Deputy Director - Agency Affirmative Action Manager

About the role

The Deputy Director provides strategic and operational leadership to advance the agency’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) efforts and ensure comprehensive Equal Opportunity (EO) compliance across all program areas and Minnesota’s workforce system.

Responsibilities

• Guides senior leaders and employees in implementing sustainable DEIA initiatives.
• Supervises or manages staff responsible for digital and language access services.
• Manages high-priority projects and oversees staff.
• Represents the office in leadership capacities.
• Serves as a key advisor and backup to the Director.
• Liaises with DEIA Committees, Employee Resource Groups, and internal partners.
• Develops and executes the agency’s strategic DEIA priorities.
• Supports the development of responses to external EO-related charges.
• Ensures effective monitoring, auditing, policy maintenance, and training delivery.

Requirements

• Four (4) years* of experience working in employment law or equal opportunity compliance related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Minnesota Human Rights Act, the Rehabilitation Act, or Section 188- Nondiscrimination of the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA).
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school with a concentration in employment law, civil rights or human rights law, or administrative or public law, or other closely related focus areas as determined by the agency may substitute for eighteen (18) months of experience.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience guiding an organization’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) efforts.
• Experience overseeing compliance processes and influencing decisions related to harassment or discrimination complaints.
• Experience mediating, negotiating, and resolving complaints or requests for accommodations.
• Experience writing and analyzing information in a legal or policy context, and organizing work across multiple priorities.
• Experience coordinating and managing compliance activities, meeting competing deadlines, and carrying out program objectives or project plans.
• Experience working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and adapting communication for different audiences.

Skills

• Knowledge of language-access compliance laws, or experience working with language-access programs.
• Knowledge of digital-access compliance laws, or experience working with digital-access programs.
• Experience in alternative dispute resolution or mediation, or training in conflict resolution, de-escalation, or interpersonal conflict styles.
• Experience using data analytics to guide program decisions, such as updating policies or procedures.
• Knowledge of Minnesota laws related to affirmative action, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordination, and investigation best practices.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support
• Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
• Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care
• Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.