Chief Equity Officer - City of Worcester, MA

The City of Worcester, Massachusetts (pop 205,319) seeks a talented and creative equity leader as its next Chief Equity Officer. This cabinet-level position reports directly to the City Manager. The successful candidate will have both internal and public-facing responsibilities to facilitate, advocate for, and institutionalize equitable and inclusive policies, practices, and outcomes. 

Worcester is located in Central Massachusetts and is known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth.” Named after Worcester, England, the city has evolved from its modest revolutionary beginnings to a major manufacturing center, to its current concentration of world-class colleges and universities, medical facilities, and teaching hospitals. Worcester offers a range of affordable housing options, whether one wishes to own or rent, raise a family, or live independently. The city boasts the best of both large and small cities with its quality public schools, eight colleges and universities; access to diverse culture, sports, restaurants, and entertainment; and reliable local and regional transportation.

• The newly formed Equity Office has 9 full-time equivalent positions and a recommended FY2024 budget of $744,000, which represents a 67% increase over the FY2023 budget. The purview of the Equity Office includes human rights, accessibility, investigations, and training and development, and serves as the staff liaison to the Accessibility Advisory Commission, Human Rights Commission, Advisory Committee on the Status of Women, and the Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs. The incoming Chief Equity Officer will have the opportunity to fill several key positions on the team.
• The Chief Equity Officer can expect to work closely with the City Manager as an advisor and a partner in leading culture change within the city government and the larger community. In addition, they will work closely with Human Resources and other departments to establish a culture of equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the City.
• The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic communicator who is comfortable representing the City of Worcester’s DEI initiatives to the external community, organizations, and agencies in collaboration with external and internal constituency groups. A proactive leader eager to develop partnerships that utilize the city’s existing resources and platforms while working collaboratively to implement needed change. Serving as a voice on behalf of the City Manager’s office, a highly visible individual who is prepared to build a department from the ground up. 
• Given the responsibilities of the role, some combination of the following skills, abilities, and experience is necessary: the ability to serve as a trusted advisor to the City Manager; sophisticated and adaptable communication skills; training and development design with an emphasis on equity analysis; a firm grasp of systems change, strategic innovation, and a commitment to community engagement; budgeting and identifying budgetary needs; the ability to effectively navigate the complexities of city government; grassroots advocacy experience; and an outcome-focused leadership approach.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Business Administration, Public Administration, or in a field related to the job, plus eight (8) to ten (10) years of diversity program related experience. Direct experience working in partnership with Human Resources, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Talent Management. Managerial experience and the ability to lead a team.  The salary range for this position is $130,000 – $150,000. Interested candidates should apply online by October 15, 2023, with a cover letter, resume, and contact information for 5 professional references, at www.GovHRjobs.com  to the attention of Rachel Glisper, Vice President, Tel: 847-380-3240.

The City of Worcester, MA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.