Title IX Coordinator

Summary   The Title IX Coordinator ensures that Elmhurst University complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, current guidance from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, and the training requirements found in the Violence Against Women Act. Additional compliance requirements include the University Clery Act and the Illinois Attorney General reports. The Title IX Coordinator will work with all areas of the University to ensure compliance and will ensure that upper administration is kept aware of changes to Federal requirements and recommendations.   This position will: accept reports of sexual misconduct, relationship violence, and stalking. Conduct outreach to all Complainants of sexual misconduct, relationship violence and stalking to ensure they are aware of the complaint process, available supportive measures, potential interim sanctions, and available resources;

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

•  Demonstrate knowledge of Title IX and VAWA and other applicable laws and regulations is required;
• Knowledge of best practices as they relate to institutions of higher education compliance with Title IX and VAWA;
• Ability to manage an ongoing and complex caseload of Title IX related incidents and complaints;
• Effective project management, organization and analytical skills;
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills with an emphasis on education and training for a variety of constituencies;
• Strong written communication skills;
• Ability to guide, advise and support the training and learning process with respect to Title IX and VAWA compliance;
• Excellent attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to deal with confidential and sensitive information;
• Ability to build relationships and establish collaborative partnerships across the institution and peer institutions;
• Ability to act independently, take initiative and exercise sound judgment.
• Serve as the main administrator for Title IX compliance and other related federal and state laws, including Title IX of the Educational Amendments to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and Campus SaVE;
• Recruit and train a team of Deputy Title IX Coordinators and Investigators;
•  Establish, maintain and review the formal grievance process for students, employees, and third parties;
• Develop and maintain informal resolution options, including the use of restorative practices;
• Provide ongoing updates to the procedures for addressing sexual misconduct, relationship violence and stalking, as necessary; provide guidance to investigator(s) and deputy Title IX Coordinators, as appropriate and needed
•  Review and ensure University policies, procedures and protocols are in compliance with Title IX and VAWA, and are in line with nationwide best practices.
• Coordinate and collaborate with community and campus partners to develop and/or disseminate educational materials and in-person and online trainings tailored to faculty, staff, and students;
•  Coordinate and conduct mandatory reporter training for faculty, staff and student-employees; Serve as the University expert on Title IX requirements and compliance and provide consultation to senior administration and other campus constituencies as necessary.

This position will provide overall leadership, guidance and supervision of Title IX initiatives. Specifically, the position will: 

• Lead the development of short and long-term strategic plans to identify gaps and establish priorities around program implementation and maintenance to ensure the Title IX office is meeting the needs of the University community;
•  Supervise, train, and evaluate current staff with TIX responsibilities, in their respective capacities, including facilitating their access to ongoing training and development opportunities;
• Review manage and evaluate the University’s resources, TIX website, reporting processes, annual training, and general campus compliance and completion of assigned trainings;
•  Review, update and communicate information about TIX in the University’s Student Handbook and Non-Discrimination and Non-Harassment Policy; 
•  Collaborate with University leadership to contribute to larger strategic initiatives;
• Manage general fund budgets for operations, investigations, and compliance with federal regulations to ensure efficient operation of the Office;
•  Develop and maintain relationships with on-campus offices and key off-campus agencies and organizations, including YWCA, Family Shelter Service, and local law enforcement agencies;
• Serve as the Representative of the Office on various campus committees and initiatives, including the CARE team, the Threat Assessment Team, etc. 
• Manage partnerships and subscriptions to external TIX resources and systems, such as EVERFI and Title IX Solutions;
•  Complete and submit the annual Illinois Attorney General Report by November 1 of each year;
•  Complete and update the Board of Trustees with quarterly reports and presentations, as needed, and collaborate with the University stakeholders on the meeting strategic plan goals. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in social work, psychology, student development, gender studies, student affairs or higher education administration, or J.D. or equivalent from an accredited law school;
• Experience conducting and overseeing investigations into reports of sexual misconduct, relationship violence and stalking;
• Skills in conducting studies and preparing sound recommendations; preparing written reports for varied audiences; analyzing information and data and presenting findings in a concise format; and data gathering and reporting;
• Knowledge of and experience with issues related to gender-based violence, including sexual misconduct, relationship violence and stalking;
• Experience conducting in-person prevention education regarding sexual misconduct, relationship violence and stalking;
• Progressive experience exercising independent judgment and decision making, building and maintaining effective relationships with a variety of campus stakeholders;
• Demonstrate understanding of and sensitivity to the issues/concerns of members of a higher-education community;
• Background in the area of sexual and interpersonal violence education and response;
• Demonstrated ability to work with a wide-range of campus constituents, including students, staff, faculty, parents/guardians, campus partners, local authorities, off campus agencies and others as needed;
• Ability to manage and oversee multiple projects efficiently;
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, both written and verbal;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel) and comfortable dealing with large data sets;
• Ability to lead, manage and oversee multiple projects efficiently;
• Strong administrative skills, including recordkeeping, report writing and documentation; 
• Proven ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with sensitive and confidential matters; 
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail, problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a higher education and/or shared governance setting.
•  Juris Doctorate, or other advanced degree
• Background in providing direct services to survivors of trauma, including sexual assault and interpersonal violence.
•  Advanced knowledge of Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Illinois statutes related to preventing sexual misconduct in higher education, the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), White House and regulatory agency guidance informing bias, harassment, equity, and sexual violence policy and practice.