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25 Aug 2021

Full-Time Chief Equity Officer for Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships

Colorado Department of Transportation – Posted by [email protected] Denver, Colorado, United States

Job Description

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION:

This position is part of the Senior Executive Service.

This position is open to Colorado residents and non-residents applicants.
About CDOT 

Do you want to make a difference in Coloradans’ lives?  Do you have a passion for helping people and keeping them safe? At the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), you’ll have the opportunity to do just that. The work our people do contributes to keeping Coloradans and visitors safe and provides freedom, connection, and experience through travel. Please visit our careers page to learn about CDOT and how we are making Colorado a great place to live, work and play, now and for the future! Also, check out our excellent benefits package!
CDOT for All

CDOT’s strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience, and ultimately, create a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socio-economic status, or any other identity, has the opportunity to thrive.
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service?
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DESCRIPTION OF JOB:

About the position: The Chief Equity Officer for Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reports to the Chief Engineer and will be the chief strategist for community engagement, environmental justice, and equity considerations in transportation projects. You will collaborate with CDOT leadership to mitigate disparities in the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens across Colorado communities and promote equity in the administration of CDOT programs. You will also oversee the Civil Rights Business Resource Center (CRBRC) and collaborate with a matrix of CDOT teams to provide leadership, guidance, training, and support to all divisions, regions, and programs on internal and external equity efforts.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Work in concert with CDOT Management and Transportation Commission to plan, direct, and execute CDOT’s Equity, Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships strategy;
  • Identify issues, potential impacts, strategies, guidelines, work processes and/or programs that will guide policy decisions for external Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) business and compliance activities;
  • Collaborate with Human Resources to continue to build an equitable and inclusive work place and further organizational excellence through a diverse work force;
  • Partner with CDOT Management to develop an intentional strategy that actualizes CDOT’s commitment to EDI and environmental justice;
  • Develop and recommend performance indicators and progress benchmarks to ensure accountability and achieve fair and equitable delivery of state services;
  • Adopt techniques for effectively representing the State and communicating with contacts in governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, legislative organizations, as well as the media and the public;
  • Build out learning and organizational capacity to grow the next generation of equity leaders;
  • Serve on task forces, committees and working groups associated with complex and politically controversial projects, along with interdepartmental groups to formulate policies and procedures for CDOT;
  • Supervise assigned employees; create yearly performance plans, as well as evaluate and rate employee’s performance; approve timesheets and leave requests; oversee hiring/promotional processes as well as corrective/disciplinary actions;
  • Lead the coordination of EDI-focused required reporting and goals development (agency performance planning, SMART Act, FHWA, etc.);
  • Other job duties as assigned.

About the Work Unit
The Chief Equity Officer for Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships is a new role within CDOT, and some of our goals and challenges are:

  • Engage the community early in the transportation planning and project delivery process; be intentionally inclusive and engage historically underserved populations;
  • Facilitate collaboration and partnerships necessary to fulfill long-term Equity, Diversity and Inclusion plan;
  • Enhance the Emerging Small Business (ESB) program as well as increase the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation (ESB/DBE programs);
  • Develop strategic approach to integrate CDOT engineering with industry associations and to diversify applicant pool;
  • Align with Transportation Industry Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) goals/priorities, such as the AASHTO Policy Resolution PR-2-20;
  • Update agency ADA Transition Plan and establish strategy to enhance agency accessibility;
  • Encourage equity-focused outcomes by pursuing use of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 disparate impact analysis for CDOT projects and programs, and not just for highway construction;
  • Institutionalize equity-focused decision-making for projects by developing training on Title VI and environmental justice;
  • Enhance outreach to affected communities by removing barriers to participation, including ensuring communications and information is provided in a variety of languages;
  • Colorado SB21-260 compliance.

Work Environment:

  • Primarily 8:00 am – 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday
  • Hybrid work options are available (combination remote and at Denver HQ)
  • Meeting with internal and external stakeholders virtually and in-person
  • Travel required during work hours throughout Metro Denver/Front Range
  • Required to attend some evening and weekend meetings with community groups and external stakeholders
  • Occasional overnight travel 1-3 times a year throughout Colorado
  • Operate in a politically sensitive environment
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, SUBSTITUTIONS, CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT & APPEAL RIGHTS:

Minimum Qualifications

  • At minimum, the ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Planning, Political Science, Public Administration, or a closely related field;
  • AND at least a six (6) year record of accomplishment in full-time leadership/senior management positions, at levels which initiate and execute business solutions that significantly affect the success of a corporate or public organization, and the major responsibilities of your work experience needs to be in at least one of the following areas:
    • City, county, regional, state, federal, urban, or transportation planning experience;
    • Managing large scale business or public programs, including policy development;
    • Administering environmental justice or equity, diversity, or inclusion programs that engage the community, stakeholders, and/or industry.
  • Career history must also clearly demonstrate experience:
    • Facilitating and directing work teams towards a shared or common goal;
    • Supervising professional staff;
    • Planning and coordinating with other public and private organizations, interest groups, elected and appointed officials;
    • Operating in a politically sensitive environment;
    • Working in a fast-paced, ever-changing, highly stressful work environment.

Substitutions: 

  • Additional work experience that provided the same kind, amount and level of knowledge acquired in the required education, may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required bachelor’s degree but not for the specific experience.
  • A graduate degree in one of the above listed degrees will substitute for the undergraduate degree and the required professional experience on a year-for-year basis.

Conditions of Employment

  • Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks. More information in the supplemental information section.

Preferred QualificationsThe exceptional applicant will be an executive or high-level manager and will possess the proven ability or accomplishment in the following:

  • Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section;
  • Comprehensive knowledge and experience with EDI & EJ research base and best practices for large organizations striving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive;
  • Comprehensive knowledge and experience with federal, state, and local regulations within a transportation context, e.g. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL), Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP);
  • Proven ability to be a change agent for cultural change and capacity building within a large organization;
  • Coaching and supervising professional and support staff in order to accomplish organizational goals;
  • Adapting leadership styles to various situations across multidisciplinary groups, modeling high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness and respect for individuals by applying these values daily;
  • Ability to partner with public and private organizations, special interest groups, elected and appointed officials, in situations which may be politically sensitive;
  • Negotiation skills to find mutually acceptable solutions; building consensus through give and take;
  • Excellent effective interpersonal and relationship building skills;
  • Excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, both written and oral;
  • Excellent time and project management skills;
  • A passion for safety;
  • Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite, SAP, and the ability to quickly learn other software systems.

Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. “See Resume” statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.
College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

How to Apply

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Applicant Checklist - Complete Applications must include the following documents:
  1. A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green 'APPLY' button at this website)
  2. A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)
  3. A cover letter that describes your interest in this position how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online  application. Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement.
  4. A detailed resume.
  5. If you are using education to qualify, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing that your degree has been conferred and the name of your school, or your NACES accreditation. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.
Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Every effort must be made to submit all application materials by the announcement close date. Where unusual circumstances prevent timely acquisition of transcripts, they must be submitted within five business days of the announcement close date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement may result in your application being rejected.
Notifications:
  • All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be via email. Include your current working email address on your application and check your email frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "[email protected]" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email. Immediately after you submit your application you should receive an email that confirms that you successfully submitted an application for this position. If you do not, try submitting again until you receive the confirmation email. Be sure to also check your junk folder for email communications from the State of Colorado's website.

Employment Screening
  • If an applicant reaches the finalist stage of the hiring process, the Colorado Department of Transportation may procure a consumer report and/or investigative consumer report on the applicant in connection with his/her application for employment purposes, as defined under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  These reports may be obtained at any time after receipt of the applicant's authorization.  As part of the employment screening an applicant will be requested to disclose any deferred judgments and convictions as well an explanation of the circumstances around any arrest or conviction.  In the event that a screening returns information that the applicant believes is not accurate, he or she will have an opportunity to dispute the information with “Info Cubic”.
  • Info Cubic, a consumer reporting agency, will obtain the report for CDOT.  Further information regarding Info Cubic, LLC, including its privacy policy, may be found online at www.InfoCubic.com.  Info Cubic is located at 116 Inverness Drive East, Suite 206, Englewood, CO 80112, and can be reached at 877.360.4636.
  • The report may contain information bearing on the applicant's character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living.  The information that may be included in the report includes: social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records checks, educational records, and driving records checks.  CDOT will only request credit reports insofar as they relate to the position for which the applicant is applying.  The information contained in the report will be obtained from private and/or public record sources.  The applicant will have the right, upon written request made within a reasonable time after receipt of a notice, to request disclosure of the nature and scope of any investigative consumer report.

ADAAA Accommodations
  • CDOT is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Amanda Parkhurst-Strout at [email protected] or call 303-757-9685.
  • Former employees of the Colorado Department of Transportation System or any other State of Colorado Department or Agency, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information on his/her application.

APS (SAP #50133155/PCR #40918)

Job Categories: Environmental. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 100,000 and above.

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