Karen D. Wallace
Chicago,IL
Summary
Dynamic District Director at the U.S. Department of Labor with expertise in compliance investigation and strategic planning. Proven track record in leading successful civil rights enforcement initiatives and negotiating resolutions. Adept at data analysis and conflict resolution, fostering team development while ensuring adherence to federal regulations.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
District Director
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
01.2022 - Current
- Manage operations of five district offices located in the Midwest Region
- Manage Supervisory Compliance Investigators
- Plan, direct, and prioritize workplace investigations related to employment discrimination claims
- Conduct detailed and comprehensive analyses of employment practices of federal contractors to determine compliance with federal laws
- Develop cases for administrative or judicial action and make recommendations to the Regional Director for disposition
- Review completed investigations and issue final determination of investigations based on applicable legal principles
- Analyze affirmative action plans of federal contractors
- Negotiate and monitor conciliation agreements with contractors found to be non-compliant with federal equal opportunity laws
Director of Human Rights Compliance- Employment/Hearing Manager
City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations
01.2004 - 01.2022
- Manage Civil Rights Investigators
- Direct investigations of civil rights claims
- Review completed investigations and draft final determination of investigations based on applicable legal principles
- Draft agency response to motions to dismiss, motions for sanctions, motions for protective orders, and review of final determinations
- Review cases to determine effectiveness of mediation
- Manage and consult with mediators and administrative hearing officers regarding adjudication of civil rights claims
- Monitor completion of mediation conferences and administrative hearings
- Review and compile final written liability rulings after administrative hearing according to applicable legal precedent
- Monitor annual allocation of agency budget for administrative hearings and mediation program
- Make recommendations regarding annual budgetary allocations
- Manage intergovernmental agreements with federal, state, and local civil rights agencies
- Conduct research on issues of first impression and treatment of civil rights claims in other jurisdictions
Staff Attorney
Illinois Department of Human Rights
01.1999 - 01.2004
- Provide legal counsel to department investigation staff
- Review investigations of civil rights claims filed under the Illinois Human Rights Act
- Make recommendations and draft orders of the Chief Legal Counsel on Requests for Review
- Draft complaints of civil rights violations
- Conduct research on parallel federal law such as the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Negotiate resolution of cases with parties
- Review mediated settlement agreements for compliance with Illinois Human Rights Act
Education
Juris Doctor -
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Chicago, IL01.1998
B.A. - Political Science
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA05.1992
Skills
- Compliance investigation
- Regulatory compliance
- Case management
- Budget management
- Policy drafting
- Strategic planning
- Conflict resolution
- Verbal and written communication
- Data analysis
- Civil rights enforcement
- Mediation management
- Team management
- Leadership development
- Negotiation techniques
Timeline
District Director
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
01.2022 - Current
Director of Human Rights Compliance- Employment/Hearing Manager
City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations
01.2004 - 01.2022
Staff Attorney
Illinois Department of Human Rights
01.1999 - 01.2004
Juris Doctor -
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
B.A. - Political Science
Temple University