Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer job in Bellevue

The City of Bellevue is looking for a Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. This role will lead, inform, oversee, develop, organize and evaluate citywide internal and external diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and programs in order to strengthen and continue to build on a culture of equity and inclusion, foster and recognize continuous learning, and demonstrate a commitment to our core values of exceptional public service, stewardship, commitment to employees, integrity, and innovation.

The primary focus of this position is to serve as a strategic partner with the City’s Leadership team on internal and external DEI work, while supporting residents, employees, and others affected by the City. The work is performed through demonstrated expertise and experience in systems and culture change, building equitable processes in a collaborative, adaptive, and relationship focused manner.

This position reports to the City Manager. This role serves as a member of the City’s Operations Policy Team, a team of the City’s Deputy and Assistant Directors. The successful candidate will be a strategic, collaborative, innovative and visionary leader with proven experience in leading, supporting and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and systems change management processes, internally and with the community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Background:

Bellevue’s long commitment began with the city’s original 1993 Diversity Action Plan. The work developed through 1994-2014. In 2014, the City Council adopted the vision statement “Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past.” In addition, the Council adopted the Diversity Advantage Plan, a sixty point plan that was created with wide participation from employees and the community. Bellevue’s cultural, racial, and language diversity continues to grow. Fifty-percent (50%) of Bellevue residents are people of color and 41% were born outside of the United States. A progress report in 2017 on the Diversity Advantage Plan highlights that collectively, Bellevue continues to find new ways to build inclusion into our community and economy and strengthen equitable access to basic needs, such as public safety, education, and human services

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide leadership in establishing the strategic direction for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs to meet citywide objectives
Working with teams to analyze and re-engineer processes to minimize the impact of bias in systems
Develop short and long range plans for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs
Establish policies and methods to accomplish program objectives, workplans and performance measures, in coordination with the Operations Policy and Leadership Teams
Serve as a trusted advisor to the City Manager, Leadership Team, Operations Policy Team, and department management teams, build and maintain collaborative relationships to further the work of the DEI program
Provide expertise, assessment and consultation on the design, coordination and implementation of programs, policies, and practices focusing on addressing systemic disparities including race, age, ability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, language that may exist or serve as barriers in the delivery of City services
Developing and delivering multi-mode communications on DEI issues that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences, internally and externally.
Identify and develop tools that result in developing greater awareness and understanding in the use of an equity mindset for analyzing the impact of the design and implementation of policies on underserved, underrepresented and/or marginalized individuals and groups, and to identify potential barriers
Determine and define DEI performance measures, monitoring performance, and guide staff in making adjustments to program administration and strategy to ensure standards are achieved
Help build and maintain productive and collaborative relationships between the City Manager’s Office, city departments, external stakeholders and outside agencies in order to foster a climate where the city can accomplish its DEI priorities
Represent the city at federal, state and regional efforts in DEI
Establishes and maintains a supportive working environment conducive to positive morale, creativity, and teamwork
Partner with city departments on the development, monitoring and execution of diversity, equity, and inclusion systems including contracting, purchasing, diversity advantage plan, training and development, the diversity talent hiring initiative, supportive employment, and the employee resource groups.
Present diversity, equity, and inclusion related reports and status on DEI initiatives to the city council, city manager, the Leadership Team, Operations Policy Team, other officials, and official boards when required.
Manage the day-to-day operations of the Diversity Office.
Manage/supervise, coach, lead, support, motivate, and evaluate three Diversity Advantage Team members:
Diversity and Inclusion Administrator who supports and implements internal employee initiatives
Diversity Outreach and Engagement Administrator who provides outreach to Bellevue’s diverse communities and supports efforts to provide culturally competent community programs
Equity Coordinator who helps develop, implement, coordinate and monitor diversity, equity and inclusion programs

QUALIFICATIONS:
Five or more years of experience, demonstrating success and knowledge in the administration of a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, community outreach, government, or social justice programs, at least two years in a DEI focused leadership role, and experience supervising staff.

Demonstrated leadership role with subject matter expertise building equitable processes, working collaboratively with teams, and the ability to build and maintain relationships among members of underrepresented communities externally, and internally with employees from a wide variety of professions.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, education, public administration, ethnic studies, or a closely allied field, or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the position’s work.