PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Strategizes, organizes, creates, develops, manages and controls organizational EEO programs to support company goals and culture.
o Reviews statutory (federal and state) EEO programs, including Federal Transit Administration (FTA) mandated programs.
o Modifies existing programs, develop and implement best practices, policies and procedures to ensure diversity values are integrated into the day-to-day activities across all operation units.
o Participates in overall EEO strategy development. Translates strategies into specific actions with clear accountability and communicates priorities to management.
o Collaborates with Human Resources to ensure the hiring, promotion, and discipline processes follow guidelines and incorporate the CTA’s diversity values.
o Establishes, develops, and manages relationships and contract with external organizations / agencies.
• Educates departments and coaches / counsels senior management on EEO standards.
o Provides diversity and inclusion consulting services to upper management and operation units designed to increase retention, improve employee engagement and create a progressive and inclusive culture.
o Promotes, plans, and initiates diversity-oriented events, protected class inclusion programs and cross-cultural workshops and seminars to educate organization staff on EEO and other programs.
• Mitigates complex diversity-based disputes and accusations of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and retaliation against the organization or other employees.
o Reviews EEO related incidents, oversees analysis, and reviews witness interviews and investigation findings to recommend appropriate findings and course of action.
o Leads investigations and determines whether violations of CTA’s EEO policy have occurred.
o Writes and provides reports of investigations to CTA’s executive leadership.
o Manages and organize cases (i.e., complaints, issues, requests, etc.) referred to EEO; properly documenting and keeping records for future review and follow-up; maintaining information such as responses and referrals.
• Oversees Religious Accommodation Committee (RAC) which considers requests for, and oversees the approval process of, Religious Accommodations in the workplace for individuals to practices their religious practices or beliefs.
o Reviews RAC requests, works with department management to make appropriate determinations in line with agency policy, maintains updated administrative procedures regarding RAC requests.
• Provides administrative oversight in management over the Authority’s Drug & Alcohol Compliance program.
o Oversees FTA and CTA drug and alcohol testing to ensure compliance with Federal rules and regulations and contract obligations.
o Establishes processes and procedures in securing confidentiality of all interactions and records.
o Supervises the development and implementation of training programs associated with the complete drug and alcohol compliance program to ensure compliance with federal regulations and current contractual obligations.
o Directs the preparation and dissemination of various statistical reports and proposals.
• Oversees record keeping and reporting systems functionalities.
o Prepares the annual EEO program, Annual Title VI and periodic Triennial FTA reports.
o Provides quarterly reports to CTA’s President on CTA’s workforce along with investigations and violations of CTA’s EEO and Title VI policies.
o Notifies and informs legal counsel to ensure timely investigation and resolutions of allegations of discrimination, violations of CTA policies and statutory EEO protection, including Title VI, and Title VII.
• Hires, trains, develops, monitors, and evaluates performance of staff. Reviews and recommends personnel actions for approval.
• Performs other duties as might be assigned.
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to this position are the following jobs:
Job Title
• Senior Manager, Drug & Alcohol Programs
• Manager, EEO & Affirmative Action Programs
• Coordinator, ADA Compliance
CHALLENGES
• Adapting behavior, opinions, tactics, and strategies to different situations, individuals, or changing priorities.
• Maintaining professionalism when dealing with employees or complainants.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Law, or a related field, and a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in managerial level work with EEO Programs, Title VI, Title VII or related work, or a comparable combination of education and experience.
• HR Certification or EEO Investigator Certification preferred.
• Human Resources Graduate degree or J.D. strongly preferred.
• Supervisory experience.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time and constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Service Area Requirement: Exempt (Non-Union) employees must live within the boundaries of the CTA Statutory Service Area either at the time of employment or within 6 months of beginning employment at CTA.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
• Advanced knowledge of federal, state, and local statues and provisions pursuant to Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Ability to read, interpret, analyze, and apply law and policy.
• Working knowledge of arbitration/conflict resolution aspects and procedures.
• Working knowledge of drug and alcohol testing rules and procedures administered by the FTA and DOT.
• Working knowledge of the collective bargaining labor agreements and Authority rules and regulations pertaining to employee conduct.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Working knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• General knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
• Strong social perceptiveness skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong Microsoft Office Suite skills.
• Good time management and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to sequence concepts logically, deliver/clarify complex information, and explain in a manner that makes technical information understandable to non-technical individuals.
WORKING CONDITIONS
• General office environment.
• Occasional exposure to various weather conditions with traveling to other work locations.
• This position is considered a "C-List" position under the “Revolving Door” prohibition within the State Officials and Employees Act (5 ILCS 430/5-45), which contains a number of post-employment restrictions CTA employees in C-list designated positions must follow. Among other requirements listed in this statute, CTA employees in C-list designated positions are required to follow State notification procedures to the Office of the Executive Inspector General prior to acceptance of any applicable non-State employment or may be fined significant penalties.
EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED
• Standard office equipment.