Chief Equity Officer (Director I)

The Position

About The Position

Job Appointment: Full Time, At Will

This position is exempt from Civil Service and is an "At Will" position. It serves at the discretion of the hiring authority, subject to City of Portland Human Resources Administrative Rules and Portland City Charter and Code.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm. Work hours will vary to meet business needs during crises or critical events.

Work Location: Employee will report to the Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, Or 97204 for in-person work. Please note, leadership positions may require more presence in the office. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information, click here .

This is a manager/supervisor position. Beginning April 2025 all manager and supervisor positions will be expected to report to their worksites full time. Alternate schedules may be available, but the typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, with occasional after-hours work required to support critical projects or address system issues. Remote workdays remain an option, to accommodate travel, or occasionally focus on major work projects.

Benefit s : Please check our benefit s tab for an overview of benefit s for this positi on.

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees .

Union Representation: This classification is not represented.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a cover letter, resume and an Equity and Anti-Racism Statement . Please refer to Step 1 in Recruitment Process for additional details for each materials requested.

Position Summary

The City of Portland transitioned to a new mayor-council form of government on January 1, 2025 . The inaugural Chief Equity Officer will play a pivotal role in aligning efforts, standards, and strategies across the evolving organizational structure. Key responsibilities include setting equity standards, overseeing accountability measures, supporting compliance, and building organizational capacity across bureaus. The Chief Equity Officer is an at-will position, reporting directly to the City Administrator.

This role will also serve as a n important leader to internal equity practitioners and others responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance and addressing disparities related to race, sexual orientation, language access, gender identity, and disability. The Chief Equity Officer will lead and directly manage the Office of Equity and Human Rights team and work focused on equity policy and practice, equity training and education, Civil Rights Title VI and Equity, language access, ADA Title II and Disability Equity, and LGBTQIA2S Equity .

The Chief Equity Officer will work at the executive level and citywide, developing relationships with equity practitioners, City Leadership, other Officers, Service Area and Bureau Leaders, and community stakeholders. The officer will help unify fragmented equity efforts, strengthening accountability to leadership, employees and community members. They will lead expansion of skills capacity (e.g., using equity tools, conducting impact analysis) and unifying policies and standards to help the City better integrate equity into decision-making at all stages of policy development and implementation.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative and capable leader highly skilled in fostering substantive partnerships internally and externally to drive progress toward citywide equity goals. The Chief Equity Officer will manage and support the Office of Equity and Human Rights, its staff, and its major work areas to facilitate implementation, training, and compliance efforts.

The Ideal Candidate Has Deep Experience Leading Multicultural, Diverse Teams And Is Committed To The City’s Core Values, Which Include Commitment To Advancing Equitable And Anti-racist Processes, Policies, And Outcomes. The City’s Over Arching Objectives For Equity Work In Our Organization Include

• Unify efforts and establish , manage, and lead collaboration in having clear equity standards for consistency across service areas and bureaus.
• Strengthen accountability and performance tracking to measure and report on equity outcomes with clarity and transparency.
• Build organizational capacity by providing training and tools to enhance ability to analyze and implement actions and decisions resulting in equitable outcomes.
• Address disparities related to race, language access, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability using an intersectional approach.
• Foster collaboration and partnerships between City leadership, Office of Equity and Human Rights, equity practitioners, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure regulatory and policy compliance by integrating equity considerations into operations, ensuring adherence to local, state, and federal laws and standards.
  
  

As the City of Portland’s Chief Equity Officer, you will:

• Lead and facilitate a unified approach to equity aligned with and incorporated as part of the City’s strategic planning effort, which will be conducted in collaboration with equity stakeholders. The approach will prioritize clarifying roles and responsibilities, forming and integrating shared definitions of equity, operationalizing an organizational approach, and implementing equity policies and standards of practices.
• Manage the Office of Equity and Human Rights, including supervisorial oversight of staff teams , budget, and major work groups.
• Provide expertise , recommendations, and leadership to support the pursuit of equity objectives citywide.
• Convene and build relationships with equity practitioners, city leadership, and other stakeholders working in the City to understand organizational dynamics and align efforts.
• Strengthen accountability by developing systems for monitoring progress, aligning metrics, and reporting on equity initiatives across bureaus.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with regional community and municipal leaders to share resources and support broader equity-related efforts, conducted in collaboration with executive leadership and those overseeing citywide practices.
• Promote and build organizational capacity by overseeing the provision of resources, training, and strategic support for equity practitioners and city staff.
• Support implementation of equity policies passed by Portland’s City Council or the City Administrator , including establishing clear procedures and guidelines.
• Provide support for citywide initiatives as requested by the City Administrator.
• Liaise with City’s public commissions and committees to develop and incorporate equity-focused goals, policies, and strategies.
• Provide strategic direction and support to bureaus and service areas in the development and implementation of equity plans and outcomes .
• Partner with specialists, operations teams, and programs citywide to design and implement procedures that ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Language Access, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Implement changes and corrections to address disparities through the lens of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, language access, and disability using an intersectional approach.
  
  

About The Office Of Equity And Human Rights

The Office of Equity and Human Rights sets equity policy for the City, while collaborating with and guiding staff to ensure all Portlanders have access to the City’s programs and services. Rooted in a framework based on city and state policies, and federally mandated laws such as Civil Rights Title VI and Am ericans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II, the bureau is mandated by council to hold the City accountable to equity.

To do this, the bureau provides leadership and develops policies, best practices, and procedures that dismantle systems of oppression and builds equitable foundations for systemically excluded and institutionally oppressed Portland communities. Individuals experience multiple forms of oppression and discrimination. Therefore, the office has an intersectional and data driven framework of race, disability, and LGBTQIA2S equity to drives this work. The office’s major work areas are major works groups: equity policy and practice, equity training and education, Civil Rights Title VI and Equity, language access, ADA Title II and Disability Equity, and LGBTQIA2S Equity.

Key Reporting Relationships

Reports to: City Administrator

Direct Reports ( Office of Equity and Human Rights ): 18 positions , includes equity managers and practitioners, data analysts, administrative and business operations staff.

Collaborates with: Citywide equity managers and practitioners, d eputy c ity a dministrators, c ity a dministrator, a ssistant c ity a dministrator, Mayor’s Office, b ureau d irectors, and e xecutive c itywide p ractices’ o fficers (Chief C ommunications Officer, Chief Engagement Officer, and Chief Sustainability Officer . )

Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity

Come meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter! We'll be talking about the position duties and responsibilities, day to day life in the role, review the announcement, discuss how to apply, and answer questions you may have about the position.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

2:00pm Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85928076168

Meeting ID: 859 2807 6168

Have a question?

Contact Information

Loan Tran Polanco, Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Loan.Tran@portlandoregon.gov

To Qualify

Qualifications

Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

• Experience leading and enacting structural and/or operational changes in systems with ability to navigate and implement changes in large, complex organizational environments.
• Knowledge of the foundational concepts and nuances of equity practices, including an understanding of best practices, policy development, and core functions.
• Experience and demonstrated effectiveness in operationalizing policies, practices, and initiatives at the system level or program level to achieve more equitable outcomes and results, understanding and incorporating the complexities of intersectionality.
• Knowledge of Local, State, and Federal regulations and policies, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Language Access, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and an understanding of policy issues related to language access, LGBTQIA2S communities, data equity, and other issues affecting marginalized communities.
• Experience as an equity practitioner, including having lived experience with inequitable practices or outcomes and/or experience working with or advocating for marginalized communities experiencing inequities.
• Ability to exercise collaborative leadership and contribute to sound decision-making, with experience working with cross-functional teams, jurisdictional partners, and community leaders to operationalize plans and achieve equitable outcomes in a high-pressure, fast- moving, political environment.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with large-scale and dynamic change management.
• Minimum 4 years’ experience in a supervisory position.
• Experience working in the public sector.
• Track record of developing and implementing innovative approaches to advance equity.
• Demonstrated success as a senior leader in a large, complex organization.
  
  

The Recruitment Process

STEP 1: Apply online between March 3 , 2 0 25 to March 31 , 20 25 .

Required Application Materials

• Cover letter :
• Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• R é sum é
• Equity and Anti-Racism Statement
• An equity and anti-racism statement outlin es your commitment and experience in successfully developing and delivering equitable , inclusive, and anti-racist approaches to executive management. Experiences may include, and are not limited to , the following:
• Lived experience as a member of an underrepresented group ;
• Experience living, working, and meaningfully engaging with individuals with a variety of identities;
• T rack record of instilling equity, inclusion, and anti-racist practices within operations ; or
• Other experiences that demonstrate you r commitment to equity, anti-racism, and inclusion, and how that will be manifest ed in this position.
• Answer to four ( 4 ) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
  
  

City Of Portland’s Equity Commitment

For applicants who meet the qualifications of this position, in accordance with the adoption of the Charles Jordan Standard and the City of Portland's commitment to equity, the highest qualified minority candidates, highest qualified candidates identifying as female, and highest qualified candidates who identify as a person with a disability will be included in the final interview process.

To identify candidates who should be considered under the Charles Jordan Standard, we are asking applicants who meet the qualifications for this position , if they are comfortable doing so, to also include information identifying their status as a minority, woman, and/or identification as an individual with a disability in the required equity and anti-racism statement.

Please see the City's Charles Jordan Standard Portland Resolution No. 37180 for more link: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/article/564587

Optional Application Materials

• If you wish to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your veteran documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) by the recruitment's closing date.
  
  

We have recently updated our veteran preference process. Starting March 3rd, 2025 If you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.

If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips

• Your cover letter should detail your qualifications for each item listed in the “To Qualify” section of this announcement. Be concise but thorough in describing your education, training, and/or experience, and where you obtained them. To ensure clarity, your cover letter can exceed one page to address each qualification fully.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.
• How We Determine Pay : The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act . Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
• Do not attach any additional documents not requested in the required materials listed above.
• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
  
  

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of March 31 , 20 25

• An evaluation of each applicant's training, paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter, r é sum é , and submission of the equity and anti-racism statement weighted 100%.
• Your cover letter, résumé and submission of the equity and anti-racism statement will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection .
  
  

Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of April 7 , 20 25

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.
  
  

Step 4: Selection (Interview): April/May 20 25

• Hiring manager will review and select candidates for an interview .
• Equity and Anti-Racism Statement will be utilized during this step in the process.
  
  

Step 5: Offer of Employment: June 20 25

Step 6: Start Date: July 2025

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
  
  

Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
  
  

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer