POSITION SUMMARY:

The Executive Director of Human Rights provides strategic leadership for the administration, operation, and functions of the Human Rights Commission in accordance with the City of South Bend Human Rights Ordinance and St. Joseph County Human Rights Ordinance. The Executive Director manages and guides staff in the identification, investigation, mediation, and adjudication of human rights discrimination claims in housing, employment, public accommodations, and education. The Executive Director also develops and implements educational workshops and training on discrimination for local and regional businesses, realtors, housing authorities, school systems, parks, and applicable public works units. The Executive Director of Human Rights also assists the Diversity and Inclusion Officer in human and civil rights policy development and review.

The ideal candidate will be a visionary, supportive, and inspirational leader, able to build trust with diverse communities and stakeholders. A successful candidate will understand relevant local, state, and federal laws and how to work within them. A strong candidate will have the ability to build and develop an equitable team based on individual strengths, skills, and competencies. The Executive Director of Human Rights is a champion for equity and works with City and County departments to enact meaningful change.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Directly supervises Housing Manager, Employment Manager, and part-time Administrative Assistant. Indirectly supervises Investigators and Intake Coordinator.

SALARY RANGE: $82,500 - $92,500 annually

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This list represents the types of duties required by the position. Other duties may be assigned as reasonably expected.

• Reviews and approves completed investigation findings for presentation to the Human Rights Commission.

• Develops human and civil rights discrimination educational programming and outreach for the region.

• Demonstrates an expert understanding of the full range of modern principles and best practices specific to human rights enforcement and the ability to apply that understanding in strategic planning, complex problem solving, and diverse service delivery.

• Demonstrates an understanding of applicable provisions of federal, state, and local laws and ordinances and an ability to apply that understanding in solving the most complex problems.

• Demonstrates an ability to identify the most complex risks and liability implications involved in policy development, long-term planning, and strategy administration, as well as an ability to apply expertise in determining methods and resources needed to successfully address risks, liabilities, and legal implications.

• Demonstrates an ability to expertly plan and manage multiple projects that have the highest level of Citywide and/or community impact and may have changing priorities.

• Demonstrates an ability to negotiate and meet deadlines by prioritizing issues.

• Demonstrates an ability to plan, coordinate, lead, and monitor complex projects, prepare work plans, develop protocols and standards, and define and appropriately measure results, working with and assisting elected officials, department directors, staff, and customers in problem solving and analysis.

• Directs the development and implementation of a departmental budget and ensures that funds are appropriately managed in accordance with relevant laws and policies, with the ability to make decisions based upon budget limitations, contending interest groups, interagency concerns, legal issues, and the political climate.

• Demonstrates an ability to establish a strategic focus and implement applicable strategies connecting the department's strategic and tactical plan to the City's Strategic Plan.

• Demonstrates an ability to effectively communicate whether listening, speaking, or writing, with individuals and groups from varied cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, including elected officials, department directors, representatives of other jurisdictions and private organizations, subordinate employees, and the general public.

• Demonstrates effective leadership of the department by providing direction to subordinate supervisors and employees, by promoting the vision and mission of the department and the City, reinforcing desired employee work behaviors, and exemplifying leadership qualities of adaptability, dependability, and accountability to include encouraging staff flexibility, creativity, and innovation in service delivery.

• Demonstrates an ability to facilitate the group problem-solving process, recognize positive results, manage conflict, and negotiate satisfactory outcomes.

• Demonstrates an ability to set expectations, manage employee development, provide training, coach, and mentor for employees.

• Demonstrates a commitment to increase cultural diversity within the department, actively support the City's diversity initiatives, and work to address the needs of diverse and underserved communities.

• Demonstrates an ability to work across department lines and form partnerships that foster better citizen services, eliminate barriers to achieving results, build alliances with key decision makers, and take full advantage of available resources.

NON-ESSENTIAL/MARGINAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other duties and assume other responsibilities as apparent or as delegated.

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and experience in civil and or human rights discrimination is required.

• Minimum of 5 years of proven human or civil rights claims investigation, adjudication, mediation, program administration experience or a combination of training and experience which demonstrates the potential ability to perform the duties of the position.

• JD or Master’s Degree in Human Rights, Civil Rights Law or equivalent years of experience may be considered in lieu of experience

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong, demonstrated racial and cultural competencies.

• Knowledge of housing, employment, public accommodations, education human rights laws.

• Knowledge of Federal Civil Rights laws, Indiana Human Rights laws, County and local Human Rights Ordinances and policy.

• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse community stakeholders, and work with Human Rights Commissioners, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Legal Department, Federal, State, and local Human Rights Agencies including HUD, EEOC, and South Bend Housing Authority.

• Knowledge of managing federal funds, and municipal budget processes a plus.

• Initiative to drive projects that produce desired results.

• Expertise in MS Office Suite.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSE, REGISTRATION:

• Valid Driver’s License required if driving a City vehicle.

EQUIPMENT:

Computer, Telephone, Printer, Fax Machine, Copy Machine, Scanner.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and walk, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk, use hands to fingers, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required in this job include vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in office settings, with moderate inside temperatures. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate in the office. The entire office is smoke free.