EEO Manager

County of Sonoma; Santa Rosa (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Telework

Paid time off

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Education allowances

Parental leave

Post-retirement health benefits

Job summary

County of Sonoma is recruiting an EEO Manager to lead the county's EEO/ADA Public Access program. This role reports to the HR Director, supervises an EEO Analyst, and partners with departments and the public to ensure equitable employment practices and compliance with relevant laws.

Ideal candidates will have strong investigations experience, data-driven problem solving, and the ability to train and guide managers on complex HR issues.

Qualifications

• Experience conducting interviews and complex EEO investigations and responding to CRD/EEOC complaints.
• Strong analytical ability to identify issues, trends, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; able to present findings clearly to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of EEO/ADA laws and public sector employment practices.
• Experience training and advising on HR topics, including mediation and investigations.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, interpret, and apply complex EEO/ADA laws and regulations.
• Receive, examine, and process complaints; conduct investigations.
• Collaborate with departments and stakeholders to address equity and inclusion goals.
• Develop, coordinate, and deliver training on harassment prevention, discrimination, and related topics.
• Promote a respectful, equitable, inclusive workplace across the County.

Skills

Interviewing techniques

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Investigation methods

Public sector knowledge

Education

Public administration / HR management

Job description

Position Information

If you are motivated by working to protect civil rights, passionate about equity/diversity work, and enjoy building strategic business partnerships and the energy of working in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment, come join us!

Expand your HR career with the County of Sonoma!

Starting salary up to $80.28/hour ($167,553.99/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation - 3% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

Join Our Team

The Human Resources Department (County HR) is a team of 70+ employees who provide human resources and risk management services to 30 agencies, departments, and special districts that employ 4,400+ positions. These diverse services include employee benefits, classification plan management, recruitment and examination, countywide workforce development and engagement, employee and labor relations, equal employment opportunity, HR information systems, occupational health and safety, risk management, and workplace violence prevention. Our mission is to be a trusted partner, providing our clients with HR services that work to effectively recruit, develop, and retain an outstanding workforce committed to providing quality public service.

Guided by our department values of Integrity, Care, Collaboration, Inclusion, Growth, Service, and Solutions, we cultivate a workplace where employees are supported, professional growth is encouraged, and responsive service drives everything we do. We embrace proactive planning, adaptability, and innovative problem-solving to meet evolving workforce needs and deliver exceptional support to our clients. County HR is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone who works with, for, and/or receives services from the County of Sonoma is welcomed, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Public Access Division diligently strives to support the County in maintaining a workplace free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by enforcing the County's antidiscrimination policy, investigating complaints, and supporting racial equity work. Through our responsibility for ensuring compliance with state and federal EEO and ADA regulations and mandated reporting requirements, we consult with and guide managers and supervisors on employee issues and best practices. Additionally, we create and provide training to County employees on discrimination, harassment, and retaliation issues; conflict resolution techniques; and the value of creating a diverse and inclusive environment that is built upon respect, inclusion, and individual dignity.

As the County's next EEO Manager, you will report to the HR Director and supervise an EEO Analyst. In this role, you will respond to and work collaboratively with employees, departments, advisory committees, and the public who rely on EEO and ADA Public Access services and support. Additionally, you will:

• Analyze, interpret, develop, implement, and explain complex EEO/ADA laws, regulations, guidelines, and best practices
• Receive, examine, and process complaints and conduct informal and formal investigations
• Work effectively with a wide variety of individuals and divergent viewpoints to navigate sensitive and emotionally challenging situations with patience, empathy, discretion, and sound judgment
• Provide input into HR's equity, diversity, and inclusion projects in collaboration with other HR divisions/units and County departments
• Create, implement, monitor, and evaluate the EEO/ADA Public Access Division's goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards
• Develop, coordinate, and deliver training on sexual harassment prevention, discrimination, retaliation, and other EEO-related topics
• Promote practices that advance a respectful, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace throughout the County

What You Bring

As our ideal candidate, you will demonstrate that you can quickly assess problems with an empathetic, solution-oriented, customer-focused approach. You have a high level of integrity, can diffuse difficult situations as they arise with tact and diplomacy, and can establish credibility and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with a diverse base of internal and external contacts across all levels of an organization. You are proficient in current state and federal civil rights laws, best practices, and principles and possess many of the following:

• Extensive experience conducting interviews and complex EEO investigations and responding to California Civil Rights Department (CRD) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaints
• A strong analytical aptitude for identifying key issues/problems and possible solutions and/or paths towards achieving consensus
• High-functioning verbal and nonverbal communication skills, patience, and an openness to effectively navigate and address challenging and stressful situations
• Strong analytical skills, expert judgment, and a commonsense approach to addressing daily challenges
• Superb organizational skills, including the ability to follow complex policies and procedures while meeting multiple competing deadlines
• Empathy, with the ability to maintain composure and professionalism in tense situations and assess the room to identify what information should be provided
• Experience developing, coordinating, promoting, and/or delivering training programs in EEO areas such as ADA, anti-bias, sexual harassment and prevention training, and workforce diversity

Experience writing reports and presenting findings is required, and diverse lived experiences are highly valued. Additionally, training in mediation, workplace investigations, racial equity such as Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), and/or Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) certification or HR certifications are welcomed. Additionally, a sense of humor is a must! This is a serious position, and while the HR topics we work with are confidential, sensitive in nature, and support critical community services, we truly find opportunities and reasons to enjoy our time together.

The position's hours are typically Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and work is performed in an office environment. However, depending upon investigative and operational needs, the EEO Manager must be willing to work outside of typical hours and during emergencies and other critical events.

The County of Sonoma is interested in finding the best candidate for this position and will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, education, and training to meet the minimum qualifications, as described below.

Bring Your Commitment to Public Service to the County of Sonoma

The County of Sonoma is the place to live, grow, and build your career legacy. When you join the County of Sonoma, you'll have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county - its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award-winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. For additional information about the beauty of our community and the valuable services and support that the County provides our communities, please visit sonomacounty.gov and sonomacountyconnections.org.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill an EEO Manager position in County HR. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. The Civil Service title of the position is Equal Employment Opportunity Manager.

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education, training, and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include:

• Experience: Three years of professional level Human Resources experience administering, coordinating, and/or managing EEO/ADA programs. Some experience leading or supervising staff is desirable.
• Education: Significant academic course work or training directly related to the knowledge and abilities listed such as human resources management, public administration, business management, industrial relations, etc.
• License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position. The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of: laws, regulations, principles, practices, procedures, administration, etc. pertaining to employment discrimination, accommodation, and program and service accessibility such as, but not limited to, EEO, ADA, FEHA; methods and techniques of investigation including interviewing techniques; laws, regulations, principles, etc., and their application in the employment, selection, and examination processes as related to adverse impact and discrimination; elements of business necessity and bona-fide occupational qualifications; current trends in the field of EEO/ADA issues and compliance, and in the employment of protected classes; methods and techniques of promoting equal opportunity; methods of compiling and presenting data; English grammar, usage, and syntax.
• Knowledge of: laws and regulations affecting public sector employment; supervision and personnel management, including training, development, and disciplining of personnel; principles of budget preparation and administration; history and significance of discrimination, human rights issues, women's and civil rights movements, and the role of commissions in addressing these issues.
• Ability to: Plan, organize, direct and monitor related programs; understand, interpret, explain, and apply related laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; conduct thorough investigations, determine whether a violation has occurred, and report findings to appropriate parties and/or agencies; serve as an internal consultant regarding EEO/ADA issues; learn and apply laws, regulations, procedures, and practices related to administration of appointed commissions including public meeting requirements, reporting, etc.; supervise and lead the work of assigned staff; effectively communicate and interact both verbally and in writing; work collaboratively with required staff, officials, advocacy groups, the public, etc.; demonstrate tact and diplomacy; conduct effective meetings, trainings and public presentations; work independently and make sound decisions; advise and recommend policy and program changes to County management and the Board of Supervisors; perform and supervise the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data to identify trends, establish/identify needs, evaluate program effectiveness, draw logical conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations; prepare and present comprehensive and concise case files, reports, and recommendations; testify in court and in arbitration or mediation hearings; maintain confidentiality of information; research regulations, procedures, and/or technical reference materials; use a computer and applicable software.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination(weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CG

HR Technician: VH