City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Director, Civil Rights

Under general direction, this position will enforce Federal, State, and Local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation and conduct investigations of complaints; and educate and engage with Austin residents about their rights to help prevent and reduce discrimination.

1. Directs and manages the Civil Rights function for the City of Austin, including developing and monitoring a clear vision for the office and promoting improvement and change, and conducting complaint investigations.
2. Advances the City’s non-discrimination efforts by prioritizing and implementing initiatives with internal and business and community external stakeholders throughout the City to strategically identify core priorities for programmatic development and process improvement.
3. 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.
4. Works with the City Manager’s Office, Law Department, the 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.
5. Provides executive support to City Boards and Commissions, including the Human Rights Commission and the Commission on Veterans Affairs.
6. Develops comprehensive metrics and performance measures to track, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness of initiatives; and recommends changes to improve outcomes.

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

• Knowledge of human rights issues.
• Knowledge in the management of diversity, equity, or inclusion 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 assess current programs and practices for equitable outcomes
• 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.

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 seven (7) 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.