Citywide Equitable Systems and Standards Manager (Manager II)

What you’ll do:

• Direct the organizational unit in carrying out the City’s vision, mission, and objectives for the Office of Equity and Human Rights.
• Assist in the development of strategies, policies, and initiatives to implement equity, ADA Title II, Civil Rights Title VI, Language Access, LGBTQIA2S+ and related policies.
• Provide financial management; administer policies, procedures, and programs.
• Develop equitable systems, accountability frameworks, accountability approaches, tools, templates, and continuous-improvement strategies that operationalize and standardize efforts to identify and address systemic barriers across City programs, services, and operations.
• Prepare or lead the preparation of strategic plans and annual work plans for the organizational unit;
• Develop, implement, improve, and evaluate programs, projects, workflow, methods, and work products in accordance with Office of Equity plans, budgets, and policies; perform various specialized budgetary and management studies and analyses
• Establish expectations for frequency, quality, documentation, and performance monitoring, and coordinate the implementation of approved changes to ensure consistent practices across service areas.
• Conduct analyses of citywide services and operations to identify and formulate improvements and efficiencies, with a focus on city-wide opportunities.
• Develop and lead the implementation of improvements and efficiencies identified through working groups with management and executive-level positions.

Additional duties:

• Establish and maintain mechanisms for continuous improvement by identifying cross-service-area trends, sharing effective practices, and facilitating knowledge transfer to strengthen consistency, accountability, and established standards.
• Develop and establish team culture, performance requirements and personal development targets for staff.
• Monitor performance and provide coaching for improvement and development.
• Evaluate performance and complete annual performance reviews.
• Review and analyze pertinent statutes, regulations, ordinances, and policies in terms of impact on city operations and to ensure compliance. Develop, implement, and maintain standardized operating procedures for the delivery, monitoring, and evaluation structures that align and comply with current legal interpretations of ADA Title II, Title VI, Language Access, LGBTQIA2S+
• Cultivate and deepen key partnerships with local, regional and national professional organizations (AVT, Urban League, Latino Network, PIRC, APANO, GARE, COMTO, NOBLE, etc.) committed to racial equity work.

The ideal candidate for this position will have these attributes: 

• Lived Experience: You have direct experience working with marginalized communities, particularly communities of color, LGBTQIA2S+ communities, and persons with disabilities.
• Experienced Equity Practitioner: You have a proven ability to perform advanced equity analysis and a deep understanding of anti-racist principles and of intersectional approaches including policy, data, performance management, and capacity building.
• Socially Intelligent: You communicate with others in a way that inspires action and cultivates partnership. You understand how to navigate complex political environments. You can effectively communicate with all levels of an organization.
• Engaged with the Community and Collaborative: You value partnership and stakeholder relationships. Develop and supports relationships to get things done. Passion for working with teams and problem solving.
• Invested in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): You use DEI concepts, tools, and strategies to guide and inform your work and organizational change. Experience with inclusive, respectful, and culturally responsive settings and values.
• Analytical and critical thinker: You critically analyze and evaluate data and policy. Capable of challenging preconceived notions, problem-solving and guiding the development and implementation of data-driven strategies to promote workforce equity. Able to translate insights into actionable recommendations for program and policy improvement.
• Effective Communicator: You excel in articulating complex concepts clearly and persuasively, fostering open dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Proficient in representing the Office of Equity and Human Rights in external forums, delivering presentations, and sharing insights to advance civil rights and equity goals.
• Strategic: You have experience working to dismantle structural and institutional racism as well as disrupt individual racism. You can turn concepts into practical applications for use in everyday decision making.
• Collaborative and Inclusive: You share power with others. You build partnerships and work collaboratively with stakeholders. You delegate tasks, triage work and leverage resources. You are comfortable with facilitation and navigating conflict through a trauma informed lens.
• Change agent: You have experience in senior leadership as an advocate and champion working toward strategic goals. You have a focus on finishing tasks while establishing progressive long-range goals.
• Innovative: You are creative, adaptable, and excel in change management.

Applicants must describe in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or work experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Experience with applying current equity and civil rights best practices to administrative principles and methods, including management of diverse teams, change management, strategic planning, and facilitation.
2. Experience with civil rights compliance and equity program/project management.
3. Knowledge of state, federal and city legislation and trends affecting implementation of civil rights Title VI, ADA, and LGBTQIA2S+ policies.
4. Knowledge of performance management data and reporting principles and best practices.
5. Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration, including applying current equity and civil rights best practices to budgeting, contracting, conflict resolution, project management, trauma-informed practices, compliance, and reporting and maintenance of public records.

Additional requirements:

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications is acceptable.

• • Education: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Education, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Management, Business Administration or related field; Masters in Public Administration or related degree preferred

AND

• • Experience: Five (5) years of professional and responsible experience performing executive leadership, management, or related work applying equitable policies and practices in a public agency and/or personnel functions within an organizational unit, including a minimum of three (3) years in a supervisory role.
    

STEP 1: Apply online between October 19, 2026, and November 2, 2026
 

• Cover letter.
  • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Resume
• Answer to Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

• Veteran’s Preference documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) must be submitted by the closing date.
• Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
• To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

• Your cover letter can exceed one page but no more than three, to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will evaluate your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.
• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.  It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid, regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note that all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage the use of AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. 

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, is weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required before the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

• The hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.