Senior Equity Officer

Number of Positions: 1

Under the guidance of COPA’s Chief of Staff, this position is responsible for diversity and inclusion issues, including administration of racial and social equity policies and practices at COPA.The Senior Equity Officer will work and collaborate across all COPA units, as well as with external stakeholders, to ensure that COPA’s organizational culture, practice, and professional development programming are anchored in the City of Chicago’s and COPA’s vision for equity and inclusion.Additionally, The Senior Equity Officer may be consulted on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues relative to investigations under COPA’s jurisdiction, including allegations of bias-based policing involving Chicago Police Department members.

Essential Duties:

• Oversees the development of resources and strategies to promote racial and social equity work within a
• department’s operations and services
• Directs the development of goals and strategies that promote equity and inclusion in department processes, practices, and policymaking.
• Directs the development of an infrastructure to sustain the department’s commitment to equity
• Advises the department’s senior executive team providing expertise and guidance on policy and strategy initiatives that advance equitable outcomes.
• Oversees the work of subordinate staff (e.g., assigning and reviewing work, approving time off requests, preparing staff performance evaluations, and administering disciplinary actions)
• Participates in the development of outreach and engagement policies, procedures, and plans to facilitate the effective inclusive delivery and participation of department initiatives and projects and to engage and increase stakeholder participation
• Provides leadership, guidance, and training, in normalizing concepts of racial equity, organizing staff to work together for transformational change, and operationalizing new practices, policies, and procedures that result in more fair and just outcomes
• Partners with departmental divisions and external organizations to implement programming to effectively support and advance equitable outcomes for communities
• Analyzes legislation and policies providing expert technical guidance to management on equity policies impacting department programs and practices
• Ensures cohesiveness in department plans with the City’s overall equity and racial justice initiatives
• Ensures department programs and services nurture narratives and practices that embrace belonging, mutuality, and unity
• Cultivates and maintains partnerships with community members, delegate agencies, Aldermen, and stakeholders to identify needs and create diverse solutions at the departmental level
• Manages and monitors data relevant to department racial and social equity gaps, impact analysis and gains and develops metrics to measure the effectiveness of equity goals
• Utilizes evidence and data to oversee the development of responsive and meaningful solutions to improve department programs and services
• Manages and tracks department action items and deliverables across multiple racial and social equity initiatives and working groups
• Collaborates on outreach and community engagement with all City neighborhoods to ensure communities have equitable resources
• Acts as a liaison with the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) and the Office of Community Engagement
• Manages the department’s efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in equity practices across the department
• Collaborates on public awareness strategies and outreach activities for the department’s equity programs and services
• Stays current on emerging issues and trends in racial and social equity
• Collaborates on the development of training for managers and front-line staff on racial and social equity policies, procedures, and resources
• Collaborates on the preparation and submission of comprehensive reports, dashboards, and studies
• Represents the department on equity issues in a variety of forums

Location: 1615 W Chicago Ave, 4th Flr

Days: Monday through Friday

Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Salary: $103,176 (Non-negotiable)

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree, plus four (4) years of work experience in the administration of diversity, equity, racial, and/or social justice programs of which one year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience provided the minimum degree requirement is met.

Disclaimer - "Accredited" means any nationally or regionally accredited college, university, or law school where the applicant is enrolled in or has completed an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, or Juris Doctorate degree program.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

• Prior experience planning/building effective Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies (multi-year) and programs (i.e., implementation of a Racial Equity Action Plan)
• Prior experience leading a project from vision/solutions development through practical/hands-on implementation.
• Knowledge of, and demonstrated interest in, relevant federal, state, and municipal employment laws

• Disabilities Act (EEO/AA and ADA)
• Knowledge of, and demonstrated interest in, diversity, equity, procedural justice, civil rights and/or

• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Familiarity with Chicago municipal government, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and associated public safety accountability and criminal justice programs and functions.
• Prior experience developing data collection instruments such as surveys, direct and participatory observation, interviews, focus groups, and literature searches
• Ability to fluently read, write and speak any language other than English.

Residency Requirement: All employees of the City must be actual residents of the City as outlined in 2-152-050 of the City Chicago Municipal Code. Proof of residency will be required.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROMANY AND ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer

City of ChicagoDepartment of Human Resources

Brandon Johnson, MayorSandra Blakemore, Commissioner

Please note, all positions with the City of Chicago close promptly at 11:59 pm C.S.T. Applications for this position will be accepted from February 14, 2024, until 11:59 pm C.S.T. on February 28, 2024. No exceptions will be made.