Racial, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Manager
Company: Tranquil Multi Dynamic Advisory
Location: San Jose
Posted on: March 18, 2023
Job Description:
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 -
Learn more about our client through this recent video -
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
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
- The selection process may include one or more of the following:
application review, application assessment, performance exercise,
written exercise and/or interview.
- The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions
and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal
candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly
recommended.
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:
- Have a contraindication recognized by the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or by the vaccine's
manufacturer to every approved COVID-19 vaccine. A contraindication
means a condition that makes vaccination inadvisable;
- Have a disability and are requesting an exception as a
reasonable accommodation based upon this disability; or,
- Object to COVID-19 vaccination based on their sincerely held
religious belief, practice, or observance.
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.PI203202811
Keywords: Tranquil Multi Dynamic Advisory, San Jose , Racial, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Manager, Executive , San Jose, California
Didn't find what you're looking for? Search again!
Loading more jobs...