Equity and Social Justice Director
- Summary
Are you a skilled leader in the equity and social justice arena, with a track record of developing policy for and outreach to communities that have been historically underrepresented in government?
The Metropolitan King County Council is seeking a thoughtful and visionary Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Director to help lead the Council’s engagement with diverse communities externally, and to implement equity and social justice principles internally within the County’s Legislative Branch.
Reporting to the Council’s Chief of Staff, this position is responsive to all nine Councilmembers and:- will build relationships with community partners
- advise the Council and staff on ESJ best practices
- develop an ESJ program that gives a strong voice to diverse perspectives and ideas
A complete job description can be downloaded by visiting this link: Equity and Social Justice Director.
ABOUT THE METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL
The only jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is the 13th largest county in the United States with more than 2.25 million residents. As the legislative branch of county government, the Council sets policies, enacts laws, and adopts budgets that impact an array of services, including the criminal justice system, public health and human services, parks and open space, and transportation. For more information about the Council, visit https://kingcounty.gov/council.
- Job Duties
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.
As the ESJ Director, you will:- Act as a key contact and facilitator between the Council and diverse communities, with particular focus on residents who have historically lacked a strong voice and influence in local government (e.g., communities of color, limited-English speaking populations, low-income and vulnerable residents).
- Supervise full-time and volunteer ESJ staff; coach and motivate staff to work to their full potential and capabilities.
- Lead the development of inclusive government practices, programs, and policies to address inequities and solicit community input throughout the policy development process.
- Advocate for the Council’s ESJ goals; improve inter-branch coordination on ESJ issues.
- Provide leadership and support for internal legislative branch ESJ efforts.
- Prepare correspondence, reports, legislation or other analytical work as directed; work closely with the Council’s central staff on legislation as necessary.
- Attend relevant community meetings on behalf of the Council, and lead outreach and networking efforts to ensure participation from a wide array of diverse community partners and organizations.
- Serve as a resource for all Council members and legislative branch staff on ESJ and community engagement practices.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
We are looking for candidates who have a minimum of three years’ successful work experience in equity and social justice, preferably working directly with elected officials or public agencies. A bachelor’s degree or any relevant experience including lived, volunteer, professional OR a combination of experience and education that demonstrate the ability to perform the work will be considered. We encourage you to translate your “lived experience” in the following areas:
- Demonstrated experience and expertise leading diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in government, business, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.
- Proven ability to work effectively and respectfully with politically, ideologically, culturally and geographically diverse people and communities.
- Expert communicator, interpersonally and in writing; able to prepare and present professional and persuasive materials on a variety of complex and sensitive public policy matters.
- Experience managing conflicting priorities and seeking out a variety of perspectives.
- Ability to thrive under pressure and a willingness to translate mistakes into lessons learned, anticipate future needs, and adjust as necessary.
- Supplemental Information
This position is open to all qualified applicants.
Work Schedule
This is a salaried, at-will, overtime-exempt position. The standard workweek for Legislative Branch employees is 35 hours. May occasionally require non-traditional work hours and travel throughout the King County area. The Council supports flexing work time to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Teleworking
King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly in a hybrid work environment, working in the office and at home. Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance of their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to a hybrid environment.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
King County employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
Equal Opportunity Employer
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
TO APPLY
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. Applications will be screened for completeness, writing accuracy, and competitiveness. To apply for this position you must submit:
- A completed job application
- A cover letter detailing your background and describing how you meet or exceed the requirements (no more than 2 pages).
- A resume
- Response to supplemental questions
Please contact Deandra Stanley, HR Manager at deandra.stanley@kingcounty.gov if you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or if you would like to have a confidential discussion about this opportunity.
To see all of King County's benefits, please visit our website at http://kingcounty.gov/jobs/benefits.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01We appreciate your interest in this very important role. Please confirm that you are aware of the requirement to attach a resume and cover letter with details that explain your qualifications as related to this position.
- Yes, I understand the requirement and have attached a resume and cover letter.
- Not Applicable
02How much experience do you have in developing and leading community engagement initiatives to advance equity and social justice?- None
- Less than one year
- One year – less than two years
- Two years – less than three years
- Three years or more
03How much experience do you have in developing community partnerships with a particular focus on residents who have historically lacked a strong voice and influence in local government, including communities of color, limited-English speaking populations, and low-income residents?- None
- Less than one year
- One year – less than two years
- Two years – less than three years
- Three years or more
04How much experience do you have as a supervisor evaluating staff work performance and developing performance plans?- None
- Less than one year
- One year – less than two years
- Two years – less than three years
- Three years or more
05How much experience do you have working directly with elected officials in local or regional government to develop practices, programs, and policies that address inequities?- None
- Less than one year
- One year – less than two years
- Two years – less than three years
- Three years or more
Required Question