Hearing, Appeals, and Project Specialist at UW in Seattle, WA

Job description

Job Description The Civil Rights Compliance office has an outstanding opportunity for a Hearing, Appeals, and Project Specialist to join their team About this Opportunity Reporting to the Hearing Officer, the Hearing, Appeals, and Project Specialist is responsible for providing essential support to the Hearing Officer, Appeals Officer, and other CRC teams, performing and managing professional-level operational functions that are essential to unit and program responsibilities, projects, and operations. This position will facilitate and support the administration of hearings in student and employee conduct proceedings conducted under the Administrative Procedures Act and University policy, including complex and highly sensitive matters under Title IX, to ensure that procedural requirements are met and to serve as the front-line contact and communication conduit for all participants. In addition, this position will facilitate and support the employee appeals process under Executive Order 81, and manage and complete projects for CRC teams relating to, among other things, records and records management, reporting, data identification and analyses, processes and workflows, and other high-level or complex initiatives. This position will report to the Hearing Officer, with project oversight provided by other CRC leadership as appropriate. Key Responsibilities: Management and operational oversight - Hearings and Appeals (70%): Manage the day-to-day operations related to Hearings and hearing proceedings, and the operations required for appeals under EO 81 and its companion procedures; Develop administrative systems, document processes, and create and update standard operating procedures to support effective management of cases; Develop metrics for measuring successful operations of the hearings and appeals. Assess findings and lead process improvement efforts. Regularly evaluate and assess processes and protocols to gauge effectiveness and pinpoint opportunities for refinement or enhancement; In accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act and related policies and procedures, engage with the hearing officer to provide direct leadership in the extensive planning, organizing, managing, and monitoring regarding individual Title IX and other conduct cases and the conduct process overall; Strategize, manage, and monitor the scheduling of hearings and related process steps Lead and direct communications related to both the hearing and employee appeals processes. Draft, edit, and review procedural notices and email communications to participants in the processes; ensure compliance and proper discretion in managing flow of communication and documentation. Refine and operate an effective system for managing and retaining records of proceedings consistent with APA and other requirements; Independently review and analyze incoming case materials for potential conflict of interest, ex parte communication, and other confidential matters; flag potential concerns to address directly or escalate, as appropriate; Manage direct contact with witness participants as well as assist the hearing officer in communications with hearing participants, and manage contact with parties to an appeal as well as assisting the appeals officer with communications to those parties and the department. Use and adapt to various technologies, systems, software and other tools to enable witnesses' participation; Attend all hearings and independently manage logistics and technology needed to run hearing processes, particularly during hearings, to prevent access problems, mitigate risks and disruptions, and ensure compliance with the APA and other requirements; Maintain up-to-date and accurate case management records for all hearings. This includes timely creation, update, and closure of cases in the case management system, and entry of relevant case decisions and documentation. Engage in communications and collaboration with University process partners regarding the Title I