Executive Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO)

About the role

The Executive Director of the Office Equal Employment Opportunity oversees and manages the day-to-day operations of the Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations Unit, the Reasonable Accommodations Unit, and the Training Unit. This role directly supervises the OEEO Investigations Director, Reasonable Accommodations Director, and Training Director.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing, updating, and implementing EEO policies, plans and procedures in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as Citywide EEO policies and procedures.
• Carrying out root cause and trend analysis.
• Providing advice on EEO matters and complaint and inquiry resolution.
• Preparation of required quarterly EEO reports to be submitted to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), City Council and the Equal Employment Practices Commission (EEPC).
• Conducting and/or supervising internal EEO investigations, drafting investigative reports, and recommending resolutions that are sound, compliant with laws and policies and mitigate legal risk to the agency.
• Implementing relevant EEO and agency-wide strategic plan initiatives.
• Overseeing management of internal and external EEO databases, ensuring accurate and timely documentation.
• Providing policy guidance and technical assistance to management on equitable and lawful employment practices.
• Providing EEO-relevant advice and insight on agency policies.
• Supporting strategies that foster an inclusive and cooperative workplace culture.
• Drafting compliance reports, policy updates, and risk assessments for senior leadership and executive review.
• Overseeing and delivering EEO-related and compliance training for staff at all levels.
• Mentoring staff and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.
• Must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of the following: - Federal, state, and local laws related to discrimination, harassment, and EEO (e.g., Title VII, ADA, ADEA, Rehabilitation Act, Equal Pay Act, NYS Human Rights Law, NYC Human Rights Law, and related civil rights statutes). - City of New York’s EEO Policy, Diversity and Inclusion mandates, Civil Services rules and regulations, and City of New York procedural guidelines (including complaint procedures and reasonable accommodation procedures). - Motivational and management theories and leadership styles and approaches. - Government operations (New York City government experience a plus). - NYC’s EEO investigative, interviewing and counseling policies, procedures and techniques. - EEO recordkeeping and reporting requirements. - Workplace harassment and discrimination concepts and theories. - Accessibility principles and technologies. - Complaint resolution, medication, and corrective action strategies.

Skills

• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills to cope with conflicting points of view, function under pressure while demonstrating integrity, fair-mindedness and a persuasive, confident persona.
• Demonstrated proficiency with program design and project management, working under tight deadlines to achieve short and long-term goals as required. Strong analytical thinking and problem solving.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to make presentations, conduct training seminars, and to complete other EEO assignments.
• Advanced knowledge in interpreting and applying employment laws and DCAS policies.
• The ability to handle sensitive matters with integrity and confidentiality.
• High degree of proficiency in Microsoft platforms.
• Strong people skills and emotional intelligence and can understand.
• Demonstrated ability to advise, counsel, and encourage all levels of agency staff to make policy changes and decisions that support equal employment opportunity.
• Ability to effectively apply management principles and practices to drive positive outcomes for the agency.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and provide alternative solutions to problems.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with employees at all levels.
• Ability to exercise professional and ethical judgement when complex personnel situations arise and possess an understanding of when to refer certain matters or involve outside parties.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines and deliverables in a complex and matrixed environment.
• Able to organize work effectively, conceptualize and prioritize objectives and exercise independent judgment based on an understanding of organizational policies and activities.
• Outstanding writing, editing, and research skills.
• Adept at quickly synthesizing information to distill critical issues and formulate recommendations that consider risks, benefits, and alternative perspectives.
• A motivated, self-starter who adjusts readily to multiple demands, shifting priorities, and rapid change shows versatility in handling people and situations.
• Strong preference given to candidates with at least 8-10 years of demonstrated experience in the performance of EEO work.

Additional Information

• The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.