Deputy EEO Officer

About the role

The Deputy EEO Officer will report to the Assistant Commissioner of EDI and lead the agency’s mission-critical compliance functions, including internal EEO investigations, workplace accommodation processing, senior leadership counseling, and training delivery. The role requires substantial discretion, legal judgment, and the ability to make impactful, time-sensitive decisions in a fast-paced environment while supporting EDI’s broader diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Oversee internal EEO investigations from intake through conclusion, ensuring adherence to City EEO Policy and best practices, including complaint triage, investigation planning, witness interviews, evidence collection, factual record-building, and legally sound conclusions.
• Review agency workflow data to assess and improve the effectiveness of EDI functions.
• Manage the reasonable accommodation process, including engaging in the interactive process and issuing decisions on employee requests.
• Provide advice and counsel to executive staff, supervisors, and managers on workplace issues to ensure effective and appropriate resolution.
• Assist the Assistant Commissioner in implementing EDI’s annual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and EEO Plan, including coordination of EEO and diversity initiatives such as the EEO Liaison Program, Employee Resource Groups, and diversity-related events.
• Field EDI inquiries by conducting interviews with complainants, respondents, or witnesses; draft inquiry close-out memorandums; and convert inquiries to investigations where appropriate.
• Develop and deliver classroom and computer-based EEO and Diversity & Inclusion training, including introductory EEO training for new employees, mandated training, and updates to reflect legal changes.
• Maintain and track EEO cases, reasonable accommodations, and inquiries using DOT and DCAS databases and spreadsheets.
• Prepare accurate data for weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and audits for internal and external partners, including DCAS and the Equal Employment Practices Commission.
• Serve on DOT’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and other related work groups or councils; participate on interview panels for EDI job vacancies; and attend meetings in place of the Assistant Commissioner as needed.
• Support all EDI work, including initiatives aligned with Diversity & Inclusion goals.

Requirements

• Admission to the New York State Bar.
• One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Intern.
• Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of employment.

Qualifications

To be assigned to Assignment Level II, candidates must have one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in areas related to the assignment.

To be assigned to Assignment Level III, candidates must have two years of experience in Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in areas related to the assignment.

Preferred Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local labor and employment laws, regulations, and affirmative action guidelines.
• Ability to analyze and interpret agency rules, regulations, and HR-related laws in areas such as classification, staffing, labor relations, and employee relations.
• Thorough understanding of mediation processes and techniques, including negotiation and arbitration.
• Strong people skills, impartiality, and ability to protect confidential information.
• Proficiency with MS Outlook and Office Suite; ability to manage a large workload under tight deadlines.
• Ability to address problems and obtain solutions for internal and external issues.
• Experience supervising practicing attorneys.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, manage multiple priorities, and establish and maintain working relationships with a diverse workforce.
• Proven ability to work independently and communicate effectively in writing and verbally while maintaining confidentiality.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. City employees in certain titles with two continuous years of service may be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County.