Working Title: Director of Equity and Inclusion

Job Class: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant Senior

Agency: Human Services Dept

• Job ID : 80355

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 09/20/2024

• Closing Date : 10/10/2024

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Human Services Dept / MAPE DHS Central Office

• Division/Unit : DHS-Central Office / BHDH Administration

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift / 8:00am to 4:30pm

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes, (5-10% for occasional in-state travel)

• Salary Range: $39.34 - $58.47 / hourly; $82,141 - $122,085 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Administrative

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The Department of Human Services is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DHS does not participate in E-Verify.

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

*Telework (Within Minnesota or Neighboring States) and Flexible Hours Options Are Available.

The purpose of this position is to provide leadership, direction, and subject-matter expertise to leaders and staff in the Behavioral Health Administration and Homelessness, Housing, and Support Services Administration. The position supports each administration to promote access and more equitable outcomes for Minnesotans who receive publicly funded services through strategic planning, equity analysis, and stakeholder and employee engagement. To achieve this, the person in this position must work with each administration to:

• Engage in and champion strategic planning around equity to develop and implement promising and achievable goals and strategies.

• Lead efforts to understand gaps in social and physical determinants of health between the communities experiencing health disparities and the population receiving services.

• Work closely with leadership, the Equity Committees, legislative staff, and internal and external stakeholders to promote changes in public policy to improve outcomes for cultural and ethnic communities, American Indians, people with disabilities, and other populations experiencing health disparities.

• Partner with leadership, division directors, and legislative directors to develop, recommend, and champion policy changes and budget requests with engagement of stakeholders and agency colleagues.

• Evaluate the success of the equity agenda and share results with internal and external stakeholders; and

• Use performance data to inform future initiatives to further each administration's equity agenda.

This position is responsible for each administration's internal equity agenda, leading staff, and directors at all levels to assess equity and inclusion awareness/capacity, identify activities to build equity and inclusion, and implement activities at all levels of each administration by:

• Serving as a member of the leadership for each administration, working with senior administration leaders to oversee compliance with the DHS Equity Policy, ensuring that equity and inclusion are considered in administration policies and processes to reduce population health inequities.

• Supporting each administration's Equity Committee, the group charged with advising each administration's leaders on equity and inclusion issues.*

• Supporting and advising the equity-related work of the "equity champions," staff members from each administration who promote equity within their work areas as a portion of their professional duties.

• Working closely and coordinating with the Equity Directors in other administrations, the Community Relations Division, Human Resources, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and the Office of Economic Opportunity.

* This position description reflects the mission of each administration's Equity Committee, which is described in their Charter as "to advise each administration and champion equity work throughout each Administration. Their work will lessen the potential for harm, reduce inequities, and ensure equitable, respectful, quality services for communities that include, but are not limited to, communities of color, American Indians, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ people, and people with disabilities. It will also help build an equitable culture within each Administration so that all staff are treated fairly and with respect.”

Minimum Qualifications

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

Four (4) years specialized expert experience building and/or leading a medium to large organization in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion related programs.

Experience must demonstrate:

• Championing equity, inclusion, and anti-racism by evaluating policies, procedures, and ideas to interrupt systemic racism and provide recommendations for improvement.

• Knowledge of and experience with contemporary diversity, equity, inclusion and multiculturalism theories and issues.

• Strategic planning, change management and project management.

• Working with ethnically and culturally diverse communities, American Indian communities, people with disabilities, and other communities that experience health inequities.

• Influencing/directing goals, objectives, or policy and/or influencing decision makers/policymakers.

• Experience supporting and advising teams; coordinate training and staff development; meeting facilitation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of programs and policies related to housing, homelessness, and/or behavioral health.

• Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

• Strong human relations and communication skills; communicate clearly and professionally both verbally and in writing; respond openly to requests and concerns.

• Understanding for the role and operation of state government in building the health and human services infrastructure.

• Facilitator of groups to solicit information, feedback, and areas of development.

• Must have a strong grasp of overall DHS goals and the DHS Equity Policy and be able to translate those into everyday decisions and actions.

• Bachelors’ degree or higher in Public Policy, Human Services, Public Administration, Business Administration, or similar field.

Additional Requirements

• Applicants should ensure all their diversity, equity, and inclusion work experiences are included on their resume at time of application.

• The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) will conduct criminal background checks on all finalists for this position. Finalists must pass the DHS background check.

• Employee reference checks will be conducted on all finalists. This may include a review of documentation related to job performance. It also includes contact with the applicant's former employer(s).

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.