experience required to do the work and the responsibility for providing supervision to others.

Level I:                                                Code:  C15A                             Salary Band:  I
At this level employees are assigned responsibilities for performing beginning level professional work in receiving and processing complaints concerning discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations or other areas and in conducting appropriate investigations.  Work is performed under close supervision in a training status to build their skills in reviewing and analyzing complaints and assisting in the completion of investigations or other activities.  Increasing responsibilities will be assigned with more independence for processing complaints as their job duties demand.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of federal and state civil rights laws governing discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing; of intergroup and inter-racial relations; of technical report writing requirements; of investigative interviewing techniques; and of mediation/settlement techniques.  Ability is required to read and comprehend complex statutes, guidelines and other technical materials; to express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely; to conduct investigative interviews; to write technical reports; to conduct human rights investigations; to analyze and draft documents concerning discrimination complaints and to process complaints using computers; to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; and to use independent judgment.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelors degree in a social or  behavioral science, business or public administration or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one year of professional experience in affirmative action or civil rights complaint investigation/mediation/settlement for each year of the required education.

Level II:                                   Code:  C15B                             Salary Band:  K
This is the career level of this job family where employees are assigned responsibilities at the full performance level for receiving and processing complaints and organizing and conducting investigations concerning complaints of discrimination.  Some responsibilities may be assigned for serving as a team or project leader on complex investigations requiring the involvement of several staff members or for providing guidance and training to other employees concerning policies and procedures for processing complaints.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level I plus demonstrated ability to process and investigate various types of complaints.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level I plus one additional year of professional experience in civil rights investigation/mediation.

Level III:                                  Code:  C15C                             Salary Band:  L
This is the leadership level of the Human Rights Representative job family where employees are assigned responsibilities involving the supervision of others in processing and investigating discrimination complaints as well as additional responsibilities for coordinating orientation and training for local Human Rights Commissions, civic organizations and others, performing investigations of complex complaints and those involving novel issues and untested legal theories, and serving as an ombudsman for various human rights issues as they occur.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level I plus knowledge of local ordinances and administrative agency rulings relating to discrimination; of the structure and functioning of the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Oklahoma Human Rights Commission; and of supervisory principles and practices.  Ability is also required to review and supervise the work of others; to teach relevant technical material in a classroom situation; and to conduct several projects simultaneously.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level II plus one additional year of qualifying experience in civil rights investigation/mediation and settlement of complaints.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be willing and able to fulfill all job-related travel normally associated with this position.