The Human Rights and Equity Officer shall serve as a connector (relationship builder) between the City and community, while continuously working towards ensuring that Elgin is an inclusive community where everyone is treated in a fair and inclusive manner. The Human Rights and Equity Officer shall be responsible for implementing efforts that promote and protect human and civil rights, serving as the liaison for the Human Relations Commission and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee, as well as developing and supporting initiatives that promote the City as a welcoming and inclusive community in which to live, work, and visit.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic, innovative, and insightful leader with proven experience in leading diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. This position is assigned to the City Manager's Office.

Responsibilities

The Human Rights and Equity Officer will have the following primary responsibilities: 

• Provides assistance and subject matter expertise to support social equity, accessibility, and transformational change to advance the City's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, both externally and internally. 
• Works with DEI consultants to lead diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the organization and help create and implement frameworks, plans, and initiatives. 
• Assists the City’s Human Resources team with employee training focused on supporting an inclusive working environment.
• Stays well informed of advances in the area of DEI and recommends policies, procedures and actions for the purpose of providing direction to meet the City’s DEI goals.
• Works collaboratively with city staff to review current policies and programs to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion goals are being met. 
• Serves as staff liaison and provides support to the Human Relations Commission and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee.
• Clearly communicates verbally and in writing, comfortably adjusts to different audiences, and creates written materials (e.g. memos, reports, etc.). 
• Conducts educational outreach and engages with internal and external stakeholders, including residents, community groups, businesses, and professional organizations.
• Facilitates and promotes civic participation by all community members with an emphasis on increasing participation by underrepresented groups in boards and commissions.