City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Human Rights Officer

Under general direction, this position leads the development and implementation of initiatives for the Human Rights Division within the Office of Equity and Inclusion. In collaboration with the other divisions within the Office and with other City of Austin departments, this role is focused on building and strengthening community relations, providing training, and executing projects that advance Human Rights efforts.

1. Provides leadership to complex operations and City-wide assistance to departments in identifying and addressing current policies, practices, and programs that impact human rights to ensure equitable community engagement practices; develops outcomes, metrics, and goals to ensure accountability in the equitable delivery of City services.
2. Is responsible for implementing ordinances adopted by Austin City Council in support of human rights to include immigrants, refugees, and veterans. Works with the community by ensuring support for Veterans, persons with disabilities, immigrants, and refugees.
3. Manages and facilitates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II Complaint or Grievance Process and collaborates with departments, community, and residents to ensure compliance; oversees and manages support for veterans’ concerns. Collects, analyzes, and presents data measuring the City's progress in incorporating ADA compliance throughout the organization.
4. Oversees division budget. Establishes priorities for service delivery through procedures and strategies to accomplish timely and effective use of available services; reviews monthly management reports to provide budgetary recommendations, inform strategic decisions, and address significant variances to resolve budget issues.
5. Directs staff within the division, including hiring, training, performance evaluations, and other personnel actions to ensure productivity and maintain quality standards.
6. Advances human rights efforts by prioritizing and implementing initiatives in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders across the City, identifying core priorities for program development and process improvement. Develops outcomes, metrics, and goals that establish accountability towards equitable and inclusive delivery of City services.
7. Oversees other human rights-related ordinances as provided by law in collaboration with the Law Department; supports departmental efforts to ensure compliance with federal language access regulations. Assists in developing municipal responses to human rights related efforts using a human-centered approach. Prepares policy position papers for review.
8. Represents the City as assigned at local, state, and national organizations and professional activities to maintain the City as a leader in human rights. Supports City Boards and Commissions.

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

• Knowledge of Human Rights issues and concerns.
• Knowledge of equity and inclusion concepts and applying equity frameworks to established laws, ordinances, and long-standing practices.
• Knowledge of public policy development and analysis.
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
• Knowledge of City's non-discrimination policies and related State and Federal laws.
• Knowledge of ADA and relevant Federal, State and Local laws.
• Skill in oral and written communications and preparing reports and documents in a logical and grammatically correct manner.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in data collection and analysis.
• Skill in preparing and analyzing budgets, reports, and studies.
• Ability to apply concepts, trends, and current issues related to human rights issues.
• Ability to strategically apply analytic and problem-solving skills to develop sound decisions, conclusions, and recommendations while navigating sensitive political environments.
• Ability to manage diversity, understand inclusion, and work with diverse communities to advance equity.
• Ability to maintain effective communication and working relationships with City officials, business leaders, financial institutions, developers, residents, and City departments and employees.
• Ability to plan and lead projects that require interfaces with multiple stakeholders and differing levels of management and the application of data equity principles and framework to create inclusive, diverse, and community programs.

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public or Business Administration, Public Policy, Education, Human Rights, or other related field, plus seven (7) years of experience in areas of government, community, or educational programs related to equity and human rights, including four (4) years of experience which were in a managerial capacity.
• Graduation with a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for non-managerial experience up to a maximum of two (2) years.
• Experience may substitute for education up to the maximum of four (4) years.