Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance

Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance

Western Washington University is seeking a Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. The Director provides leadership and guidance to the University community and Office staff as they fulfill the University's broad commitment to access, equity, inclusion, and justice. Reporting to the Executive Director, Office of Equity, the Director must be an excellent communicator, collaborator, manager, and strategic thinker, and must possess the education and experience to understand the legal and human aspects of the areas within the jurisdiction of the Office.

The Director leads the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance and is responsible for overseeing compliance with civil rights and affirmative action laws, regulations and policies related to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, genetic status, sex, gender identity and expression, age, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, sexual orientation, use of protected leave, disability, use of a trained guide dog or service animal, veteran or military status, and status as a disabled or other protected veteran. The Office is the institutional point of contact for federal and state agencies for equal opportunity and affirmative action compliance inquiries and compliance confirmation and is responsible for responding to external agency complaints and investigations.

The Director administers and oversees the University's Equal Opportunity policies and procedures in all aspects of employment and education, ensuring compliance across the University with University policies that reflect responsibilities under federal and state civil rights and affirmative action laws and regulations, including but not limited to Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Executive Order 11246, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act, and the Washington Law Against Discrimination. The Director serves as both the Title IX Coordinator and the ADA Coordinator for the University and is responsible for directing overall preparation of the University's Affirmative Action Plan and implementation of Affirmative Action Programs.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as the institutional subject matter expert for civil rights and Title IX compliance, including interpretation of laws and agency guidance.
• Provide oversight and direction for the University's informal resolution and formal investigation processes, including allegations related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.
• Lead responses to external agency complaints, including EEOC, OCR, Department of Education, and Washington State agency complaints.
• Research, evaluate, implement, and evaluate the activities, procedures, and practices which support the university in achieving equitable and inclusive recruitment, hiring, and employment practices.
• Collaborate with Human Resource Services to establish civil rights best practices in employment within the University.
• Serve as the University's Title IX Coordinator.
o Provide Title IX guidance to the university community
o Direct Title IX complaint procedures, ensuring they are administered in a trauma-informed and culturally aware manner, and coordinate provision of resources and support for individuals who experience sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship violence, and sex discrimination.
o Ensure University policies and practices are consistent with Title IX requirements, including gender equity in the operation of the university's athletic programs.
o Ensure effective institutional response to all issues of equality based on sex and concerns and complaints of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct, including implementation of mandatory reporting responsibilities.
o Oversee and ensure effective institutional support services for survivors of sexual assault, harassment, or other forms of sexual misconduct, including but not limited to counseling and other support services.
o Ensure that university employees and students are provided with initial and refresher prevention education consistent with the requirements of Title IX.
o Lead the work of deputy Title IX Coordinators as needed.
• Serve as the University's ADA Coordinator.
o Coordinate the efforts of the University to comply with the ADA and implementing regulations, including investigating any complaints that the University has violated the ADA.
o Monitor, oversee and coordinate efforts to ensure that all the university's programs, services and activities are accessible to persons with disabilities, including ensuring that the university's built and virtual environments are accessible.
o Ensure that the university's processes for providing accommodations for disabilities to university employees, students, and participants in university programs and activities are consistent with the requirements of the ADA.
o Collaborate with university departments with responsibility over the university's built and virtual environments to ensure that planning, design, procurements and improvements in both arenas are performed consistently with federal and state accessibility requirements.
o Monitor the University's programs, policies, activities, services, and facilities and virtual environments for ADA compliance.
o Oversee the institution's ADA program, including policies, procedures, and response to complaints.
o Lead the work of deputy ADA Coordinators as needed.
o Provide technical guidance to the university about obligations under the ADA and grievance procedures for individuals who experience discrimination on the basis of disability.
• Serve as the University's designated official responsible for directing overall preparation of the University's Affirmative Action Plan and implementation of Affirmative Action Programs.
• Oversee budgets and personnel.
• Maintain office climate of inclusion, integrity, impartiality, and care for staff and clients.
• Represent the office and/or the University on committees, task forces, and other bodies.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field addressing legal, education, administrative, or management responsibilities.
• Minimum of eight (8) years progressive experience in duties and responsibilities specified, including supervisory experience.
• Advanced knowledge and experience interpreting and applying civil rights, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, and Title IX laws and regulations.
• Experience leading trauma-informed and culturally aware investigations.
• Experience overseeing investigations of claims of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.
• Knowledge of the ADA and other laws addressing the rights of people with disabilities, such as Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Demonstrated knowledge of/experience in Title IX regulations as they apply to NCAA rules, policies, and practices regarding gender equity in intercollegiate athletics.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with University departments to ensure compliance with Title IX regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge and experience to effectively assess institutional efforts to prevent recurrence of harassment and discrimination.
• Knowledge of higher education policies and practices and experience in promoting principles and practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for, the diverse academic, socio-economic, racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disabilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations of students, faculty, and staff.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including demonstrated ability to build trusting working relationships with people from a wide range of constituencies in a diverse university community to ensure successful outcomes.
• Strong presentation, training, and facilitation skills with the ability to engage students, faculty, staff, and administrators with varying degrees of experience in examining and addressing issues of civil rights, equity, and justice.
• Excellent project and time management skills.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a dynamic work environment.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively supervising assigned staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A PhD or other terminal degree in a relevant field or a JD.
• Administrative experience in higher education.
• Fluency in a second language.

Application Process:

Keeling & Associates is pleased to support Western Washington University in this search process. Applications should include a resume and a cover letter addressing your interest in and qualifications for the position. Application materials must be sent, preferably as PDFs, to recruiting@KeelingAssociates.com with the subject heading "WWU Director OCR/Title IX." Candidates are encouraged to submit materials by July 9, 2021, and all materials received by that date will receive full consideration. The review of materials will continue until an appointment is made.

Confidential inquiries and nominations should be addressed to the K&A senior consultant leading this search, Dr. Jan Walbert, at jwalbert@KeelingAssociates.com.

About the University:

As the third largest university in the State of Washington, Western Washington University enrolls approximately 15,000 students, 95 percent of whom are undergraduates, in more than 160 academic programs at the Bellingham campus and eight satellite locations around the Puget Sound area.
The University's 2018-2025 Strategic Plan articulates four basic values of the Western community:

• Commitment to student success, critical thought, creativity, and sustainability
• Commitment to equity and justice, and respect for the rights and dignity of others
• Pursuit of excellence, in an environment characterized by principles of shared governance, academic freedom and effective engagement
• Integrity, responsibility and accountability in all our work

The University's primary goals to advance the Strategic Plan include:

• Western will foster a caring and supportive environment where all members are respected and treated fairly, and
• Western will pursue justice and equity in its policies, practices, and impacts.

Established in 1893, Western is one of the top public, master's degree-granting universities in the nation. Western is the highest-ranking public, master's granting university in the Pacific Northwest and No. 2 in the West, according toU.S. News & World Report college rankings.

Western provides an active student-centered learning environment with a liberal arts and sciences foundation and a full array of co-curricular, internship, research, creative, and service learning opportunities. There is a widely shared vision that Western will be a higher education leader in a culturally responsive 21st-century learning environment, applying its critical strengths to societal issues as well as creating a welcoming community for a diversity of people, ideas, and programs.To that end, Western has embraced a style that is collegial, transparent, and timely in its engagement and communication with on- and off-campus stakeholders.

The main campus of Western Washington University is located on 212 picturesque acres in Bellingham, Washington, a city of 88,500 people.Bellingham is located in the far northwest corner of the U.S. with access to major metropolitan areas, with Seattle, Washington 90 miles to its south, and Vancouver, British Columbia 50 miles to its north. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and overlooking Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands, Bellingham is nationally recognized for its high quality of life,outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Bellingham, visit either https://www.bellingham.org or https://www.downtownbellingham.com/home.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU's Policy onEnsuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 345 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3774 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at:Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires.

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