Access & Opportunity Officer

DeKalb County•Decatur, GA

About The Position

The Access & Opportunity Officer provides strategic leadership and oversight for countywide equity initiatives that promote fair and consistent access to services, opportunities, and resources. The role develops and implements policies, programs, and practices that support organizational effectiveness and community responsiveness, integrates accessibility, compliance, and service excellence into County operations and decision-making, and serves as the County’s principal advisor on accessibility, community engagement, and related matters. The position manages assigned staff and work, provides leadership and guidance to County departments on integrating equity principles, and serves as the County’s subject matter expert on equity, accessibility, and related best practices. It assesses organizational policies and practices, identifies barriers and disparities, develops recommendations and accountability measures, and reports findings to County leadership and stakeholders. The role also develops community and agency partnerships, advises on the equity impacts of proposed actions, supports education and organizational development, represents the County publicly, and monitors compliance with applicable requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Human Resources, Social Sciences, Organizational Development, Law, Political Science, or a closely related field.
Six years of progressively responsible experience in public sector administration, human resources, compliance, public policy, strategic planning, community engagement, or a related field.
Three years of management or supervisory experience.
Experience must provide the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for the job.
No specific license or certification is required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

Manage, direct, and evaluate assigned staff, including work schedules, leave, employee concerns, performance appraisals, work direction, and training.
Organize, prioritize, and assign work; ensure staff have resources; monitor progress and completed work; provide technical guidance and reports; revise procedure manuals; and oversee contractors.
Guide County departments and employees in integrating equity principles into policies, programs, services, budgeting, planning, and operations.
Promote consistent equity-focused strategies and facilitate cross-departmental collaboration to address systemic barriers and disparities.
Research trends, legislation, and best practices related to equity and accessibility, and recommend strategies to improve equitable access.
Conduct organizational and employee assessments, equity audits, and analyses of policies, programs, and practices; identify inequities and recommend corrective action.
Monitor implementation of approved improvements.
Develop accountability frameworks, performance indicators, and reporting mechanisms; collect and analyze data; and prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for County leadership and stakeholders.
Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations, advocacy groups, governmental agencies, educational institutions, and other stakeholders; serve as the County’s primary liaison on equity- and access-related matters.
Advise executive leadership on the equity impacts of proposed policies, initiatives, programs, and legislative actions.
Collaborate with departmental leadership and employees on training, education, and organizational development initiatives that advance equity goals.
Represent the County at meetings, conferences, public forums, and community events; deliver presentations and briefings; and promote awareness of County equity initiatives and accomplishments.
Monitor compliance with federal, state, and local equity- and accessibility-related regulations, mandates, and reporting requirements, and recommend actions to ensure compliance.