Human Rights Specialist Ii - Fair Housing (Human Rights Specialist Ii)

Job Announcement

Gathers all available evidence necessary to render a recommended determination as to findings of an investigation into an alleged violation of the Fairfax County Human Rights Ordinance, any Fairfax County Personnel Regulations, and/or ADA Compliance. Duties include

• Presides over fact-finding conferences.
• Mediates and conciliates voluntary settlement agreements as resolutions to filed complaints.
• Interprets and applies civil rights legal precedents during the negotiation conferences so that parties know their rights and responsibilities pursuant to the ordinance and applicable federal law.
• Conducts telephone and face-to-face intake interviews as needed.
• Writes recommended investigative findings incorporating the applicable civil rights legal precedents for the director's signature.
• Participates in formal conciliation conferences and testifies at Human Rights Commission hearings and in court proceedings.
• Drafts the complaint for the complainant's signature.
• Conducts telephone and in-person interviews, reviews documents, and performs onsite investigations to determine whether a violation of the Human Rights Ordinance has occurred.
• Provides fair housing trainings per the requirements of conciliation agreements, assists in the planning of fair housing events, the fair housing taskforce, grant proposals and reporting, the analysis of impediments to fair housing and the OHREP s fair housing testing program.
• Counsels the individual about his/her rights pursuant to the ordinance.
• Analyzes the allegation and merits of complaints and determines the applicable legal remedies.
• Explains the Office of Human Rights and Equity Program's complaint procedures.
• Evaluates the nature of the alleged claims, refers the individual to the appropriate County, State, Federal or private organizations to assist with the individual's problems.
• Prepares letters of notification and requests for information so that complaints are promptly served on parties.
• Develops investigative plans.
• Writes settlement agreements for the director's and the commission's approval.
• Interprets county regulations and federal laws to provide counsel and assistance to managers, county staff and the public on EEO matters.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

• Develops investigation plans;
• Conducts initial interviews over the phone or face-to-face with claimants to determine the nature and merit of alleged claims;
• Presides over fact-finding conferences;
• Requests information pertinent to claims;
• Counsels complainants, respondents and others on their rights pursuant to the Fairfax County Human Rights Ordinance and explains the investigative process;
• Conducts field interviews;
• Conducts negotiations between parties to attempt to achieve a settlement prior to a formal cause/no cause proceeding;
• Participates in formal conciliation conferences and testifies at Human Rights Commission hearings and in court proceedings.
• Prepares report of investigation findings, citing violations of applicable laws and ordinances based on an analysis of investigation findings, applicable statutes, legal precedents and relevant case law;

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all inclusive list.)

Considerable knowledge of applicable federal civil rights laws and the Fairfax County Human Rights Ordinance;
Ability to perform legal research, interpret laws, regulations, legal precedents and court cases;
Ability to prepare comprehensive, legally accurate reports;
Ability to handle complex negotiations with tact, resourcefulness and good judgement;
Ability to provide guidance and mentoring support to lower level Human Rights Specialists;
Ability to interact with individuals from various racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups;
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in personnel administration, public administration, human resources, management, sociology, ethnic studies or a related field, plus two years of experience in civil rights or human rights compliance, investigation, or administration.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Knowledge of applicable case laws as they relate to human rights.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written in English.
• Ability to interpret federal, state or local regulations.
• Experience working with public and private civic groups.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Prior investigative and analytical experience, to include demonstrated experience conducting complex civil rights investigations.
• Ability to create and conduct virtual presentations and marketing materials.

The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must possess accurate keyboard skills and the ability to conduct on-site investigations. All staff are required to be able to perform the essential functions of the position. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a written exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.