Regional Workforce Equity Project Manager

Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow. We offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits program. Learn more about the benefits Metro offers.
Are you committed to creating quality jobs in our region for women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) workers? Are you a creative, thoughtful, and persuasive change-maker? Are you skilled at building strong relationships among diverse stakeholders and inspiring action toward shared goals? If so, Metro is excited to recruit you for the Regional Workforce Equity Project Manager position.
As a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department, the Regional Workforce Equity Project Manager will help lead Metro's Construction Career Pathways program in creating opportunities for women and people of color to advance in the construction industry. You will also help apply this successful model to grow career pathways in other Metro sectors, from environmental restoration and waste management to hospitality and property services. You will play a part in transforming policies, programs, and investments to ensure everyone in greater Portland has access to opportunities and good jobs.
The successful candidate will be a skilled Project Manager who can help deliver breakthrough strategies to advance equity in greater Portland with demonstrated experience:

• Building strong coalitions to advance policy goals.
• Utilizing industry or sectoral analysis to advance change.
• Advancing strategies for improving outcomes for workers.
• Negotiating in fast-paced political environments with competing interests.

Responsibilities
The Regional Workforce Equity Project Manager position will manage the Construction Careers Pathways Project, an ambitious, multi-agency effort to diversify the construction industry workforce in greater Portland. The project has designed and implemented strategies that remove barriers that prevent women and people of color from developing careers in the construction industry.
You will help coordinate a broad coalition of metro area community, labor, industry, city, and county elected leaders. You also will lead Metro's own work to implement the Construction Career Pathways framework in partnership with Metro Departments.
You will provide technical assistance and program support for Metro departments and partner agencies as they explore Workforce Equity in numerous Metro-related sectors. You will contribute to interested party engagement, industry analysis, and racial equity strategies to the design of Workforce Equity policies. And you will work with our procurement team to help scale up Metro's construction contracting opportunities for COBID firms.
As the Regional Workforce Equity Project Manager, you will:

• Provide strong project management skills to create and implement project work plans, including oversight for consultants and contractors, effective gathering of input and guidance from workforce, labor, industry, and community stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain relationships with regional partners and workforce advocates - especially those working with low-income communities of color.
• Provides strategic guidance on Workforce Equity initiatives to technical and policy staff at Metro and partner public agencies, non-profits, community-based organizations, elected officials, and the public.
• Conduct or guide industry and sectoral analysis to inform policy and programs designed to advance Workforce Equity.
• Convene and lead Metro's agency-wide team focused on advancing Workforce Equity through procurement, contracting, and oversight and provides related technical assistance to Metro departments and partners.
• Convene and coordinate agency-wide learning on best practices in Workforce Equity and diverse contracting, including the application of data, race, and gender equity to Metro practices.
• Prepare reports and documents for consideration by the Metro Council, chief operating officer, senior leadership, Metropolitan Exposition and Recreation Commissioners, and project partners.
• Guide research, analysis, and evaluation of policy efforts aimed at removing barriers to opportunity or advancing equitable outcomes in employment sectors.
• Collects and analyzes data to understand trends, disparities, and opportunities for intervention and translates findings into actionable recommendations for policy development and implementation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Attributes for success:

• Possess a strong understanding of private and public actors in the construction industry or related sectors, the current construction workforce situation, and barriers preventing the employment of women and people of color in construction.
• Demonstrated familiarity with progressive social change practices, particularly in racial justice and related fields (e.g., poverty, labor/employment, environmental justice, criminal justice, immigration, education, health care, food justice, reproductive justice, LGBTQIA2S+ rights, etc.).
• Experienced utilizing an equity lens to identify and develop solutions to disparities in job sectors, including conducting/managing research on relevant regulatory, licensing, and wage and hour standards for key employment sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to apply a racial equity lens to sector or industry-focused strategies to advance Workforce Equity.
• Experience building buy-in and ownership among stakeholders to advance racial equity goals and outcomes.
• Demonstrate empathy, active listening, and cultural competence in engaging with interested groups to foster trust and collaboration.
• Ability to assess the effectiveness of policies and programs, identify lessons learned, and apply insights to future initiatives.
• Ability to think critically and creatively about how Metro can leverage its resources to address racial inequities.
• Ability to adapt and pivot to be responsive to dynamic and shifting contexts.
• Ability to process feedback and input from various interested groups and perspectives to build collaboration and advance shared goals.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to distill and effectively communicate complex concepts and projects.

Diversity and inclusion: At Metro, we're committed to hiring a workforce representative of the communities we serve, recognizing that a diverse workforce strengthens our organization. We invest in employees by supporting equitable and inclusive hiring practices, employee policies and training programs.
TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.
Minimum qualifications:

• Four years of experience in a similar position and
• A Bachelor's Degree in applicable area of study; or
• Any combination of education and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

Work Environment
The position is flexible with both on-site office and telework options. This hybrid position involves some work that is able to be completed remotely and also the need to work onsite for specific projects or tasks.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply:
If I was terminated for cause during any of my employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, I understand I may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.
Like to have qualifications:
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Ability to effectively manage multiple initiatives and experience overseeing grant-funded and contracted deliverables.
• Familiarity with labor unions and collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience using data to understand economic sector.
• Effective facilitation of groups with multiple interested groups and interests.

COMPENSATION AND REPRESENTATION
Based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements, Metro's internal equity review process, and the candidates' qualifications, the appointment will typically be made between $86,860.80 to $100,547.20. The full-salary range for this position is $86,860.80 to $116,417.60 annually.
This position is not eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME Local 3580. It is classified as a Program Manager. Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions.
SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet:The application packet consists of the following documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed online application, AND
• A cover letter including:
  • What interests you most about this role and your experience as it relates to the listed attributes for success.
  • Your experience developing and managing complex work plans to achieve program goals.
  • If applicable, describe experiences gained through work experiences outside of traditional avenues.

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Reference check

Questions?
Recruiter: Carrie Gundermann
Email: carrie.gundermann@oregonmetro.gov

Equal employment opportunity: All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made or any other status protected by law. Assistance will be gladly provided upon request for any applicant with sensory or non-sensory disabilities.
Online applications: Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, call 503-797-1570.
Accommodation: Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this process. To obtain confidential assistance please contact Human Resources 503-797-1570.
Pay equity at Metro: Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.
Public Employees Retirement System (PERS): Unless otherwise stated in a collective bargaining agreement,Metro pays both the employee and employer portion of PERS contributions for eligible employees.
Veterans' preference: Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.Employment Type: Full Time