Chief Equity Officer; Director

Position: Chief Equity Officer (Director I) - Open Until Filled

Job description

Chief Equity Officer (Director I)

Salary $ - $ Annually

Location 1900 SW 4th Ave, Portland, Oregon

Job Type At Will

Job Number

Bureau Office of Equity and Human Rights

Opening Date 12/29/2025

Position Summary:

The Chief Equity Officer (Director I) serves as the City's senior executive responsible for shaping, implementing, and advancing citywide equity strategies, policies, and cultural transformation efforts. Reporting to the City Administrator, this position leads the Office of Equity and Human Rights and serves as the City's chief advisor on equity, civil rights compliance, accessibility, and anti‑discrimination practices. This leader works across all bureaus and offices to operationalize equity in governance, budgeting, workforce practices, community engagement, and service outcomes.

The Chief Equity Officer represents the City in regional, statewide, and national equity forums, builds meaningful partnerships with community organizations, and ensures legal and ethical compliance with civil rights and accessibility mandates. The role requires a strategic systems thinker, a culturally grounded relationship‑builder, and an experienced executive who can inspire change in a complex political and organizational environment.

What You'll Get To Do:
Organizational Leadership & Management:

• Provide executive leadership to the Office of Equity and Human Rights, including strategic planning, organizational direction, budget oversight, staffing, and operational management.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for Civil Rights Title VI compliance, ADA Title II accessibility work, partnering with Indigenous people, workforce equity, policy development, training, and community engagement initiatives.
• Partner with the City Administrator, deputy city administrators, and bureau directors to integrate equity into decision‑making, policy development, budgeting, and leadership practices.
• Develop and maintain internal systems, performance measures, and accountability structures that track progress toward citywide equity outcomes.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and trusting workplace culture that supports employee development, psychological safety, and cross‑functional collaboration.

Policy, Strategy & Legal Oversight:

• Oversee the City's compliance with civil rights, anti‑discrimination, and accessibility laws, including Title VI, ADA Title II, and related federal and state mandates.
• Direct the development and implementation of citywide equity frameworks, programs, tools, and reporting structures.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the mayor, city administrator, deputy city administrators, and council on equity implications of proposed legislation, policies, and initiatives.
• Coordinate equity impact analyses and provide clear recommendations to inform inclusive decision‑making.
• Represent the City in legal, regulatory, and policy‑related forums, working closely with the City Attorney's Office and partner bureaus.

Community Engagement & Public Representation:

• Serve as one of the City's primary ambassadors for equity, representing the Office of Equity and Human Rights in regional and national spaces.
• Build strong, trust‑based relationships with culturally specific organizations, community partners, civil rights advocates, Indigenous communities, and accessibility communities.
• Ensure community voices especially those from historically and currently marginalized groups inform City programs, policies, and priorities.
• Engage with Council offices, civic leaders, and public stakeholders to advance shared equity goals and respond to community needs with transparency and accountability.

Equity, Inclusion & Workforce Transformation:

• Lead initiatives to embed equity principles in hiring, promotion, training, workplace culture, and leadership development across all bureaus.
• Oversee implementation of Workforce Equity initiatives and citywide employee engagement strategies.
• Support bureaus in addressing structural inequities, institutional barriers, and disparate outcomes affecting employees and community members.
• Champion trauma‑informed, culturally responsive leadership practices that strengthen belonging and reduce harm.
• Ensure the…