Race and Social Justice Lead

Position Description

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) leads the City’s efforts to uphold civil rights and advance racial equity. We’re looking for a strategic, equity-driven leader to join us as the Race and Social Justice Lead—an expert advisor who guides the Race and Social Justice (RSJ) Division in eliminating institutional racism within City government. This role is ideal for a systems thinker and coalition-builder who thrives in complexity, mentors others, and drives human-centered equity solutions with clarity and purpose.

SOCR envisions a city of thriving and powerful communities that foster shared healing and belonging! We work to advance civil rights and remove barriers to equity by enforcing illegal discrimination laws in Employment, Housing, Public Places, Fair Contracting, Title VI, and ADA Title II in the City of Seattle. We also provide civil rights training and education, propose legislation and policies, oversee the City’s Race & Social Justice work, and support four commissions. Our values are Compassion, Responsibility, Integrity, Imagination, and Belonging.

In 2023, Seattle Enacted Legislation ( CB 120525 ) Codifying The Race And Social Justice Initiative Into Law And Directs SOCR To

• Develop analytical tools to identify equity impacts of City policies, practices, and decision-making.
• Develop city-wide guidelines for community outreach, communication, and engagement to increase community opportunities to shape City policies and services.
• Find opportunities to improve fairness and opportunity in City practices.
• Provide a forum to promote collaboration citywide on racial equity and social justice foundational practices and frameworks.
• Support city departments in identifying equity-related service gaps, setting measurable racial equity and social justice goals, creating departmental action plans to achieve them, and developing accountability systems.
• Guide equitable funding analysis and practices in departmental annual budgets.
• Support departments in developing an integrated external focus that helps departments reach their racial and social justice goals.
  
  

Job Responsibilities

Here is more about what you will be doing:

• Support the implementation of the RSJ Strategic Plan, which may include leading training, communication, policies, partnerships, and coordination of interdepartmental efforts in key equity areas.
• Provide counsel, mentorship, and support to the RSJ Division staff to develop and support an anti-racist organizational culture and the application of racial equity analyses to RSJ’s bodies of work.
• Be responsible for the RSJ training program through oversight of curriculum development and training delivery to city employees.
• Act as a "player-coach" leader—balancing hands-on project execution with strategic guidance across the RSJ Division.
• Lead revitalization of the cohort-based training model, updating curriculum to reflect current practices in human-centered design and systems thinking.
• Convene and collaborate across departments to reduce silos and align equity strategies.
• Provide guidance and operational assistance to city departments in developing strategies to achieve measurable racial equity and social justice goals.
• Support and manage accountability systems and tools to ensure the delivery and implementation of departmental Racial Equity Plans.
  
  

Qualifications

The RSJ Lead will have experience that reflects a commitment to organizing systems and structures to increase agency for prevented and persecuted communities. They have knowledge of and work experience with underserved communities and socio-economic diversity. This knowledge and experience should be complemented by proven ability in a combination of the following areas:

• Oversee race and social justice program implementation.
• Encourage and lead teams using data-informed and human-centered strategies.
• Engage partners to encourage collaboration, partnership, and respect.
• Support and encourage an anti-racist organizational culture.
• Assist and mentor those engaged in equity and social justice work.
• Analyze with a racial equity and social justice lens.
• Authentically listen. Be humble and curious. Demonstrate emotional intelligence and self-awareness in your own RSJ journey.
• Communicate at all levels thoughtfully and effectively.
• Leverage an agile, flexible, resourceful, and innovative mentality.
• Lead and mentor with transparency and approachability.
• Design and deliver cohort-based training programs and curriculum.
• Coach teams in design thinking and human-centered practices is a plus.
• Experience working within or adjacent to government or large public systems is beneficial
• Comfortable navigating complexity and working with limited structure in a growing team.
  
  

Additional Information

This full-time benefitted position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 2, Exempt in the City payroll system. It is exempt from the Civil Service System and FLSA (not eligible for overtime payment). The full salary range for this classification is $54.60 - $81.93 per hour. The salary for this individual role has been identified as $149,668 annually ($71.68 hourly).

Work Environment: This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and management.

Benefits: The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

Why work at the City of Seattle?

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Application Process

Here are some tips on applying and interviewing with us!

In addition to completing the application fully by the posted deadline at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle , please attach the following:

• A cover letter discussing why you want to support the work of the RSJ and the team and your qualifications for the position
• A PDF of your current resume that summarizes the talent, experience, knowledge and skills you would bring to this leadership role.
  
  

Who may apply: This position is open to all individuals whose experience, skills and abilities are aligned with the qualifications as presented above. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Hiring Timeline: We anticipate conducting first—and second-round interviews and an assessment in mid-June 2025. We aim to fill this position with a preferred start date in July 2025.

Accommodations and Hiring Questions: Individuals with disabilities will be provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please get in touch with Nicolette.Hornbeck@seattle.gov with any questions or to request accommodations.