Director of Employee Development, Equity & Belonging

City of Seattle • Seattle, WA • $134.80k - $222.41k / year • 2w ago

Seattle City Light is seeking a visionary Director of Employee Development, Equity & Belonging (Executive 2) to provide strategic oversight and leadership for workforce development initiatives. This dynamic role is responsible for shaping and driving high-impact strategies that integrate Workforce Education and Engagement, Apprenticeship, and Race and Social Justice into a cohesive framework. Our goal is to foster an equitable, engaged, and future-ready workforce while achieving measurable, sustainable outcomes.

As a senior leader, you will set the strategic direction for workforce development, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and the evolving labor landscape. This role requires thought leadership, policy guidance, and cross-functional collaboration to drive systemic workforce solutions. The Director will focus on driving results, improving processes, and implementing strategies that produce tangible outcomes in workforce engagement and equity. This leader should demonstrate high accountability and drive results while shaping policy and the direction of their team. Reporting to the Chief People and Culture Officer, the Director is a key member of the leadership team for People and Culture and the utility.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Oversight: Develop and drive the vision for workforce education, engagement, and equity, ensuring alignment with Seattle City Light’s mission, values, and long-term objectives that produce measurable, high-impact results for workforce development.

Policy & Program Development: Lead the development and refinement of workforce policies and programs that drive equitable opportunities, talent growth, and a culture of continuous learning and engagement, with a focus on measurable outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the central strategic liaison between Workforce Education and Engagement, Apprenticeship, and Race and Social Justice initiatives, ensuring integration and alignment across all programs.

Succession Planning & Workforce Sustainability: Guide the development of long-term workforce strategies, including succession planning and skill-building initiatives, to ensure a resilient and prepared workforce.

Change Management & Innovation: Provide high-level guidance on organizational change efforts, including new workforce technologies, process improvements, and cultural transformation initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement: Influence and collaborate with executive leadership, department heads, labor partners, and external stakeholders to understand the needs of the utility and drive workforce equity and development efforts at an enterprise level.

Accountability & Performance Metrics: Establish key performance indicators and accountability measures to evaluate the effectiveness of workforce strategies and ensure continuous improvement.

Qualifications

A bachelor's degree in business or public administration, human resources, organizational development, or a related field is required; a master's degree preferred. The most successful candidates will have:

10 years of progressive leadership experience in workforce development, human resources, organizational development, or a related field, with at least 3 years in a senior or executive-level role.

Proven track record of developing and implementing workforce strategies that align with organizational goals, with a focus on equity, inclusion, and employee engagement.

Demonstrated experience in leading and developing high-performing teams, including managing managers and cross-functional leadership across complex organizations.

Strong background in equity-centered strategy development, including applying DEI principles to workforce planning, employee lifecycle practices, and stakeholder engagement.

Experience with labor market analysis, workforce analytics, and applying data-driven insights to drive strategic decisions and workforce investments.

Excellent communication, facilitation, and influence skills; capable of driving alignment across diverse teams and functions.

Background in public administration, utilities, or a similarly complex operational environment, particularly in driving workforce strategies that produce measurable impact.

This is a high-impact, strategic leadership role that requires vision, influence, and the ability to drive meaningful, organization-wide change. The ideal candidate will have a strong record of demonstrating improved results, accountability, and a commitment to workforce equity. If you are a forward-thinking leader passionate about workforce development, equity, and creating lasting, measurable outcomes, we invite you to apply.

Certification/License:Candidates must have a current valid state issued driver’s license from any US state to be verified prior to start date. Out of state license holders will be required to obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire.

The full salary range for this position is $64.56 to $106.52 per hour.

Application Process

Please submit the following with your online application:

A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light 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. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3. A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020.Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

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.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.