• Job Description

  Req#: 32440

  Agency : Department of Human Rights
  Closing Date/Time: 11/13/2023
  Salary: $4,010.00 - $5,620.00 Anticipated Monthly; non-state starting $4,010.00
  Job Type: Salaried Full Time
  County: Cook
  Number of Vacancies: 3
  Plan/BU: RC062

  This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

  All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

  Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

  Posting Identification Number [[id]]

  About the Illinois Department of Human Rights

  The Illinois Department of Human Rights (“IDHR”) is a state agency charged with the enforcement of the Illinois Human Rights Act ("Act"). The Act prohibits unlawful discrimination in Illinois with respect to employment, real estate transactions, financial credit, and public accommodations (including education). IDHR protects and guarantees the rights of all Illinoisans to be free from unlawful discrimination by receiving and investigating conducting neutral investigations of claims of unlawful discrimination. Moreover, the Act prohibits retaliation against a person who has opposed that which is reasonably and in good faith believed to be unlawful discrimination; prohibits the aiding, abetting, compelling or coercion of a person to commit a violation of the Act; and prohibits the willful interference with the performance of a duty or the exercise of a power by the Department IDHR or one of its officers or employees. At the forefront of protecting civil rights, IDHR welcomes all candidates for employment to apply for any position for which they are qualified. Join IDHR in its mission to secure an Illinois free from discrimination.

  Position Overview

  The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) is seeking highly motivated and organized individuals to assist the IDHR with conducting in-depth, neutral investigations into allegations of discrimination under the Illinois Human Rights Act. A Human Rights Investigator’s day-to-day work involves interviewing complainants, ascertaining jurisdiction, interviewing parties to the charge of discrimination including witnesses, issuing requests for information, and extensive reading and analysis of documentation obtained. Human Rights Investigators complete investigations by writing a comprehensive report that contains an extensive analysis of evidence presented through witness statements and document submissions, and applies the law to the facts consistent with IDHR operating procedures.

  Individuals successful in the role are consistent and expedient in managing and processing their investigative caseload to completion according to IDHR productivity standards. Individuals working in this role must be organized, be able to work independently and be self-motivated to write multi-page detailed reports. Investigators have a demonstrated ability to read and analyze a large quantity of information while applying law and the Department’s operating procedures, and plan next steps for the investigation as necessary.

  Job Responsibilities

  1. Participates in a Department sponsored trainee program for a period of six to eighteen months for the Human Rights Investigator I position. Receives training in counseling complainants by letter, phone, or in person on general information of discrimination and content of complaint forms; evaluates forms to ascertain jurisdiction under the Human Rights Act and completes required reports, forms, recommendations, and correspondence; receives training on a caseload of selected simple investigations as workload necessitates.
  2. Receives training on the proper collection of information, testimony, and records on employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations discrimination cases or in education cases; learns to conduct on site visits, informal hearings or conferences.
  3. Receives training in the methods of case analysis with the objective to make recommended decisions; receives training to prepare reports on cases for administrative review.
  4. Assists higher level human rights investigator to collect information on cases in the form of statistics, records, and other documentation, as well as, by interviews of complainants, employers, and witnesses; assist staff to conduct informal fact-finding conferences including both parties to a case.
  5. Receives training on systemic discrimination cases involving a pattern, practice or policy where the alleged discrimination has a broad impact on an industry, profession, company or geographic area such as barriers in recruitment or hiring, restricted access to promotional opportunities or higher level positions, exclusion of qualified persons, unlawful pre-employment inquiries, age discrimination, or compliance with customer preference that result in discriminatory practices; receives training on how to operate as a team member on cases involving groups of complainants and tracing patterns of discrimination by specific respondents.
  6. Receives training and assists with negotiations of settlements at any point in an investigation when both parties agree to conciliation.
  7. Participates in and completes agency-sponsored training and other training and continuing education programs to develop professional skills and knowledge of the philosophy, procedures, rules, and regulations of the Department.
  8. Performs other duties as requires and assigned which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above.

  Minimum Qualifications

  • Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college preferably with coursework in business, public, or personnel administration, or social sciences.

  Preferred Qualifications

  1. A working knowledge of human rights issues and the Illinois Human Rights Act.
  2. Two years’ experience collecting and analyzing complex information and data to write a detailed investigation report.
  3. Two years’ experience applying laws, rules, and/or procedures to write a detailed analysis in an investigation report.
  4. Two years’ experience making recommendations of findings based upon information obtained in an investigation.
  5. Two years of professional experience using Microsoft Office applications, including Microsoft Word, or the equivalent.
  6. The ability to work independently and be self-motivated to write extensive and detailed reports.

  Conditions of Employment

  • Requires the ability to pass a background check.

  Work Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday
  Work Location: 555 W. Monroe Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661
  Agency Contact:

  Adam Coe

  Email: IDHR.Recruitment@illinois.gov

  Phone #: (312) 814-6219

  Job Family: Legal, Audit & Compliance; Social Services

  This position DOES NOT contain “Specialized Skills” (as that term is used in CBAs).

  APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

  Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

  If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.

  State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.

  Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

  If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

  State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

  Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.

  The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

  • donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
  • systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com

• About the company

  The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois, and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution.

Notice