HUMAN RIGHTS SPECIALIST

Worcester Public Library•Worcester, MA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Worcester is seeking qualified applicants for a Human Rights Specialist for the Executive Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EODEI). Under the direction of the Director of Human Rights and Accessibility, the Human Rights Specialist will play a crucial role in ensuring equal opportunities for all and combating discrimination based on protected class categories. This position will assist in administering the City's Human Rights Ordinance, Accessibility Ordinance, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Fair Housing laws to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws. The Human Rights Specialist is an in-person position and will serve as a liaison to one or more boards or commissions, as assigned. Responsibilities include receiving processing and assist with investigating complaints and reasonable accommodation requests, engaging directly with the public, facilitating ADA accommodations, and supporting public education efforts around civil rights protections. The role involves attending regular evening and off-site meetings with the public and city departments to fulfill essential job functions. The ideal candidate will possess experience in oversight and/or compliance at the local, state, or federal level, with a focus on civil rights, investigative work, and/or program coordination. The City of Worcester is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work. Over the past two years, we have significantly expanded the Executive Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, demonstrating both our dedication and investment in building a more inclusive and equitable community. This growth reflects our ongoing support for systemic change and our belief that a strong, well-resourced DEI team is essential to achieving meaningful progress across City departments and services. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Knowledge or the ability to learn about the legal and administrative requirements for investigating, preparing, and processing cases of alleged discrimination.
Knowledge, experience, and awareness of anti-discrimination laws, including M.G.L. c. 151B, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the MA Open Meeting Law
Ability to analyze and interpret anti-discrimination laws and regulations.
Ability to analyze information, make recommendations and provide information to the public.
Ability to assist in the development of policies and practices and adhere to City policies and procedures.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with senior management, employees, board and commission members, and the public.
Demonstrated ability to carefully review work, identify errors or inconsistencies, and ensure completeness and accuracy in tasks, data, and documentation.
Personal and professional commitment to fairness for all people.
Ability to work independently.
Superior analytical skills and problem-solving abilities, including a demonstrated ability to proactively assist in identifying solutions that are creative, innovative, and flexible.
Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills.
Highly skilled at listening to the perspectives of competing interests and making clear, well-informed decisions and presentations of City and departmental policies, practices, and procedures.
Ability to multi-task within fast moving and often stressful timelines and environment.
Commitment to maintaining a high level of confidentiality.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Ability to research and create presentation materials to present to diverse audiences.
Commitment to DEI/Human/Civil/Disability rights and remain positively motivated.
Knowledge and experience working in a Human/Civil rights capacity at an agency, dept./organization to support all human rights and accessibility initiatives/work.
Superior ability demonstrated by experience performing customer service with complex issues working with diverse populations.
Regular on-site attendance is required.
Bachelor's degree in Human Rights/Civil Rights, Social Justice, Law or a related field OR;
An equivalent combination of education, training and five (5) years of relevant experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job will be considered in lieu of the above requirements
Three (3) years of professional experience working in human rights or civil rights Knowledge of DEI principles and related laws including anti- discrimination and Disability/ADA laws
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
Experience performing administrative tasks in an office environment
Experience providing customer service in an office environment
Excellent communication skills
Reliable means of transportation

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Human Rights/Civil Rights, and Social Justice, Law or a related field
Five (5) years of relevant experience working with and supporting urban and culturally diverse agencies,
department or organization
Five (5) years of experience developing and delivering and administering programs, implementing and assessing policies
Three (3) years of experience performing administrative tasks in an office environment
Three (3) years of experience providing customer service in an office environment
Two (2) years of experience working in mediation
Certificate or specialized training in Mediation
Knowledge and experience about the MA Open Meeting Law

Responsibilities

Support and promote human and civil rights initiatives across the City of Worcester.
Work on issues requiring substantial knowledge of federal, state, and municipal anti-discrimination laws, including housing and disability rights.
Serve as the primary or initial point of contact for Human Rights and Accessibility complaints.
Receive, facilitate, and process ADA reasonable accommodation requests and other accessibility- or disability-related concerns.
Participate in interactive dialogue processes as assigned by the Director.
Assist in the development and implementation of department policies, complaint processes, and procedures.
Provide customer service and support to individuals involved in complaint or investigation processes, handling complex and confidential matters with empathy and professionalism.
Assist with confidential work related to investigations, witness interviews, evidence gathering, and referrals as necessary to complete assigned duties.
Monitor, process, and maintain detailed case records and data tracking systems.
Attend and contribute to scheduled departmental meetings, providing updates to relevant staff and administrators on case status.
Serve as staff liaison to assigned boards and commissions.
Maintain board minutes and ensure compliance with the Open Meeting Law.
Develop, post, and monitor public meeting agendas and other documents in accordance with legal requirements.
Assist with commission projects such as community events and outreach, which may include evening work.
Develop topics and assign guest speakers for meetings and coordinate related logistics and activities.
Conduct research and develop training materials related to anti-discrimination law, reasonable accommodations, and ADA compliance.
Deliver presentations to city departments and boards/commissions on relevant civil rights topics.
Collaborate with colleagues to support the growth and development of EODEI programming and trainings.
Partner with internal and external stakeholders to promote and expand the impact of human rights protections citywide.
Attend community events that align with the mission and work of the Human Rights and Accessibility Office to support recruitment and outreach efforts.
Establish and maintain strong working relationships with community-based organizations across Worcester to build trust, collaboration, and information gathering.
Represent the Human Rights and Accessibility Office by tabling at public events, distributing informational materials, and promoting available resources, board and commission membership and opportunities to the public.
Accompany the Chief Equity Officer to stakeholder meetings, neighborhood gatherings, and events with community leaders, as appropriate, to enhance visibility, engagement, and partnership-building.