Career Opportunity

Racial Equity Specialist – Racial Equity Initiative, Communications and Public Affairs - SF Public Works (1822 TEX)

Recruitment: REF29638N

Published: August 04, 2023

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below.

Application Opening: July 19, 2023
Application Deadline:  The application filing period will not end before Thursday, August 3, 2023, and may close any time thereafter.
Compensation Range:  $97,266 - $118,248 Annually
Recruitment ID: RTF0136294 - 01153149

San Francisco Public Works (SF Public Works) has a far-reaching portfolio with a $352 million annual operating budget, an active capital portfolio that exceeds $3 billion and a workforce of 1,600-plus employees. The department operates around the clock, touching every neighborhood in San Francisco. The staff designs and manages the construction of civic buildings and streets; cleans and greens the right of way; maintains civic buildings; manages multi-million-dollar bond programs; trains people for jobs; keeps the right of way free of hazards; paves the roads; repairs bridges and public stairways; expands accessibility; and works at the forefront addressing some of San Francisco’s biggest challenges, including homelessness. With a mission to enhance the quality of life in San Francisco for residents, visitors, and business owners, Public Works is committed to providing outstanding public service through an equity lens.

We invite you to learn more about the three workplace core values we live and embrace every day here at Public Works, visit our site here: Respect, Integrity, and Responsiveness.

Our Communications and Public Affairs Division currently has two (2) vacancies for the role of Racial Equity Specialist (1822) for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to provide expert support to our Racial Equity Initiative.

Communications and Public Affairs
The Communications and Public Affairs office keeps the public and our staff informed of the department’s services, projects and programs through mass media, social media, websites, community meetings and other outreach activities. The team produces reports, the monthly community and employee newsletters, and briefs elected officials and troubleshoots constituent concerns. The team also oversees media relations and organizes press conferences and special events to celebrate project milestones.

Racial Equity Initiative

The San Francisco Public Works Racial Equity Initiative leads the implementation of the department’s Racial Equity Action Plan through qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, program development and implementation, and educational programming. The initiative addresses racial equity both in the workplace and in how we deliver services.

Appointment Type: Temporary-Exempt (TEX), Category 18. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer and not exceed 36 months.

Role description

The Racial Equity Specialist supports the San Francisco Public Works Racial Equity Initiative. You will be instrumental in shaping and implementing the racial equity organizational change projects. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Policy and Communications who is the Lead of the Racial Equity Initiative, you will focus on working with one or more of our four divisions: Building Design Construction, Infrastructure Design Construction, Operations, and Finance and Administration, responding to their specific racial equity needs that are laid out in the Action Plan and supporting documents. As a Racial Equity Specialist, you will support the development, implementation, evaluation, and analysis of racial equity programs. Depending on the area of assignment, you may focus on working with our Operations division or focus on working with our other divisions which include Building Design Construction, Infrastructure Design Construction, and Finance and Administration.

Important and Essential Duties:
Your duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Support the Racial Equity Working Group through research, data collection and administrative support.
• Perform research, compile and analyze information/data relating to the Public Works Racial Equity Initiative.
• Gather relevant data, information and/or documentation from a variety of sources regarding best practices in the fields of municipal racial equity initiatives and organizational change. Stay up to date on best practices in the field.
• Assist in tracking projects related to Racial Equity Initiative.
• Prepare or assist in the preparation of a variety of Racial Equity Initiative reports.
• Assist in imbedding racial equity tools and lens in department-wide initiatives, including but not limited to, the strategic plan, process improvement work, performance plans and employee engagement survey.
• Assist in developing racial equity tools for such functions as budgeting, permitting, contracts and grants.
• Assist in coordinating and developing a diversity of racial equity trainings and programming.
• Assist in working with HR in implementing racial equity action items, including analyzing workforce data sets through racial equity lenses that also takes into consideration identities, such as gender, LGBTQ and ableness; assists in investigating potential structural causes for disparities as an outcome of existing processes.
• Assist in developing Phase 2 of the Racial Equity Action Plan. Phase 2 involves research, data collection and identifying priorities and action items that support racial equity in how we  serve the public.
• Assist in the development and implementation of employee surveys that collect data on racial equity issues in the workplace.

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications:

Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university,

AND,

One (1) year full-time equivalent experience performing professional-level analytical work.
 

Qualifying professional-level analytical work includes analysis, development, administration, and reporting in major programs and functions of an organization in areas such as budgets, contracts, grants, policy, or other functional areas related to the duties of positions in the 182X Class series.

Substitution:

• Possession of a graduate degree (Master's degree or higher) from an accredited college or university with major coursework in specialized subject matter areas such as public or business administration, management, business law, contract law, public policy, urban studies, economics, statistical analysis, finance, accounting or other fields of study closely related to the essential functions of positions in the Class series may be substituted for the required one (1) year of experience.
• Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of 2 years). Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.

Desirable Qualifications: 
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

• Subject-matter expertise and experience working in the racial equity sector.
• Subject-matter expertise in working on workplace culture and organizational change.
• Experience in project management.
• Experience in collaborative work and/or community organizing.
• Excellent analytical skills to understand problems and effectively develop solutions.
• Ability to meet commitments, work independently, accept accountability and stay focused under pressure.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong facilitation skills and experience developing and delivering presentations.
• Ability to communicate with stakeholders on all levels of the organization.

Verification of Education and Experience:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification

All work experience, education, training, and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. 

Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Selection Procedures:
After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

The selection process will include an evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will move forward in the recruitment process.

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ):
Candidates will be required to complete an MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through all of the steps in the selection procedure.

What else should I know?

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst Humera Rahman-Power at humera.rahman-power@sfdpw.org.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.