Employment Investigator

The Employment Investigator is responsible for conducting impartial and thorough investigations of employment-based complaints involving harassment, discrimination, failure to accommodate or retaliation. The Investigator will conduct interviews, gather records, draft reports, assist in decision making and appear in hearings, appeals and/or reviews as warranted. This position will work with Universities of Wisconsin Administration (UWSA) and Universities of Wisconsin (UWs) contacts to develop investigation techniques, guidelines, and report templates. This position reports to the Universities of Wisconsin Associate Vice President for Human Resources.

• Receive substantial and significant complaints of employment-based misconduct, harassment, discrimination, failure to accommodate, or retaliation from staff, students, or other members of the extended UW university communities as assigned.
• Identify UW university policies and/or State and Federal law provisions related to a complaint.
• Conduct a prompt, equitable, and impartial administrative investigation into complaints including identifying and interviewing parties and identifying, gathering and assessing information relevant to the investigation. Apply relevant policies and make findings of fact in individual cases.
• Provide comprehensive, detailed written analysis and findings from complaint investigation to appropriate parties in accordance with applicable employee misconduct, EEO and ADA legal requirements and the UWs investigation format.
• Provide regular updates to the Associate Vice President for Human Resources and UWSA leadership regarding case management approach, status, and progress.
• Maintain accurate, thorough, and confidential investigatory records and reports of finding.
• Prepare materials for, assist with, and participate in appeals hearings, as assigned.
• Interact with students, faculty, managers, administrators, and employees at all levels of the UW universities in performing investigative resolution duties.
• Collaborate with General Counsel in investigations involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of Civil Rights, and State of Wisconsin Equal Rights Division, as well as complaints raised by other applicable outside agencies, organizations, and constituencies.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of investigatory involvement and recommend matters to be referred.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on related policies and procedures. Review and propose updates to university harassment and discrimination policies and procedures to ensure compliance with equal opportunity laws and regulations.
• Identify and recommend best practices in complaint investigations amongst the UW universities.

• Develop curriculum and offer programming that informs UW universities subject matter experts on legal rights and responsibilities and relevant procedures relating to employee misconduct, discrimination, harassment, medical leave, accommodations, and related topics.
• Build relationships with colleagues at peer universities; review current literature and research; participate in local, regional, and/or national professional associations and organizations.
• Cultivate, develop, and maintain relationships and clear lines of communication with UWs partners.
• Assist with training development on investigations, mediation, and informal resolution as well as other related topics.

Universities of Wisconsin Administration Human Resources manages all aspects of the employee life cycle for UWSA. From recruitment to retirement, our team is here to provide service and support to all UWSA employees throughout their career with us.

• A Bachelor’s degree.

• Two years of experience conducting investigations or equivalent professional experience.

• Experience handling internal investigations involving employees’ complaints.

• Working knowledge of applicable state, federal, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, and policies.

• Valid driver’s license required. Travel around the state, which may involve overnight stays and weekends, may occur up to several times per month.

• Juris Doctor or related advanced degree.

• Experience working in higher education.

• Certifications in investigation training, such as AWI-CH Certificate Holder is preferred.

To ensure full consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible. Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through 11:59 pm, Wednesday, August 5, 2026. However, applications may be accepted until the position has been filled. 

Questions may be addressed to: Shelby Buchanan, HR Manager: [email protected].

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request by contacting [email protected]. 

This offer of employment is conditional pending the results of a criminal background check and a reference check process that includes questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. If you have prior work history within the past 7 years with the Universities of Wisconsin, your personnel file will also be reviewed for employee misconduct. If the results are unacceptable, the offer will be withdrawn or, if you have started employment, your employment will be terminated.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on, before, or after the effective date of appointment.   

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7). 

Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Faculty, Academic Staff & Limited Appointees  or University Staff   Please see this link for total compensation information: Universities of Wisconsin Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to provide you with total compensation information. 

The Universities of Wisconsin provides statistics on campus crime in its Annual Security Report.  For more information on university campus statistics see https://www.wisconsin.edu/compliance/clery/.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.