Agency Deputy Chief Equal Opportunity Officer (ADCEOO) - NYCT

Agency Deputy Chief Equal Opportunity Officer (ADCEOO) – NYCT

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Agency Chief Equal Opportunity Officer, the Agency Deputy Chief Equal Opportunity Officer (DCEOO) is responsible for assisting the Chief Equal Opportunity Officer in evaluating compliance and making recommendations for appropriate action within advanced and diverse functions in the areas of Title VI, EEO, Environmental Justice, and LEP. This position assists with the audit, monitoring, and administration of the Agency’s policies, practices, and procedures to ensure equity, access, opportunity, and inclusion in the Agency workforce, services, programs, and benefits.

Responsibilities

• Select, develop, and motivate personnel within the department. Provide career development for subordinates. Provide prompt and effective coaching and counseling. Responsible for discipline/termination of employees when necessary. Review the performance of staff. Create a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables all employees to develop and contribute to their full potential.
• Conduct investigations into EEO and Title VI cases, as needed. Prepare investigative plans, interview parties and witnesses, review relevant documentation, and prepare investigative reports for submission to the Chief Equal Opportunity Officer for review and final approval. Monitor and track EEO and Title VI investigative reports, including final approval determinations and closure of complaints.
• Ensure all nondiscrimination programs are updated, approved by management, and coordinated through the appropriate channels for timely submission to the Federal Transit Administration.
• Facilitate conversations with intra‑agency and cross‑agency stakeholders to provide information, attain collaboration, collect statistics, and share program status.
• Evaluate statistical data and trends relevant to Equal Opportunity compliance to determine whether the Agency’s practices, policies, procedures, or pending decisions have or will likely result in disparate impact or disparate treatment and recommend alternative approaches to eradicate or minimize such occurrences.
• Work closely with Capital Programs, Planning, Government and Communications Relations, Operations, Human Resources, Labor Relations, and other applicable areas and stakeholders to ensure that Agency executives, managers, supervisors, and staff are well‑informed regarding the existence of and their responsible roles within MTA’s Equal Employment Opportunity, Title VI/ Environmental Justice, and Limited English Proficiency Programs.
• Work conjunctively with the Agency Chief Equal Opportunity Officer in review of relevant policies, procedures, and practices to assure alignment with MTA’s commitment to equal opportunity (equity, access, diversity, and inclusion) and determine if disparities exist relative to compliance with EEO, Title VI, Environmental Justice, and LEP regulations. Make appropriate recommendations to resolve any identified issues.
• Assist with the development, update, coordination for approval, and implementation of all aspects of the Agency EEO Program and the Agency Title VI, Environmental Justice, and LEP Program.
• Assist management in collecting and analyzing employment data, identifying problem areas and trends, setting goals and timetables, and developing programs to achieve goals for the Agency EEO Program.
• Ensure that a cross‑section of various social, economic, and ethnic interest groups is represented in the planning process. Attend planning meetings as well as public meetings to verify the level of participation of Title VI protected group members. Participate in the review of the Agency’s Title VI Equity Analysis to determine whether decisions will result in adverse effects that are disproportionately borne by minority or low‑income populations.
• Review the Agency’s nondiscrimination plan with managers and supervisors to ensure that the policy is understood.
• Assist the Chief Equal Opportunity Officer by reviewing Agency interview panels and by providing EEO concurrence for new hires, promotions, and transfers. Such a review may include: checking for proper posting; reviewing the job description to ascertain the appropriate title and accurate reflection of the core essence of the position, education and experience consistency, salary grade alignment, placement in the proper EEO category; applicant pool analysis; compensation analysis; and examination of the interview process.
• Remain current on EEO, Title VI, Environmental Justice, and Limited English Proficiency laws and regulations. Ensure required EEO, Title VI, and LEP communications are disseminated internally and externally in accordance with program assurances. Assist with the development of and tracking attendance in training for managers, supervisors, and staff required by the EEO, Title VI, Environmental Justice, and LEP Programs.
• Ensure that the Agency’s frontline supervisors/managers and employees receive EEO and Title VI training and are aware of MTA’s Language Assistance Plan.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of Federal, State, city, and local laws governing nondiscrimination of employees, applicants, and customers, and mitigation of disproportionate impact/burden to communities.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, or performing extensive work with EEO/Affirmative Action, Title VI, or similar Civil Rights Programs.
• Demonstrated experience in overseeing and conducting EEO and/or Title VI investigations.
• Demonstrated proficiency with developing, coordinating, and analyzing data to produce Equal Opportunity‑related reports to meet Federal and State mandates.
• Demonstrated ability to advise, counsel, and encourage senior‑level managers, executives, and stakeholders to make policy changes and decisions that support diversity and ensure equal employment opportunity.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, effectively, and comfortably in a team oriented, fast‑paced environment both within the agency and across agencies.
• Advanced knowledge and comprehensive understanding of Human Resources issues and processes within a large organization with represented and non‑represented employees.
• Advanced facilitation, mediation, advocacy, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with all internal levels within a given organization, including the MTA Board.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact well with external agencies. External agencies may include the Governor’s Office for New York State, the New York City government, elected and other public officials, as well as any staff located at other federal or state agencies or authorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a high‑profile, high‑pressure environment effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with key internal and/or external stakeholders.
• Must have strong managerial skills to effectively direct a staff of professional and technical employees in implementing the short‑ and long‑term goals and direction for the area of responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to complete short‑ and long‑term projects effectively and as efficiently as possible.
• Demonstrated analytical capabilities and quantitative skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or comparable applications, i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in either HR, Public Administration, Planning, or a related major from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in conducting EEO and/or Title VI investigations with progressively responsible, diversified senior‑level experience designing, developing, directing, reviewing, and evaluating HR and/or civil rights programs. These programs should include Equal Employment Opportunity, affirmative action, Title VI, and diversity and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Arts/Sciences (MA/MS) or a JD degree in a related field.
• Minimum 4 years in a managerial and/or leadership role in a large, multi‑faced, fast‑paced organization or governmental body.
• Familiarity with the MTA’s policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with the MTA’s collective bargaining procedures.
• Attainment of or in the process of attaining specific functional licenses or certifications in the area of specialty, if applicable.

Other Information

• May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends).
• Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.