Description

Description

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

SENIOR EQUITY OFFICER

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING

{Policy, Planning & Implementation Division}

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $109,464

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 07/29/2026

Under direction, manages and participates in the administration of racial, economic, and social equity policies and practices for a City department; and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Oversees the development of resources and strategies to promote racial, economic, and social equity work within a department's operations and services (e.g., access to affordable housing, library programming, healthcare services, etc.)
• Directs the development of goals and strategies that promote equity and inclusion in department processes, practices, and policymaking.
• Directs the development of an infrastructure to sustain the department's commitment to equity.
• Oversees the work of subordinate staff (e.g., assigning and reviewing work, approving time off requests, preparing staff performance evaluations, and administering disciplinary actions).
• Manages and participates in the development of outreach and engagement policies, procedures and plans to facilitate the effective inclusive delivery and participation of department initiatives and projects and to engage and increase stakeholder participation.
• Provides leadership, guidance and training to departments and agencies in normalizing concepts of racial equity, organizing staff to work together for transformational change and operationalizing new practices, policies and procedures that result in more fair and just outcomes.
• Partners with departmental divisions and external organizations to implement programming to effectively support and advance equitable outcomes for communities.
• Analyzes legislation and policies providing expert technical guidance to management on equity policies impacting department programs and practices.
• Ensures cohesiveness in department plans with the City's overall equity and racial justice initiatives.
• Ensures department programs and services nurture narratives and practices that embrace belonging, mutuality, and unity.
• Cultivates and maintains partnerships with community members, delegate agencies, Aldermen, and stakeholders to identify needs and create diverse solutions at the departmental level.
• Manages and monitors data relevant to department racial and social equity gaps, impact analysis and gains and develops metrics to measure the effectiveness of equity goals.
• Utilizes evidence and data to oversee the development of responsive and meaningful solutions to improve department programs and services.
• Manages and tracks department action items and deliverables across multiple racial and social equity initiatives and working groups.
• Directs outreach and community engagement with all City neighborhoods to ensure communities have equitable resources.
• Acts as a liaison with the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) and the Office of Community Engagement.
• Manages the department's efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in equity practices across the department.
• Develops public awareness strategies and outreach activities for the department's equity programs and services.
• Stays current on emerging issues and trends in racial and social equity.
• Ensures the training of managers and front-line staff on racial, economic, and social equity policies, procedures, and resources.
• Directs the preparation and submission of comprehensive reports, dashboards, and studies.
• Represents the department on equity issues in a variety of forums

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Additional duties may be required for this position.

Location:

City of Chicago

City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street

Days: Monday thru Friday, On Call

Hours: 9am to 5pm

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, PLUS four (4) years of work experience in the administration of diversity, equity, racial, and/or social justice programs, of which one (1) year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree or higher, PLUS three (3) years of work experience in the administration of diversity, equity, racial, and/or social justice programs, of which one (1) year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position.

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications:

N/A

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a written exercise and/or a skills assessment test as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor