Chief Racial Equity Officer

Job Description
The Chief Racial Equity Officer for the Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity is a member of the executive team and will report to the Executive Director and lead CEO’s overarching effort to embed racial equity in all work.  This position provides leadership in CEO’s efforts to advance anti-racism and equity in our convenings, community and civic engagement, communication channels, and placed-based initiatives.
The Chief Racial Equity Officer is tasked with providing leadership, subject-matter expertise, and support to the ongoing efforts to advance racial equity within CEO across all areas. The Chief will engage in this work through three key workstreams:
Department Leadership & Staff Supervision. This position will play a key role in ensuring that all aspects of CEO leadership are conducted with a focus on equity, including cross-functional leadership with all deputies to ensure REI and DEI practices are embedded throughout the organization; this may also include collaborating with the Director of HR to develop equitable hiring & staff development practices and the Director of Impact to embed equity in internal processes. This position will supervise CEO’s Communications, Racial Equity Impact, and Engagement Partnership directors and associated teams, including three direct reports and a full team of nine.
Through supervision, the Chief will provide leadership in:
Changing the narrative of poverty from individual behavior to systems change
Incorporating equitable practices in all external-facing work
Supporting other city agencies and nonprofit organizations in deepening their community engagement work
Community & Intergovernmental Liaison. The role oversees external communications in effort to change the narrative about poverty and promote equitable practices in community engagement across city agencies and nonprofit partners. This position serves as a liaison between CEO and citywide racial equity efforts to ensure alignment. This position represents the City in national forums and convenings related to racial equity and economic mobility efforts. The Chief is responsible for representing CEO in various collaborative initiatives within City of Philadelphia Government, including all citywide racial equity working groups and the ongoing efforts of many partner agencies to change policies and practices that will address drivers of racial inequality.
Strategy Development & Measurement. The Chief manages the development and implementation of racial equity strategies aimed at pursuing economic justice and inclusive growth to ensure that all Philadelphians might share in the city’s prosperous future. This position oversees efforts to institutionalize racial equity at CEO through processes and policies related to contracting, investments, staffing, technical assistance, and program leadership and recommends strategic solutions. The Chief will oversee the planning, implementation, and tracking of specific projects, as well as the continued development of a cohesive strategy and assume leadership of activities that may arise from this strategy.
Essential Functions
Lead and manage CEO’s racial equity unit, including three direct reports and a full team of nine staff, in all functions and embed racial equity into day-to-day practices, policies, and procedures. Through supervision, lead and manage CEO’s Communications, Racial Equity Impact, and Engagement Partnerships units and provide leadership in their cross-functional engagement with other CEO units of work.
Collaborate with CEO deputies and executive team on strategic goals and key measures that include measurable racial equity targets.
Represent the City of Philadelphia and CEO on issues related to race and ethnicity and economic mobility external events and meetings.
Serve as a liaison between CEO and City-wide racial equity efforts and workgroups.
In collaboration with other stakeholders, review and assess existing policies, procedures, programs, and services to identify opportunities to reduce barriers for different groups and promote racial equity at various decision points in CEO’s work.
Translate broader goals and strategies around reducing racial and ethnic disparities and promote racial equity into concrete policy and practice changes.
Lead and train CEO staff in racial equity practices or serve as primary liaison for external training functions through management of training budget and leadership in selecting qualified experts to provide training to staff.
Collaborate with agency and community stakeholders to develop policies, procedures, programs, and services that engage people of color and/or low-income individuals in CEO’s work.
Consult with Contracts, Procurement, and other teams to address compliance with racial equity goals, MBO engagement, and other procurement and contracting processes.
Participate in technical support to CEO departments in building programs, identifying strategies, and measuring outcomes that center racial equity.
Performing any additional duties as described by CEO related to the objective of reducing racial and ethnic disparities in CEO’s mission toward economic mobility for all Philadelphians.
Other duties as assigned related to the objective of reducing racial and ethnic disparities in CEO’s mission toward economic mobility for all Philadelphians.
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Prior leadership experience in Racial Equity and/or Diversity & Inclusion/DEI is required.
Deep background knowledge about the history of race relations in Philadelphia preferred.
Strong working knowledge of racial equity and structural racism in relation to economic mobility, poverty, local government, and/or community action agencies, and being comfortable and confident in speaking about these topics.
Ability to collaborate with all levels of government and with external partner agencies to establish consensus.
Familiarity with current research and best practices related to advancing racial equity in government.
Experience evaluating social service policies & programs, and developing performance measures/systems, especially with a focus on racial equity.
Skilled at developing and hosting DEI-related trainings or sessions.
Passion for collaborating with community organizations, Philadelphia residents, and advocates to create systems change.
Skill and experience in facilitating difficult conversations on topics of race, ethnicity, racial and ethnic disparities, and racial equity.
Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions.
Experience establishing and implementing racial equity initiatives within large organizations.
Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills.
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Excellent verbal, listening, and written communication skills.