Job Summary:

The Department of Economic Security, Office of General Counsel and Governance is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Diversity and Inclusion Officer to support the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Office. This position provides strategic, operational, and organizational leadership that cultivates DES’ capacity for intercultural competence, nurturance of diverse populations, and retention of inclusive leadership. Will work to address institutional biases within DES and the systems of services, guides the identification of the underlying drivers within the community that perpetuate inequity, and promotes EDI with the goal of providing opportunity and advancement for all. Rooted in data/research, learning/best practice, and customer/community voice, this position champions the department’s programs and benefits through an equity lens so that all Arizonans are positioned to benefit from social and economic investments in the state, regardless of race, gender, sex, national origin, or place.

Job Duties:

● Supervises professional/support staff to perform the following responsibilities/functions.

● Partners with the DES Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) to ensure continuous learning regarding EDI in the organizational culture and practice and collaboratively with OEO, works closely with all programmatic and operational teams to ensure that organizational culture, practice, and leadership development programming are anchored in the DES EDI vision.

● Partners with internal and external leaders to ensure that long-term and near-term plans are fully reflective of and inspired by an equity lens. Strengthens relationships and collaborations with external partners and stakeholders to deliver training and support. Works with Human Resources to develop recruitment strategies that attract underrepresented candidates. Works with internal and external to develop knowledge

● Collaborates with experts to evaluate the Department’s EDI, and social and economic mobility practices and recommend relevant adaptation of activities and actions in accordance with that learning. Facilitates learning communities as needed and provides peer-to-peer executive coaching and technical assistance to leaders.

● Develops consistent communication and feedback mechanisms to ensure the Department is able to identify, discuss, and address EDI issues impacting community members, program participants and staff. Partners with the Office of Communications and Office of Community Engagement to communicate commitment, practices, accomplishments, and learnings regarding EDI.

● Reviews and recommends revisions to policies, procedures, and practices that support economic mobility for individuals and families served by DES. Ensures policy and practice changes are communicated to teams to inform policy and influence work, as well as technical assistance work.

● Identifies and consults with DES legal counsel regarding legislation and regulations related to equity, as appropriate and facilitates the dissemination of necessary information. Works with community partners and sister agencies to guide the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, practices, budget allocations, and programs to begin addressing their impacts on equity.

● Works with programs to gather, research, analyze, and present data to improve the representativeness of individuals and families served. In partnership with the programs, redirects engagement efforts toward underrepresented populations.

● Collaborates with programmatic and operational teams to develop outcomes, metrics, and goals that ensure accountability towards equitable delivery of services, to include monitoring Key Performance Indicators for objectives that support economic mobility.

● Provides support to and for statewide Diversity Councils and Multicultural event programming. Serves as liaison with state and federal partners to advance social and economic mobility through systems alignment and innovation. Supports DES; efforts in identifying and cultivating relationships with philanthropic partners to advance family economic mobility field supports.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

● Knowledge of 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1991 Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity, and other applicable laws.

● Knowledge of content of diversity, equity, and inclusion research base and best practices for organizations striving to become more inclusive, diverse, and equitable

● Knowledge of training, conflict resolution and mediation methods

● Knowledge of organizational assessment to measure institutional climate

● Skills in communication, both written and verbal

● Skills in developing and presenting content to peer networks and diverse populations, including traditional and non-traditional underserved populations

● Skills in effective listening and diplomacy; interpersonal relationships; influencing and challenging peers to approach work with an equity lens

● Skill in facilitating diverse teams at varying levels of leadership and oversight and spanning the programs and operations; leadership and management skills

● Ability to engage with diverse staff and leadership to promote trust, collaboration, and partnership between departments/divisions and levels of leadership

● Ability to lead diverse teams and facilitate various perspectives and cross collaborative conversations; finding strengths in diversity to advance collective agendas

● Ability to develop and manage productive relationships with internal and external individuals and agencies

● Ability to provide training and support to other staff

● Ability to analyze data through an equity lens to make policy recommendations and inform common understanding of inequities and shared vision of change

● Ability to develop processes/practices and /or tools that are culturally appropriate and quickly establish credibility and demonstrate how previous work has taken hold; proven track record of success engaging underrepresented populations/communities

● Ability to develop and monitor indicators of organizational culture and engage employees and senior leadership to create organizational change

● Manage multiple projects and move quickly from one to another

Selective Preference(s):

● Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the areas of government, community, or educational programs related to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Experience working in a public agency serving a large population preferred. Three (3) years of supervisory experience. Multilingual preferred.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

● Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public Administration, Ethnic studies, Education, Sociology, Human Resources, Communication, Social Work, Business, Psychology, or a related field. Master’s degree and/or relevant program certifications preferred.

● Successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify), applicable to all newly hired State employees.

● Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

● The position will require the possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12). Individuals may be required to use their personal motor vehicle.

Benefits:

We offer a competitive benefits package that is unmatched by the private sector and a culture that encourages team success and advocates for personal advancement.

● Affordable Health, Dental, Vision and Life and Disability Insurance

●10 holidays per year

●Paid Vacation and Sick time off - start earning it your 1st day

● Eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)

● Contribute to, and participate in the Arizona State Retirement System

● Ride Share and Public Transit Subsidy

● Career Advancement Opportunities

● Tuition reimbursement

● Opportunity to work remotely (home office) on an ad-hoc basis

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

Contact Us:

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 602-542-6544. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.