Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today and tomorrow. We offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits program. Learn more about the benefits Metro offers.

Metro’s Planning, Development and Research Department recruiting a full-time Equity Program Manager to join the team of equity-focused professionals in department’s Office of the Director.

Are you…

• A passionate professional committed to advancing racial equity and social justice?
• An experienced project manager and systems thinker who thrives when working collaboratively and leading complex projects across multiple work groups?
• A values-based leader who leverages the power of learning as a vehicle for system change?

We collaborate with partners to shape a vibrant, equitable region where all people can thrive. Through planning, policies and community investments we help focus growth in ways and places that support this vision.

The Planning, Development & Research department includes programs and projects in a wide range of areas: transportation, land use, equitable development, climate policy, and sustainability. We do our work with an anti-racist lens, recognizing that past planning practices, while benefitting some, left many others out. The Equity Program Manager will collaborate with managers across the department to create and lead plans and initiatives that build our understanding and capacity to advance racial equity across the Metro region.

About the Position:
The Equity Program Manager oversees and develops current and future Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Work Plans for internal and external facing bodies of work. By delivering technical assistance, contracted services, and equity literacy resources to staff and project teams, this position will support the department’s collective responsibility for advancing racial equity across its services and its workforce. With support from the Department Director and management team, the Equity Program Manager will also help draft procedures and departmental policies needed to address structural and systemic barriers present for both Metro workers and regional residents more broadly.

It is not the sole responsibility of the Equity Program Manager to advance racial equity, but the collective responsibility of all staff across the department and agency. This position will work collaboratively with the management team and staff to design and implement equity plans and initiatives.

Finally, by using Metro’s results-based accountability framework and functioning as the departmental liaison to the agency wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department, this position will be responsible for reporting on all current and future department workplan progress.

As the Equity Program Manager, you will:

• Lead and oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of department’s DEI Work Plan.
• Track and progress in achieving equity goals outlined in programmatic work plans.
• Collaborate with staff to develop and implement community engagement strategies.
• Provide support and technical assistance to partners in implementing and achieving equity goals outlined in Metro program work plans.
• Provide annual work plan progress reports to track success and inform future priorities.
• Function as liaison to Metro’s agency wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department to align department practices with agency-wide strategies and standards.
• Oversee ongoing assessment of equity literacy across the department utilizing assessment results to inform ongoing priorities for staff training resources.
• Provide support and technical assistance to department project teams when applying Metro’s Racial Equity Framework.
• Collaborate with staff to ensure that best practices and standards for advancing racial equity are included in ongoing service delivery.
• Procure and manage equity-focused, culturally responsive contractors for staff training and other supportive services.
• Lead, advise and support efforts to advance equity in recruitment and hiring practices.
• Advise departmental leadership on opportunities to improve internal workplace policies and procedures.
• Draft internal and external policies, procedures, contracts, reports and presentations.
• Other duties as assigned that support team members with work plan deliverables and department priorities for advancing equity.

Core attributes for success:

• Strong commitment and experience with advancing racial equity outcomes.
• Human-centered strategic leader committed to dismantling systems of oppression.
• Ability to support learning and cultivate equity leadership among peers.
• Ability to engage and inspire a diverse range of employees and support brave learning spaces.
• Values-based leader who can articulate the principles that guide their practice.
• Lifelong learner committed to the journey just as much as the destination.
• Empathic listener who cultivates a restorative and inclusive workplace.
• Ability to engage workers across the department and build trust.
• Experience with equitable partnership development.
• Ability to support external partner and/or committee engagement.

Leadership and Program Management:

• Experienced project or program manager who understands how to effectively pace multiple projects with overlapping deadlines.
• Ability to take highly complex issues and formulate a long-term strategy that supports incremental systems change.
• Ability to track, implement, evaluate, and report on program success.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to develop realistic timelines when working across teams.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to build teams and gain trust working in a dynamic and demanding environment.
• Lead people, projects, and resources to achieve objectives and goals.
• Awareness and ability to communicate effectively to senior leadership and elected officials about politically sensitive projects and issues.
• Cultivate and maintain positive and effective working relationships with staff, jurisdictional partners, community members and community partner organizations.
• Analyze and evaluate operations, develop, and implement corrective actions.

Diversity and inclusion: At Metro, we’re committed to hiring a workforce representative of the communities we serve, recognizing that a diverse workforce strengthens our organization. We invest in employees by supporting equitable and inclusive hiring practices, employee policies and training programs.

TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications:

• Four years of experience in a similar position AND
• Bachelor’s Degree in applicable area of study; OR
• Any combination of education and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

This is a flexible/hybrid position. While work from home is acceptable for part of the week, as a critical team leader the Equity Program Manager will be expected to be in the office part time according to department requirements, and travel to Metro work sites, conferences, and other locations to provide support to site based Metro employees, conduct meetings, or collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply:
If I was terminated for cause during any of my employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, I understand I may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications:
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify.However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Understanding and experience communicating the principles of environmental justice and/or critical race theory.
• Experience facilitating workshops and/or providing technical assistance that advance equity literacy or equity outcomes.
• At least two years of experience leading implementation of an equity work plan or equity literacy project OR at least two years of professional or lived experience successfully improving a workforce or service equity, ideally in a government organization.
• Experience analyzing procedures or policies with an equity lens and recommending improvements.
• Experience procuring and managing government contracts.
• Experience leading conversations about race with individuals at different levels of understanding.

COMPENSATION AND REPRESENTATION
Based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements, Metro’s internal equity review process, and the candidates’ qualifications, the appointment will typically be made between $86,860.80 - $95,763.20 annually. The full salary range for this position is $86,860.80 - $116,417.60 annually.

This position is not eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME union. It is classified as a Program Manager . Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet: The application packet consists of the following documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A resume covering relevant experience and education. Please be sure your resume includes the following for each employer:
  1. Your title
  2. Name and location of employer
  3. Dates of employment
  4. Summary of your responsibilities
• A cover letter explaining how your lived experience, your education and your work experience have prepared you for the responsibilities of this position.

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Testing/assessments
• Reference check

Questions?
Recruiter: Jasmine Cardenas
Email: Jasmine.Cardenas@oregonmetro.govEqual employment opportunity: All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made or any other status protected by law. Assistance will be gladly provided upon request for any applicant with sensory or non-sensory disabilities.

Online applications: Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, email jobs@oregonmetro.gov.

Accommodation: Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this process. To obtain confidential assistance please contact Human Resources by emailing jobs@oregonmetro.gov.

Pay equity at Metro: Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Public Employees Retirement System (PERS): Unless otherwise stated in a collective bargaining agreement, Metro pays both the employee and employer portion of PERS contributions for eligible employees.

Veterans' preference: Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.