Metro Equal Employment Opportunity Officer



Metro Equal Employment Opportunity Officer

Salary

$118,206.40 - $149,843.20 Annually

Location

Seattle, WA

Job Type

Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Job Number

2021AH14053

Department

MTD - Metro Transit

Division

General Manager

Opening Date

08/13/2021

Closing Date

9/3/2021 12:00 AM Pacific

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines

Summary

 
King County Metro is in search of an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer. The EEO Officer is responsible for directing and overseeing the strategic direction and agency-wide process outcomes for the EEO/ Policy and Program, including program design, preparation, monitoring, and complaint investigation.

This position serves as the federally required EEO Officer reporting directly to the General Manager with a dotted line to the AGM for Equity & Impact. In this role, the EEO Officer will set strategic direction and agency wide process outcomes for EEO/Civil Rights/Compliance. Collaborating with Metro’s Divisions, advise and coordinate EEO initiative compliance obligations, develop and manage standard complaint and compliance process/practice consistent with federal requirements.

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. As the EEO Officer, you will oversee all aspects of Metro’s EEO Program to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws (i.e., Title VII, ADA, RCW 49.60 and etc.); King County codes and policies; and the Federal Transportation Administration’s EEO guidelines, including:
•    Oversee resolution of reports of protected class discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, including investigations, informal resolution, alternative dispute resolution processes, and remedies.  
•    Conduct audits and reviews of employment practices, policies, and procedures to ensure EEO compliance.
•    Monitor EEO complaint trends and responses.
•    Prepare regular reports for senior management, Metro and County leadership, and funding agencies.
•    Build teams, supervise, and mentor members of the EEO Compliance Office. Supervise staff that receive, investigate and resolve complaints.
•    Act as liaison with federal, state, and/or local regulatory agencies.
•    Partner with Metro leadership, Department of Human Resources and the Office of Equity, and Social Justice (OESJ) to ensure EEO compliance is in alignment with implementation of agency and County-wide equity and social justice initiatives.
•    Develop awareness programs, conduct agency-wide outreach, and facilitate or coordinate on-going training opportunities for all employees.
•    Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Bachelor's degree in human resources, sociology, public administration, or a related field of study. Education may be substituted with equivalent experience  
Five (5) years of progressively responsible managerial, equal opportunity, or personnel management experience, which involved responsibility for ensuring compliance with non-discrimination in employment practices and delivery of services, investigating and resolving/negotiating complaints and charges, negotiating settlement or conciliation agreements, and/or providing technical guidance on applicable laws and regulations.

•    Knowledge of equity, diversity and inclusion practices, processes, procedures
•    Comprehensive knowledge of laws, programs and practices related to equity, diversity and inclusion (EEO, AA, ADA, anti-discrimination, etc.)
•    Knowledge of human resources and strategic planning techniques and principles
•    Demonstrable experience in policy development and analysis
•    Operational experience in managing EEO/civil rights investigations, case processing and corresponding reporting
•    Demonstrated experience in cross-department program implementation in a complex organization
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to prepare complex reports

People Leadership and Managerial Courage
•    Demonstrated ability to establish rapport and build relationships with employees from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that employees are treated with respect and dignity
•    Exhibit composure and practice attentive and active listening
•    Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality
•    Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor and develop employees
•    Experience in developing collaborative relationships

Strategic and Operating Competencies
•    Ability to deal with complexity comfortably, in a capable and agile manner, and make complex decisions in a timely manner
•    Skills in using rigorous logic and methods (qualitative and quantitative analysis) to solve difficult problems with effective solutions that are in keeping with County core values and beliefs

Desired Qualifications:
•    Advance training in civil rights compliance, investigations and etc.
•    Prior experience with transit agencies is highly desired
•    Experience working in a unionized environment

Supplemental Information

Application & Selection Process

An online employment application, completion of the supplemental questionnaire, and a Letter of Interest are required. 


Applicants will be screened for completeness, writing accuracy, and competitiveness. Any additional attachments will not be reviewed or considered. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews. 

Work Schedule
This position is not subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and therefore is not eligible for overtime pay if scheduled.
 

Union Representation
This position is not represented by a union

(New) Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement 
As of October 18, 2021, most* King County employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination by October 18th.   People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.  Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs.  Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
This directive applies to employees in the Executive branch*, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office.

Work Location
The primary location of this position is in the King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA)


Teleworking Requirement 
The work associated with this position will be performed; through a combination of teleworking complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities.  Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
   
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
     
King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.   

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Aimee Higbee, ahigbee@kingcounty.gov


Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
 
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply 

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being.  Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
  • Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
  • Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
  • Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
  • 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite activity centers
  • Employee Giving Program
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
  • Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.  If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.  
 
NOTE:  Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
 
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01
Did you attach the required Cover Letter detailing how you meet or exceed the required knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position, and your experience as it relates to the primary job functions and desired qualifications.
  • Yes
  • No
02
I understand that I must reside in Washington State and this position will mostly be a remote working.
  • Yes
  • No
03
Are you applying to this position as an eligible Current or Previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant AND Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
  • Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County AND I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. AND The position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
  • No.
04
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff
05
I certify that the statements made by me on the application and supplemental questions are, to the best of my knowledge, true, complete, and correct. I understand that any misrepresentation or material omission of fact on this or any other document required by King County may constitute grounds for rejection, or if employed by King County, for disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Agency
King County
Address
King Street Center
201 South Jackson Street
Seattle, Washington, 98104
Phone
206-477-3404