Equity Initiatives Manager

Oregon Community Foundation

Equity Initiatives Manager

Location: Portland, OR

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Background:

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) was founded in 1973 with a big mission: to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In partnership with donors and volunteers, OCF works to strengthen communities in every county in Oregon through research, grantmaking, and scholarships. In 2022, OCF distributed more than $180 million, supporting 3,500 grantees and awarding more than 3,000 scholarships. With OCF, individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create charitable funds that meet the needs of diverse communities statewide. 2023 marks OCF’s 50th anniversary. Since its founding, OCF has distributed more than $2.2 billion in community investments, including grants to 10,850 nonprofits and 53,375 scholarships to students. Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them.

OCF is an Equal Opportunity Employer with five offices throughout Oregon in Bend, Eugene, Medford, Portland and Salem. Come join our team. To learn more, please visit: oregoncf.org.

Primary Purpose:

The Equity Initiatives Manager reports to the Chief Community Engagement and Equity Officer. (CCEEO). This position serves as a strategic thought partner to the CCEEO, assisting in the development and implementation of strategies that are grounded in the Foundation’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across all Oregon communities. This role is highly collaborative and supports organizational leaders in developing strategies aligned with best practice that promote bridge building in their work as the organization continues efforts to embed EDI in all that we do. The approach to EDI work at OCF is integrated and aligned. Leaders seek a shared language and understanding of the work which is embedded in all efforts across the organization. This role is not compliance oriented but rather supports senior leaders in evolving strategies to build capacity across the organization and meet EDI targets. This includes development and implementation of an organization-wide plan that consists of an action plan and metrics reflecting intentional community engagement, grant making, and a sense of belonging throughout the Foundation.

The Equity Initiatives Manager role makes recommendations that support foundation leaders and colleagues as they lead OCF’s statewide EDI work. The manger will participate in learning communities, share knowledge, and develop progress reports and presentations to the CEO, Executive team, OCF’s Board EDI Committee, and the full board.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Strategy and Leadership - Percentage of Time: 50%

• Support the CCEEO with the development and implementation of an EDI plan that reflects OCF’s strategy to promote EDI in all aspects of our work.
• Lead creative EDI strategies that span all Oregon communities. Tasks include researching best practices, developing data visualizations, strategic planning, and program development efforts.
• Recommend third-party service providers specializing in EDI training and consulting across all areas of work within the organization and across the state.
• Analyze, develop and recommend goals and metrics to enhance the evaluation of organization-wide strategic planning and statewide EDI efforts.
• Stay current with diversity-related issues, legislation, and best practices.
• Spearhead the development of key definitions, data collection, and reporting strategies that reflect multiple ways to evaluate the foundation’s statewide EDI efforts in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Initiate strategies that support organizational leaders in developing and implementing Equity Plan goals.

• Represent OCF at communities of practice and other learning opportunities to bring back learnings and increase organizational capacity.
• Represent OCF at local and national conferences and events in order to share OCF's work and impact.

• Collaborate and engage with program staff across the state to maintain practices and standards for OCF bridging and belonging strategies that address regional needs.
• Keep abreast of research and trends about effective and innovative practices.
• Serve as a resource for OCF staff, leaders, volunteers, donors, and other stakeholders to implement standards for OCF bridging and belonging work.

2. Collaboration and Engagement - Percentage of Time: 30%

• Present information and facilitate discussions that help create learning within the organization and with community partners.
• In collaboration with OCF leaders, develop intentional alignment of EDI activities between OCF staff and Board activities and OCF’s statewide initiatives.
• Exhibit a strong commitment to a climate of Bridging and Belonging through interaction with individuals and agencies inside and outside the Foundation, including the Board of Directors.
• Provide project management oversight and support for key EDI projects and the overall OCF Statewide Equity Plan.
• Coordinate community engagement efforts to support the work.

3. Communications - Percentage of Time: 20%

• In collaboration with OCF’s Marketing and Communications team, develop routine communications that convey organizational efforts and celebrate milestones within the foundation and across the state.
• In collaboration with OCF’s Marketing and Communications team, develop internal and external facing communications regarding OCF’s statewide EDI efforts.
• Develop reports and materials for OCF leadership and the Board EDI Committee to support a shared understanding of the foundation’s statewide EDI work.

Supervisory Responsibilities - Percentage of Time: 0%

• No supervisory responsibilities

Required Cultural Values: In addition to the specific job requirements for each position, staff are expected to embody certain cultural values to support OCF’s mission: communicate effectively, value one another, demonstrate accountability, embrace possibilities, address conflict and take action.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications for the role.

Required Education and Experience:

• 6 years’ relevant work experience that includes research and evaluation; data visualization and reporting; design and implementation of community engagement strategies; program and organizational development as well as change management strategies.
• Preferred candidates bring expertise developing equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives and experience utilizing techniques that allow them to exercise leadership in a diverse and collaborative environment.

• Advanced experience establishing and maintaining culturally effective working relationships with individuals from various groups and backgrounds, including employees, team members, and community members.

• Experience working in a nonprofit or grantmaking organization preferred, but not required.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public administration, cross-cultural communication, sociology, psychology/behavior science, multicultural studies, research and evaluation, diversity management, or a related field. Equivalent experience in lieu of degree is acceptable.

Required Professional Competencies:

• Experience in cross-cultural leadership and project management.
• Experience in issues surrounding access, equity, diversity, inclusion, implicit bias, and institutional racism.

• Lived experience and significant relationships that lend to success in this role.
• Cultural agility skills needed to work with diverse groups of people.
• Strong analytical skills – including the knowledge and ability to think critically, solve problems, conduct research, analyze data, implement plans and policies effectively.
• Able to synthesize and share complex data to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to track and manage data with appropriate tools and resources.
• Good planning and organization skills – able to design and present informative, engaging information for internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong communication and meeting facilitation skills – able to make public presentations and facilitate meetings.
• Superior writing skills; able to prepare written materials that convey information clearly.
• Collaborative, able to address conflicting needs, able to prioritize tasks appropriately and diplomatically, and able to support and mentor others.
• Strong knowledge of MS Windows, Outlook, Excel, Word, and Internet. Previous experience working with integrated databases.
• Requires valid driver’s license and personal vehicle for regular use to effectively perform job duties.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: This job is typically performed under very comfortable working conditions; any disagreeable elements are generally absent during normal performance of the job. Job duties are performed in an office setting or indoor meeting rooms and include keyboarding proficiency and basic computer work requiring use of keyboard for several hours at a time, ability to sit or stand for several hours at a time. Position requires driving.

The amount of effort typically applied and the frequency of application: (Whereas, the following refers to lifting, any equivalent effort may be substituted.)

Less than 1 pound – Effort applied 40-70% of time.

Between 1 and 5 pounds – Effort applied 15-40% of the time

Between 5 and 25 pounds – Effort applied less than 15% of the time

The effort above is typically applied while sitting or standing.

Travel – Percentage of Time: 5%

Travel is required for performance of job duties - across the state for meetings and events and occasionally requiring an overnight stay.

Safety: Support a safe work environment by performing work duties safely and according to procedures. This includes reporting all injuries, illnesses or accidents sustained while working to your immediate supervisor as soon as possible after the occurrence or within 24 hours of the injury, illness or accident, and reporting any accident involving OCF vehicles, equipment or other property, regardless of the nature of the accident, to your immediate supervisor as soon as possible after the accident.

Attendance Requirements: Regular punctuality and attendance are required. Work outside regular business hours is occasionally required.

Compensation and Benefits: This is an exempt, full-time position. The hiring range for this position is $76,000 to $90,000, DOE. Salary offers are determined in conjunction with an internal pay equity assessment.

Our excellent benefit package includes generous paid time off, choice of medical and dental coverage, vision, outstanding 401k retirement plan, commuter and healthcare pre-tax savings accounts, employer-paid disability and life. Employees have access to an Employee Assistance Plan, paid volunteer leave, professional development opportunities, and much more!

To Apply: The Oregon Community Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We strive to build a diverse workforce to promote effective work in partnership with all communities and population groups in Oregon. We welcome a diverse pool of qualified applicants.

To be considered for this position, please provide a cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of this position and a copy of your most recent resume. Apply online at https://oregoncf.org/about/careers/