Racial, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Manager

Overview:

Our client - Santa Clara Valley Water District - is looking for an experienced manager to lead its Office of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) unit to drive strategic development and implementation of REDI programs, policies, and measurements to achieve REDI at an interpersonal level, organizational level, and community engagement level. The REDI Manager works under the general direction of the Division’s Assistant Officer and Chief of External Affairs. This individual manages a staff of three, provides oversight to the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and oversees an annual budget of approximately $1.5M.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite. Interested applicants may apply via the client site directly - REDI Manager

The REDI Manager will:

• Provide leadership to advance the agency’s racial equity, diversity, and inclusion Strategic Master Plan goals.
• Implement the agency’s 5-year DEI Strategic Master Plan and Equity Action Plans by recommending, developing, and implementing strategies and initiatives to drive organizational change to provide racially just and equitable service delivery.
• Oversee the development, design, coordination, and implementation of programs, policies, and best practices aimed at identifying and addressing systemic disparities and inequities within the organization and supporting business units in the implementation of strategic master plan goals and equity action plans in providing recommendations, insights, and advice.

The Ideal Candidate is:

• Passionate about racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in instituting change.
• A visionary who has a demonstrated track record of hands-on leadership, proven accomplishments, and superior performance.
• Process-oriented with an unwavering work ethic.
• Pragmatic and solutions-oriented in moving the needle forward on critical initiatives.
• Motivating and has an energetic leadership style, impeccable judgment, and excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategic Development

• Guides, develops, and leads the strategic work for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the organization.
• Recommends and executes solutions-orientated strategies and tactics to achieve measurable outcomes in advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Develops, manages, implements, and evaluates a comprehensive unit workplan to achieve goals and performance measures consistent with established strategies and Valley Water’s mission and goals for REDI programs.
• Supports local, state, and federal initiatives advancing social justice, eliminating racism, and in alignment with Valley Water and REDI strategies, goals, and objectives.
• Researches, develops, and writes REDI policy, guidance or resolutions including related procedures, protocols, etc.
• Develops, writes, edits, and produces unit reports, memos, presentations, talking points, and other materials for board, management, and the community
• Coordinates, writes, edits, and reports out on regular progress to executive management, Board committees and Board meetings.
• Operational Management
• Manages the daily office operations and strategic development and implementation of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) programs, policies, and measurements to achieve REDI at an interpersonal level, organizational level, and community engagement level, in accordance with Valley Water’s Resolution(s), management direction, and Board End-Polices.
• Manages consultants and staff in leading and developing the Strategic Master Plan efforts agency-wide, related equity action plans for each division area and implements recommended strategies, tactics, or policy changes.
• Provides staff leadership, oversight, guidance, and daily operational management of the REDI unit; develops and implements goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs; manages budgets and forecasts resource needs.
• Actively leads, staffs, and participates on assigned Board committees such as, but not limited to, the Diversity and Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee, makes presentations, and manages board/committee recommendations and provides updates to the Board of Directors and management.
• Manages other highly complex administrative functions such as responding to board or committee requests, preparing budget forecasts, managing budgets, staff management and supervision, including recruitment, hiring, performance coaching, and evaluations.

Internal Collaboration

• Works collaboratively and engages with the Board, executive and management teams, employee resource groups, and staff across the organization and business area teams to ensure racial equity, diversity, and inclusion are fully integrated in Valley Water’s policies, processes, and practices; develops Racial Equity Action Plans in alignment with organizational goals and REDI goals and objectives to address unique issues and needs of each business area.
• Collaborates with all units within Valley Water to establish collaborative relationships and promote community engagement with diverse communities served; actively engages with community groups and residents on issues of environmental justice.
• Champions and leads racial equity, diversity, and inclusion by providing leadership, guidance, and technical support to Valley Water management and staff to establish and implement educational and training efforts focused on topics such as understanding racism, how it affects individuals, how to address and dismantle racism, and how to mitigate workplace unconscious biases.
• Evaluates and assesses various internal programs related to public outreach, recruitment, workforce development, procurement and contracting, construction management, grants management, and other related functions to ensure integration of recommended REDI outcome measurements.
• Engages with the Board, Executive Leadership, management teams, and staff across the organization to lead organizational and cultural change efforts to advance racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and acceptance.

External Partnerships

• Builds coalitions with community/diversity groups, partners, and builds alliances with local organizations known for advancing social/ environmental justice and anti-racism strategies and builds and participates in coalitions with other water agencies and local government agencies.

This position may require occasional onsite or after-hours work in the evening and/or on the weekends. The REDI Manager may also be called upon to serve in Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as part of the public information office branch, and/or as a Disaster Service Worker during emergency activations, as needed.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:
Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

• Five (5) or more years of program management experience managing/administrating agency-wide advancement of racial equity, environmental justice and/or social justice initiatives.
• Two (2) or more years of supervisory experience required (direct report management is a must-have)
• Public sector and non-profit experienced program and policy managers are encouraged to apply.
• Experience working with disadvantaged communities (DACs), local tribal groups, people of color (POC), and/or other underserved communities in promoting equity and advancing environmental justice efforts.
• Track record of building effective partnerships, influencing internal and external stakeholders, and driving and institutionalizing change.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Systemic racism, societal trends and influences, racial equity, social and environmental justice, equal employment opportunity, and effective institutional and behavioral change management principles and practices.
• Organizational development theories, practices, and capacity building tools to promote and advance REDI programs and initiatives at an institutional level.
• Environmental, social, economic, political, cultural, tribal, and other considerations impacting REDI program development and implementation.
• Principles and methods for REDI curriculum and training design and instruction for individuals and groups, and for evaluating training effectiveness.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to REDI programs, EEO, tribes and environmental justice efforts and activities.
• Techniques for effectively representing Valley Water with governmental agencies, community groups, local tribes, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Methods and techniques of research, data collection, statistical analysis, report preparation, and presentation.
• Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, tribal relations, and environmental justice federal, state, and local policies
• Computer software applications, such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, cloud applications and other specialized software and databases.

Ideal Skills:

• Strong leadership, program management, time management, and collaboration skills.
• Proven track record of building and operationalizing strategic programs and partnerships.
• Provide administrative, management, and professional leadership and expertise related to REDI programs and strategies.
• Build organizational capacity for and collaborate and influence organizational and behavioral change by working with all levels in the organization.
• Effectively represent REDI programs and Valley Water and work with stakeholders, community organizations, and other external groups and individuals to find common ground and build consensus.
• Actively listen and effectively communicate with people across different cultures with empathy, understanding, and sensitivity.
• Understand, explain, and integrate REDI strategies with implementation of work plans and Valley Water policies, procedures, and practices.
• Exercise interpersonal sensitivity and group interaction skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Understand and incorporate the Valley Water's core values, ethical standards, and commitment to REDI strategies into all interactions with individuals, organizations, and communities.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar, syntax, and cultural competence. Advanced writing and editing skills are critical.
• Demonstrate understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse socio-economic, racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, diverse abilities, and sexual orientation of Valley Water staff and the communities served.
• Self-starter, critical thinker, impeccable judgement, solutions-oriented, and hands-on team player and team leader.

Ideal Abilities:

• Ability to take general outcome-based direction and develop solid actionable steps to achieve measurable results.
• Ability to negotiate sensitive issues, analyze conflicts, and facilitate effective resolutions.
• Ability to execute workplan goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and performance measures related to REDI efforts.
• Ability to conduct research, analyze complex issues, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective staff reports.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing timelines in a fast-changing environment and easily pivot when needed.
• Ideal Training and Education:
• Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, ethnic studies, ethics justice and policy, public health or health science, mass communications, political science or international relations, psychology, organization development, sociology, behavioral sciences, social services, or a related field.

Required License or Certificate
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license. Individuals who do not meet the driver's license requirement due to a disability will be considered for a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

To review the Classification Specification, please click here (Download PDF reader)

Office of Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit (Position Code 1022)

COVID-19 vaccination requirement:
*To protect our most valuable assets, our employees, as well as the communities we serve, Valley Water requires all newly hired Valley Water personnel to be fully vaccinated (for COVID -19) or to be formally excused from the requirement through the **reasonable accommodation process (for details, see bottom of job posting)

Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

Selection Process NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.
Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.

Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement:

• Fully vaccinated means (1) it has been at least two weeks since a person has completed the entire recommended series of a COVID-19 vaccine, and (2) the person has provided proof of vaccination in a form consistent with the requirements for verification of vaccine status in the State of California’s July 26, 2021, Public Health Officer Order.

**Limited Exemptions to Vaccination Requirement

An individual who has been provided a job offer may request a reasonable accommodation to the vaccination requirement if they: Valley Water's Equal Opportunity Non-Discrimination Policy is available for review upon request.

Valley Water will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources in advance of any special needs by calling 408-630-2260.

Please be aware that once submitted all application materials become the property of Valley Water and will not be returned. Human Resources staff are not authorized to make copies of application materials for applicants.

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