Equity Strategy, Policy and Practice Advisor (StratAdvsr2, General Govt BU-P) en City of Seattle, WA

About the Department

Are you a transformative leader in equitable relationship building and social justice strategies?  Are you excited by possibilities for water and waste utility employees and services to cultivate community belonging and inter-connectedness?

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is looking for an Equity Strategy, Policy, and Practices Advisor. In this race and social justice leadership role, you will be working with SPU Executives and employees to co-develop and facilitate impactful implementation of SPU’s Equity Strategy Plan.  The position will have responsibility for equity advising, learning and strategic capacity building, policy-making, and strategic initiatives that shape and support SPU’s race and social justice work.  

If you feel this may be the perfect job for you, please continue reading …and APPLY!

About Seattle Public Utilities (SPU): Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a Community Centered Utility whose mission is to foster healthy people, environment, and economy by partnering with our community to equitably manage water and waste resources for today and future generations. We deliver high quality, vital services, across four major lines of business: providing water, solid waste, drainage and wastewater services for Seattle residents and businesses. SPU provides drinking water for 1.6 million regional customers in Seattle and other municipalities. Our customers depend on us to deliver high quality, reliable, and cost-conscious utility services and to achieve the highest benefits possible for every investment we make.

For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), please visit: 

• SPU Website
• Strategic Business Plan

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.

Why join us?

We know work isn't only about what you do it’s also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including: 

• Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
• Hybrid work schedule
• Generous benefits package
• Free public transportation options
• City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
• Growth potential and advancement opportunities

Position Duties

This position is a part of SPU’s Environmental Justice and Service Equity team reports to SPU’s Corporate Policy and Planning director in the General Manager’s office.

• Co-lead development and implementation of City Race and Social Justice (RSJ) Initiatives and SPU’s Equity Strategy Plan and accountability metrics in collaboration with SPU’s E-team and employees and alignment with SPU’s Strategic Business Plan.
• Design and pursue policy-making that supports enhanced equity in SPU plans, processes, programs, services, and investments.
• Lead and support SPU Racial Equity Tool kit (RET) program approaches, coaching, research, and advising related to SPU services, projects, and investments.
• Shape and facilitate SPU’s applied learning, knowledge sharing, coalition building (i.e. Change team, branch equity teams, affinity groups), and capacity building approaches for leaders and employees to embed equity across SPU.
• Develop and facilitate agreements, programs, and approaches that enhance community connections, relationships and capacity building, language accessibility, and equitable engagement opportunities.
• Design and implement strategic initiatives to continually improve, innovate, and integrate transformative and cutting-edge practices into SPU’s community centered, equity, and belonging work.  
• Partner and liaise with leaders across City Departments to support, report on, and advance RSJ learning and strategic initiatives City wide.
• Represent SPU and participate in networking, presentations, benchmarking and research to advance equity across the region, state, nation and water and waste industries.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:  A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in a government setting. Additionally work experience that has contributed to advancing equity and empowerment in government.

AND

Education:  Bachelor's degree in ethnic studies, sociology, social work, policy, public affairs, public administration, business management, environmental studies, or related field.

OR

Experience and Education Equivalency:   Combinations of appropriate education, training, certification, and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis for comparability to the minimum education and experience requirements.  

Work Environment/Physical Demands: Work is usually performed in an office environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Dedication to RSJ, Equity, and Empowerment Approaches.  These are core values in your work, life, and what brings you passion.  You thrive when building understanding, inter-connection, and belonging to effect real change. 
• Lived Experience.  Understanding of what it means to experience real-life challenges of racial and social injustice.   
• Dynamic Learner with a Positive and Proven Track Record. Jumps in and thrives when learning new things and doing what needs to be done (no matter how daunting).  Stays positive in the face of challenges and becomes an effective listener and advocate.  Is accruing an outcome-oriented track record for systemic institutional change in government and/or private sector, grounded in principles of community capacity building, race and social justice. 
• Strong Collaborator and Relationship Builder.  Skilled at building trusting relationships between diverse groups and perspectives and effectively cultivating and uplifting the voices and priorities of communities, especially those least heard. 
• Adaptive and Flexible Connector.  Able to identify the need for help and to cultivate bridging partnerships with others who may be better positioned to respond to a priority need. 
• Patiently Fierce and Persistent.  Able to read a situation and know when the timing is ripe to move forward, hold the line, pivot and try a different approach, and when and where more work needs to be done and how to approach that effectively.
• Trusted Advisor and Innovator.  Able to articulate, name, and facilitate dialogue around hard truths, limitations, and challenges (from all perspectives) in open and constructive ways that invite and persuade people to come together to overcome stasis and the status quo and then dare to develop, practice, and experiment with innovative alternatives and solutions to complex challenges.
• Solid Writer and Powerful Facilitator.  Can produce and deliver a persuasive policy brief and strategic framework, facilitate productive meetings and learning experiences, and make presentations that gets community and policymakers to yes!

Other Qualifications

How to Apply:

• Submit complete City of Seattle online application
• Upload your current resume, AND
• Include a cover letter that addresses your knowledge, experience, and interest related to this position

*** You must submit both a resume and cover letter. If you do not submit these documents, your application will not be considered. Please ensure that BOTH documents have successfully been uploaded before submitting your application. ***

The full salary range for this position is $54.60 - $81.93 per hour.

Benefits: The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Who may apply: The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

If you have any questions, please contact Katie Muzzin at [email protected]

Learn more about Seattle Public Utilities at our web page www.seattle.gov/util/.