Organizational Equity Manager (WMS Band 2)

Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Office of Equity and Environmental Justice (OEEJ) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Organizational Equity Manager (WMS Band 2) position. This position will be located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.  

We are looking for a transformational leader with a passion for advancing equity and justice in governance.  As the Organizational Equity Manager, you are the agency’s organizational change expert who elevates the experiences of agency employees and explores opportunities within the institution to create and work towards meaningful Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) goals. 

In this role, you will lead DEIR focused culture change, develop and implement equity policies and protocols, and manage Title VI nondiscrimination accountability agency-wide. You will work with agency leadership to develop strategic direction, create metrics, and track progress towards achieving these goals.   

The mission of the Office of Equity & Environmental Justice (OEEJ) is to eliminate environmental and health disparities for communities most at risk from pollution and other environmental impacts.  We achieve this through fair and just practices that support the well-being and resilience of Ecology’s workforce and everyone in Washington. Core to this mission is having an organization culture and practices where the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect are reflected in who we are, where we work, and what we do. 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. This position is expected to work in the office periodically. Flexible schedules and telework options are dependent on supervisory responsibilities and the needs of the Office and Agency. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 
 Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of January 11, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before  January 10, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

About the Department of Ecology

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people.

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
 Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions. Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive. Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work. Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. 
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

 

Duties

What makes this role unique? 

This new role is located within the newly established Office of Equity and Environmental Justice (OEEJ). In this role, you will lead the process of assessing and setting agency direction in planning, implementing, and creating accountability to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) organizational change goals. While this scope of work is new and will be challenging, you will work with and have the support of colleagues within OEEJ and across the agency who are committed to social justice and are dedicated to realizing positive change.

As the Organizational Equity Manager, your primary responsibilities are to:  

1. Administer, manage, and direct the agency’s work on organizational culture and change management to achieve diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) goals. 
2. Oversee the administration of an internal DEIR organizational assessment (conducted through an external contractor), implement resulting strategies, and develop metrics to track progress.
3. Work collaboratively with the Human Resources (HR) program to ensure alignment and support of HR’s DEIR priorities and policies related to recruitment and hiring practices, and employee training and development.  
4. Supervise and work in coordination with the agency Title VI Civil Rights compliance lead to plan and implement agency-wide strategies that ensure nondiscrimination in how we serve and engage with the public. 
5. Support the Office of Equity and Environmental Justice (OEEJ) service and budget equity activities designed to assess and promote agency decisions, programs, and investments that move us towards eliminating environmental and health disparities for overburdened and underserved communities, and vulnerable populations.  
6. Lead the agency’s strategic priorities, performance management, and tracking for DEIR obligations within Ecology’s Strategic Plan, Environmental Justice Law (Chapter 70A.02 RCW), Environmental Justice strategic plan goals, Title VI nondiscrimination compliance obligations, and Washington State Office of Equity directives.
7. Provide consultation, coaching, and leadership workshops to support personal and organizational success, address resistance to change, and foster employee engagement.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Success in this position requires a strategic mindset and the ability to collaborate and build relationships across the agency. You have experience with organizational change management and share the agency’s commitment to building an anti-racist and equity-focused institution.  Your lived and professional expertise inform your leadership and ability to achieve the agency’s mission to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

A total of Nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below:

Professional level experience in organizational change management with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Diversity, equity & inclusion
• Environmental & social justice
• Project management
• or closely allied field

Experience must include at least 18 months of experience leading a team or leading projects. This experience could have been gained at the same time as the experience listed above.

Education: involving a major study in: diversity, equity and inclusion, social sciences, business administration, organizational effectiveness & development, organizational change management, learning & development, project management, human resources, environmental and social justice, public administration, environmental sciences, or closely allied field.
 

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position: 

Possible Combinations | College credit hours or degree | Years of required experience

Combination 1 | No college credit hours or degree | 9 years of experience

Combination 2 | 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. | 8 years of experience

Combination 3 | 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). | 7 years of experience

Combination 4 | 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. | 6 years of experience

Combination 5 | A Bachelor's Degree | 5 years of experience

Combination 6 | A Master's Degree or a Ph.D. | 3 years of experience 

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below. 

• Experience building relationships and collaborating across a diverse workforce community to cultivate an environment of engagement, belonging, respect, empathy, active listening, and trust.  
• Experience successfully leading a team through change in a complex environment and tending to the human side of change. 
• Experience leading or managing within a large agency or organization.
• Supervisory experience.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:
It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• Three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees: 
 
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Millie Piazza at: Millie.Piazza@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Millie to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. 

Organizational Equity Manager (WMS Band 2)