Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $128,776.71 of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.Please note the job title for this position has been recently updated to "HEALTH EQUITY OFFICER" from "RACIAL AND HEALTH EQUITY OFFICER".
THE COMMUNITY
Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and five golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best–value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America’s Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach, a charter city formed in 1897, is governed by nine City Council Members elected by district and a city-wide elected Mayor. Other elected officials include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The elected officials are elected to staggered four-year terms. The City Council appoints the City Manager and City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Utilities Department (Water and Gas) and Energy Resources Departments.
The City is supported by a FY 2024 total budget of approximately $3.3 billion with a General Fund budget of $719 million. More than 6,000 full and part-time employees support municipal operations with the vast majority being represented by twelve employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Health and Human Services has been improving the health of the Long Beach community for over a century, and Long Beach is one of only three municipal health jurisdictions in the State of California, as well as one of three City homeless continuums of care in Los Angeles County. The Department recently received public health reaccreditation and works to address matters of public health and safety, including communicable disease, strengthening the public safety net, and equitable access to care. Of the Department’s $170 million budget, more than 80% comes from grant funding. The Department is overseen by the Director of Health and Human Services and has more than 55 programs serving the health and wellness of the City. It is organized into seven bureaus—Community Health, Communicable Disease and Emergency Response, Collective Impact, Environmental Health, Homeless Services, the Housing Authority, and Administrative and Financial Services. The Department operates its programs and services as efficiently and effectively as possible, using technology, innovation, and creativity to enhance the quality of services provided to the Long Beach community.
Under the supervision of the Collective Impact Bureau Manager, the Health Equity Officer will:
- Provide effective leadership, administration, and management of the Racial and Health Equity Division.
- Lead a team, comprised of coordinators and a manager, providing oversight, mentorship, and performance management.
- Collaborate with the Health Data and Analytics Officer to develop equity metrics and implementation strategies to ensure the Department advances its equity-focused goals outlined in the Department’s Strategic Plan, the City’s 2030 Strategic Vision, the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative, and Racial Equity Action Plan.
- Collaborate extensively with local, state, and federal jurisdictions to advocate communities disproportionately affected by inequities and share best practices.
- Drive Department initiatives to prioritize and integrate community perspectives in all strategic planning, activities, and decision-making processes.
- Work with Department leadership to navigate complex challenges as they pertain to addressing health disparities.
- Identify innovative strategies for services and funding to build and support for programming in the Division.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with community members, groups, and non-profit agencies and collaborate with them to create systemic change.
- Actively seek grants and participate in grant writing efforts to sustain and expand the programs within the division.
- Oversee general fund and grant funded programs and ensure the proper allocation of funds.
- Collaborate with government agencies, advocacy groups, and legislators to advocate for policy changes that reduce health disparities.
- Use data to inform decision-making and report progress on racial and health equity initiatives to leadership, boards, commissions and/or City Council.
- Lead the development and delivery of training programs to increase staff capacity in understanding and addressing racial and health inequities and provide equity-focused guidance to departmental programs to help integrate these principles into their work.
- Foster a workplace culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion through ongoing education, workshops, and initiatives.
- Performs other duties as assigned, with the understanding that responsibilities may evolve to meet the needs of the department and its initiatives.
EDUCATION
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Planning, Social Work, Psychology, or a closely related field.(Proof required.)
- Candidates may substitute experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
EXPERIENCE
- Three (3) years of full-time, progressively responsible relevant experience coordinating public health, DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging), or racial equity programming.
- A minimum of one (1) year of the required experience must have been in a management or supervisory capacity.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working with marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
- Familiarity with government health policy and advocacy work.
- Proven track record of leading racial equity training programs.
- Demonstrated success in leading teams and managing complex, cross-functional projects.
- Deep understanding of health disparities, social determinants of health, and systemic racism.
- Experienced in data interpretation and data-driven decision-making.
- Experienced with theories and frameworks related to health equity, social determinants of health, and cultural competence.
- Capacity to lead initiatives that advance health equity and influence the department’s strategic direction toward equity-focused outcomes.
- Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
- Proactive, engaged and responsive, with the ability to take initiative in meeting with staff across the department to gain a comprehensive understanding of equity-focused initiatives within departmental operations.
This recruitment will close on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 11:59 pm. To be considered, applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, proof of education (if qualifying). Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination before appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact (562) 570-7165.
The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.
The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.
The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting the Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov).
The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-7165.
In support of the City’s Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public.
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