The
Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) seeks a proactive and strategic leader to serve as the Labor Equity Manager (Manager 2, Exempt) for the Labor Equity team in the
Purchasing and Contracting (PC) division.
As the Labor Equity Manager, you will lead a team of nine and manage the City’s
Priority Hire program. The Priority Hire program promotes access to construction careers with a focus on Black, Indigenous, People of Color, women and others who are underrepresented in the construction industry. This position ensures racial equity and inclusion in alignment with the
City's Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI). The Labor Equity Manager will participate in and oversee a team with multiple functions that include but are not limited to:
- Application of the Community Workforce Agreement (CWA)
- Key relationships with union, contractor, community, and training partners
- Partnership with Seattle Public Schools (SPS) to administer their Student and Community Workforce Agreement
- Negotiate and manage CWA responsibilities on public-private projects
- Management of consultant contract procurements
- Contractor performance evaluations
- Priority Hire Program reporting, analysis and continuous development
The Labor Equity Manager will be a key leader for the division, providing input and advice to the Division Director and a member of the division management team. This position requires engagement in all division management, policy, budget and strategic decisions. Success in this role will be achieved if you seek the challenge of overseeing a deadline-driven and complex workforce while also developing policies, relationships and strategic plans that promote equity, customer service and community-driven evidence-based results.
The Labor Equity Manager will direct a budget of over $1.5 million annually and will oversee Priority Hire community investments that support community-based organizations, apprenticeship programs and public colleges to recruit, train and help retain underrepresented workers in the construction industry. The Labor Equity Manager also supports major program initiatives, employee performance management, program operations and stakeholder engagement to fulfill our mandate to create access to construction careers for women, people of color and others with social and economic disadvantages.
ABOUT USThe 450-plus employees of
FAS span across 10 divisions and work behind-the-scenes providing critical functions, like managing 120 City facilities—including police and fire stations—coordinating logistics and emergency management and making sure minority-owned businesses can equitably compete for City contracts. FAS is a collaborative workplace with collective accountability to promote equity, respect, civility, integrity, inclusiveness, and fairness for all employees.
Oversee Citywide implementation of the Community Workforce Agreement (CWA), Priority Hire ordinance and SPS’ Student and Community Workforce Agreement (SCWA).
Lead your team in supporting citywide construction workforce development with an equity lens.
- Your team’s work will include cradle to grave management of CWA administration, technical assistance, monitoring and enforcement on 15 - 25 active construction projects each year.
- Your work will include leadership, coaching, supervision, prioritization, quality control and technical assistance for your team.
- Lead and manage personnel, operations, administrative and policy decisions related to the CWA and Priority Hire. Seek opportunities to improve policies and processes to enhance equity and service delivery.
- Provide technical expertise to all City departments and the Mayor’s Office on contractual, regulatory, political or community risks and requirements associated with the CWA and Priority Hire.
- Manage labor issue responses, including staffing assignments for complex labor issues, elevation to leadership, etc.
- Oversee the CWA negotiation strategy planning and coach staff who lead CWA negotiations.
Oversee the development, implementation and supervision of Priority Hire community investments, including new federal and local funding. - Provide guidance to the Program Manager and team who develop and implement the Request for Proposal (RFP) processes, contract negotiations and contract preparation.
- Support the Program Manager and team in capacity building and technical assistance support to community-based organizations who provide recruitment, pre-apprenticeship training and retention services under contract with Labor Equity.
- Develop and implement fiscal management strategies, like partnering with other public agencies to maximize resource utilization and achieve efficiencies. Oversee the Program Manager who directs billing and fiscal monitoring for consultant contracts.
Provide leadership in advocacy, collaboration, evaluation and coordination efforts to improve equity outcomes in recruitment, pre-apprenticeship training and retention in the construction industry.- Collaborate with Division Director and other City staff in planning and developing strategies for advancing major initiatives and programs, such as the application of community benefits on public-private projects, women-and minority-owned business (WMBE) equity and inclusion strategies and enforcement of Priority Hire.
- Partner with agencies such as Seattle Public Schools, private developers, regional public owners group, community groups, labor unions, training providers and people impacted by our policies and investments.
- Direct Program Manager who oversees Priority Hire Advisory Committee planning, membership management and coordination with the Mayor’s Office, King County and Port of Seattle.
- Direct Program Manager who oversees program and project analysis and evaluation.
Champion equity. - Promote and facilitate a safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace that supports employee engagement, innovation, and productivity.
- Lead and facilitate application of racial equity tools.
- Model best practices for service equity.
- Identify ways to support equitable outcomes within operations goals.
- Develop training, onboarding plans and performance evaluation for direct reports in collaboration with staff.
- Coordinate with Contract Compliance team on shared initiatives and procedures.
- Contribute to the development of special projects and proposals as needed.
- Two (2) years of experience of personnel management, team leadership or equivalent; and
- A four-year college degree in public administration, business, labor studies, human services, political science (or related field) or equivalent work experience that provide the requisite skills to perform the position’s job responsibilities; and
- Five (5) years of experience or equivalent in program management; project management; performance evaluation or analytical research-oriented work; or administration of government contracting issues for a public, private or community organization.
Note: Combination of education, experience and training will be considered to meet minimum qualifications. Two years of relevant experience is equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
In addition to the above, success in this role requires:- The experience and skills necessary to lead and coach a team of nine staff in a fast and politically sensitive environment.
- Advanced writing skills producing technical and politically sensitive correspondences, reports and memos.
- The ability to effectively communicate to a large, complex and diverse audience while sensitively addressing the concerns of numerous, often conflicting stakeholders.
- Demonstration of strategic analysis, planning and policy development from technical reports, contracts, codes or statutes.
The Ideal Candidate:The ideal candidate is highly functioning in a political and policy driven environment with the ability to listen, interpret intent, analyze problems and to formulate and implement solutions. The ideal candidate will have experience building and leading a multifaceted team while fostering an inclusive workplace culture. This candidate will have the ability to navigate difficult conversations and support others to grow and lead. Lastly, the ideal candidate will have skill in allocating resources toward attainment of assigned objectives and in the management and supervision of the work of others in the following areas:
- Labor agreement administration and monitoring,
- Partnering with various public and community partners,
- Advancing race and social justice initiatives,
- Public procurement policies and procedures,
- Collaborative strategy and analytical skills.
Work EnvironmentThis position requires a minimum of three days per week of onsite work. Alternative Work Arrangements and hybrid telework schedules for work conducted in a normal office environment may be considered and will be based on operational needs and consistency with City policies.
This position is classified as a Manager 2, Exempt. The full salary range for this job classification is $52.50 - $78.78 per hour. Starting salary is expected to be in the high end of the range and in alignment with internal equity. This position is FLSA exempt (not eligible for overtime) and is Civil Service exempt.
Application ProcessApplications are reviewed after the posting closes. You must submit the following items to be considered for this position no later than
4:00pm Pacific Time on the scheduled closed date.
- Completed NEOGOV online application.
- Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
- Current resume indicating relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and education.
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state “see my resume” or “see my personnel file” are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
Why work at the City of Seattle?
The
City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the
Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.
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