Working Title: Equity & Engagement Director

Job Class: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Principal

Agency: Department of Children, Youth, and Families

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 04/24/2024

• Closing Date : 05/14/2024

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : DCYF / DCYF Manager

• Division/Unit : Department of Children, Youth, and Families/ Equity and Engagement

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes - up to 25%

• Salary Range: $46.36 - $66.49 / hourly; $96,799 - $138,831 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 220 - Manager/Unrep

• Telework Eligible : Yes - This position may allow for a mixture of working in our office and Telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) .

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

NOTE: A hiring incentive may be available.

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

We are excited to introduce a leadership role as the Equity and Engagement Director in preparation for the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). The Equity and Engagement Director will begin work at DCYF upon establishment in July 2024.

In the 2023 legislative session, the Governor’s Office, Minnesota legislature, and leaders for children and families worked in partnership to pass legislation establishing the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to create a sustainable, public face for children’s issues in state government. This new cabinet-level agency brings together programs centered on children and families, including child care and early learning, child support, child safety and permanency, economic support and food assistance, and youth opportunity. DCYF will be established in July 2024 and fully staffed by July 2025.

The Equity and Engagement Director will support the Commissioner of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) by driving and building equity and engagement strategies, implementation of the overall administrative, coordination, and operational responsibilities of equity leadership and engagement activities of the cabinet level state department. This position will serve as the chief advisor to the Commissioner in the areas of Equity and Inclusion, will manage high profile DCYF initiatives, perform special projects, and liaison with agency personnel, Governor’s Office, agency partners, media representatives and representatives of public and private sector organizations. Specifically, this position will develop intercultural competencies within DCYF – across its executive team and within the expansive, highly-important administrations – to offer services with an equity lens to the diverse Minnesotans and Minnesota communities served.

The Equity and Engagement Director will also serve as an executive leader and have management oversight of engagement functions. Engagement and equity strategies are critical to making sure that Minnesota children, youth, and families are centered in the mission and everyday work.

Responsibilities include but may not be limited to:

• With an equity lens, participate in DCYF as a member of the Commissioner’s Executive Management Team to develop:

• policies and strategic initiatives so that DCYF programs address disparities and improve outcomes;

• action plans to implement quality programs within and organize engagement strategies for DCYF; and

• resource allocations made in a manner that fulfills the mission of the department.

• Plan, evaluate and implement intercultural development strategies within DCYF to offer services with an equity lens to the communities we serve.

• Guide senior leaders, division directors, managers and staff in community and partner engagement around equity and inclusion.

• Lead the measurement, tracking, and reporting of the administrations progress on equity and inclusion related goals.

• Supervise, guide, coach and mentor an equity and engagement office.

Minimum Qualifications

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.

Experience must demonstrate the following:

• At least three (3) years of experience managing programs, including strategic planning and directing the work of professional staff, in a medium or large, diverse, and complex organization to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• Experience building and managing effective teams and fostering collaboration across teams, including providing leadership and management through change.

• Knowledge of contemporary diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and multiculturalism theories and issues.

• Demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

• Experience with intercultural development and equity training and tools.

• Experience in analysis and interpretation of raw data and statistical output, statutes, policy proposals and alternatives and the ability to design, organize and prepare documents.

• Experience working with ethnically and culturally diverse communities, American Indian communities, people with disabilities, and other communities that experience inequities.

• Experience working with programs that serve diverse communities.

• Experience working in areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism in professional settings.

• Engagement strategies and/or community engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in issues facing children, youth, and families and the goals of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

• Relationships with partners, organizations, and community relations served by the new agency.

• Experience communicating and sharing information with populations with diverse learning styles and abilities.

• Facilitation and meeting organization experience in diverse groups.

• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills sufficient to develop effective consensus.

• Proficiency in complex project management, data-driven solution design, and implementation of recommended results.

• Knowledge of the research and professional literature on building equitable and inclusive organizations, including promoting accessibility.

• An understanding of the role and operation of state government and local service delivery.

• Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

REFERENCE/BACKGROUND CHECKS – MMB will conduct reference checks to verify job-related credentials and a criminal background check prior to appointment.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.