Officer, Civil Rights

City of Austin, TX

Purpose:
Under general direction, this position will enforce Federal, State, and Local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation, and will conduct complaint investigations. Educates and engages with Austin residents about their rights to help prevent and reduce discrimination.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
Directs and manages the Civil Rights function for the City of Austin, including developing and monitoring a clear vision for the office; promoting improvement and change; overseeing fiscal, legal, and regulatory requirements; monitoring and evaluating programs; and ensuring alignment with Office objectives.
Advances the City’s non-discrimination efforts by prioritizing and implementing initiatives with internal, business, and external community stakeholders throughout the City to strategically identify core priorities for programmatic development and process improvement; develops comprehensive metrics and performance measures to track, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness of initiatives; and recommends changes to improve outcomes.
Plans, creates, implements, and promotes outreach, education, and awareness events for both businesses and community stakeholders. Represents the City and the Office in public speaking engagements and at events.
Works with the City Manager’s Office, Law Department, Mayor and City Council, department heads, and external stakeholders to establish goals, policies, and best practices that address racial equity, social equity, and inclusion for City of Austin residents.
Develops and submits proposals for program funding to enhance fair housing and equal employment opportunity (EEO) services and awareness.
Conducts complaint investigations, and oversees recommendations of cause or no cause to City Attorney for prosecution or closure of cases alleging housing discrimination.
Interacts with multiple departments to ensure civil rights compliance.
Provides executive support to City Boards and Commissions.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
Knowledge of human rights issues.
Knowledge of Fair Housing laws and regulations
Knowledge of EEO laws and regulations
Knowledge in the management of compliance and inclusion-focused programs.
Knowledge and understanding of the concepts of equity including experience in applying equity frameworks to established laws, ordinances, and long-standing practices.
Knowledge of small business programs, public accommodation compliance, environmental justice, or limited English proficiency access.
Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local employment and housing laws related to Civil Rights, including knowledge of the legal system and court decisions.
Knowledge of comprehensive supervisory related to management and customer service/public relations practices and procedures.
Skill in comprehensive public speaking and public relations methods to persuade, negotiate, and mediate issues.
Skill in navigating political decision-making that may seem to favor one group over another.
Skill in interpreting technical information and data dealing with complex variables to identify, analyze, and solve practical management problems such as development of audit findings and corrective recommendations.
Skill in preparing data-driven reports or preparing or administering contracts for highly regulated government programs.
Ability to use an equity lens and framework to create inclusive, diverse, and safe workplaces and community programs.
Ability to manage diversity, understand inclusion, and work with diverse communities/populations to build constructive and effective relationships.
Ability to interpret oral, written, mathematical, legal, statistical, and regulatory information dealing with resilience programs, budgets, grants, regulations or policies, ordinances, and standards.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, City officials, attorneys, community/business leaders, and the public.

Minimum Qualifications:
Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in business administration, public administration, political science, or a field related to the job, plus five (5) years of direct work experience providing professional guidance on civil rights laws, investigative procedures, legal compliance, and contract administration, including three (3) years of experience which were in a managerial capacity.

Licenses and Certifications Required:
None.

How to Apply

Application Deadline
To apply, please visit www.austincityjobs.org by April 24, 2025.

Job Details

Salary
DOQ/E
Job Function
Chief Equity Officer
Position Type
Full Time

City of Austin

Address

505 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78704-1216
United States

Form of Government
Council-Manager

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