BOARD OF EDUCATION

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14202

RECRUITMENT BULLETIN RB # 22-098

Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer

August 1, 2022

Civil Service Residency will apply

NOTICE OF POSITION

OVERVIEW: Under the leadership of Interim Superintendent Dr. Tonja M. Williams, the Buffalo Public Schools has entered into the Education Bargain with Students and Parents.Currently, the Buffalo Public Schools is accepting applications from a diverse group of dedicated and engaged individuals for consideration of a District leadership role. The position of Chief Diversity Officer will service the district’s 59 schools and Central Office to serve the academic, emotional, and physical needs of the approximately 34,000 students and families through the essential elements of the Education Bargain as designated below.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

Reporting directly to the Superintendent of Schools, the incumbent will develop and implement strategies and services to collaborate with our diverse community and ascertain the needs of each community, with respect to building equity within all departments in BPS. Serve as an executive leadership member of BPS, suggesting, developing, promoting, and monitoring initiatives to improve contract goals; build positive relationships with applicable businesses, agencies, schools, organizations, and groups; help cultivate and foster a commitment to creating a workforce culture that promotes equity and inclusion; work with BPS department heads and divisions to help recruit and retain qualified employees that reflect the Schools diversity; be available to work with area businesses to assist in developing inclusion initiatives and/or highlighting businesses with successfully implemented initiatives. Serve as the Superintendent liaison to the Racial Equity Roundtable of Greater Buffalo.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Develop, promote and follow Buffalo Public Schools’ core equity values and expectations.
• Consult and facilitate the development and implementation of a District Equity Policy and Plan, specifically focused on student achievement matters and related equity professional development
  • Provides regular reports on progress toward goals.
• Design and deliver diversity, equity, and inclusion training to staff and families i.e. onboarding tool kits website.
• Brief the Superintendent on issues and trends that are emerging in the community, and suggest ideas that will promote participation, inclusion and integration.
  • Serve as an internal consultant to the Superintendent, Cabinet, Directors, Coordinators and Principals regarding organizational development, including philosophy and goals, service standards, job performance and productivity standards and special program development and implementation
  • Provide coordination, consultation and assistance to the superintendent and the cabinet on equity and diversity matters related to students, staff, and parents.
  • Promote and implement district and site-based approaches to community access and engagement
• Serve as liaison with businesses, boards and committees in order to be familiar with concerns of the diverse community and to better assist in solutions.
• Assist School and District Leaders, as well as Human Resource Office in developing programs that increase the hiring, retention and promotion of minority and ethnic employees, and that promote positive interaction between the departments and diverse groups.
• Coordinate diversity affairs programs and services with the Superintendent of School and the Department of Culturally Linguistically Responsive Initiatives
• Own and manage a budget focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) priorities
• Coordinate with the Department of Human Resources to create, implement and direct diversity awareness and other trainings for BPS employees.
  • Develop, organize and implement professional development opportunities for district, building, and program staff with an emphasis on racial and equity awareness.
• Coordinate with the Department of Human Resources and General Counsel to update and implement an effective EEO action plan.
• Attend diversity events, festivals and conventions on behalf of the Superintendent
• Provide information on grants, programs and opportunities that are available to assist BPS in its efforts to be more inclusive and to promote equity.
• Respond to requests for information from diversity groups and organizations.
• Serve on relevant committees and boards that promote inclusion as approved by the Superintendent.
• Seek, accept and incorporate input and feedback from the Superintendent, Corporation Counsel and other Department heads.
• Coordinate diversity-related media
• Supports and advise Administrators on inclusive leadership techniques with their teams.
• Understand the organization and operation of BPS and of other departments and agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Develop and implement systems and procedures to address to ensure that Minority and Women owned Businesses Enterprises (MWBE) contract requirements are followed.
• Utilize relevant data resources to track and analyze diversity, equity and outreach strategies within the district and community.
• Implement review, and comply with federal and state laws and district policies
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Superintendent.

FULL PERSORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Knowledge of current and evolving federal, state and district requirements related to equity issues.
• Knowledge of contemporary diversity, equity, inclusion and multiculturalism concepts and issues, especially in public education
• Knowledge of culturally-responsive teaching and education related practices, social justice and diversity as fundamental aspects of academic excellence
• Knowledge of diversity affairs principles and best practices;
• Knowledge of data and practices of BPS;
• Knowledge of methods of research, analysis and report preparation as well as business writing and composition; grammar, spelling and punctuation;
• Knowledge of current office procedures, methods and computer software and hardware including Microsoft Office and Windows operating system;
• Knowledge of MWBE and workforce diversity issues;
• Knowledge of fundamentals of problem-solving;
• Knowledge of and ability to lead people through a change process.  
• Knowledge of social media tools;
• Demonstrated leadership, collaboration, problem solving and influencing Skills
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate with students, parents, community representatives and school personnel from diverse cultures and/or backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability as a professional development trainer with skills in group facilitation and the ability to deliver cultural responsiveness and related equity training of school-based personnel.
• Ability to serves as an internal resource and consultant, working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders in a politically sensitive context and complicated by competing perspectives or interests.
• Ability to collect, analyze and use assessment, personnel, and other data
• Ability to provide support and input for the work of the Racial Equity Roundtable and assist in the implementation of equity and inclusion initiatives approved by the Superintendent of Schools.
• Ability to act under pressure; perform duties and tasks at expected levels of quality and quantity while remaining professional and tactful;
• Ability to adapt well to changes in the work environment; able to deal with frequent shifts in priorities or unexpected events;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions;
• Ability to communicate with the public and others in person, on the telephone, via e-mail and social media;
• Ability to conduct self with integrity and demonstrate ethical, respectful behavior at all times;
• Ability to communicate with a diverse constituency and adequately address the needs of various populations within BPS;
• Ability to be sensitive, truthful, sincere, and honest in dealing with others and ensure that diverse groups are integrated into the BPS community;
• Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multitask are needed to carry out the many demands of this position;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to be an engaging public speaker;

PREFERRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Masters’ degree from an accredited college or university in administration, public relations, communication, social work, sociology or a related field and three (3) to five (5) years of experience in equity, diversity and inclusion issues providing culturally responsive Trauma Informed services.

The Buffalo Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, religious practice, national origin, ethnic group, sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence), gender identity, sexual orientation (the term "sexual orientation" means heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or asexuality ), political affiliation, age, marital status, military status, veteran status, disability, weight, domestic violence victim status, arrest or conviction record, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by New York state and/or federal non-discrimination laws in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding the District's non-discrimination policies should be directed to HRCompliance@buffaloschools.org or to:  Tami Hollie McGee, Chief of Human Resources 719 City Hall Buffalo, NY 14202 (716) 816-3579