Workforce Equity Compliance Officer

City of New Haven•New Haven, CT

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Introduction The City of New Haven's Commission on Equal Opportunities (CEO) is the oldest municipal civil rights agency in the United States. In 1963, Mayor Richard C. Lee, upon his return from a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors with President John F. Kennedy, decided that the social turmoil of the times, especially around racial equality and other human rights, demanded local action. Mayor Lee thus established a fact-finding committee on human rights, which held numerous public hearings regarding civil and human rights issues challenging the public and private sectors. The Committee's findings included a recommendation that the City establish a Commission on Equal Opportunities that would combat racial and other types of discrimination and that would promote intergroup harmony. The Committee then drafted an ordinance for that purpose and submitted it to the New Haven Board of Alders. In 1964, the Board of Alders adopted the ordinance, establishing the Commission. Today, the Commission's mandate has expanded as society's understanding of who we are has grown. It is the responsibility of the Commission on Equal Opportunities to promote mutual understanding and respect among, and encourage equality of opportunity, for all the people of New Haven without regard for their race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, familial status, and physical disability. We conduct programs of education, research, investigation, and action for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Ordinance . The commission also works with governmental and private organizations and groups for the purpose of achieving harmonious inter-group relations in the community by developing and establishing positive programs which will help all members of the community enjoy equality in all phases of community life. PRIMARY FUNCTIONS This position plays a key role in advancing the City’s mission to ensure fairness, inclusion, and opportunity in all City-supported construction projects. This position is responsible for enforcing the City of New Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12 ½ Article II (Hiring Practices in the Construction Trades) as well as applicable Federal, State, and City mandates governing workforce equity and wage standards within City-related construction projects. The incumbent monitors contractor compliance with these requirements, including equal employment opportunity requirements; affirmative action hiring goals; apprentice recruitment and training obligations; and adherence to the City’s Living Wage, State prevailing wage, and Federal prevailing wage scales. The purpose of this work is to increase the participation of minority and women workers in the construction industry and to ensure all workers receive fair and lawful compensation. Core responsibilities include conducting site visits to verify compliance, preparing related reports and statistical analyses, identifying and documenting violations, and recommending corrective actions or penalties as appropriate.

Requirements

Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Business Administration, Public Administration, Construction Management, Sociology, Urban Studies, Industrial Relations or a related field; OR a one-year certificate in related studies from a technical school.
A minimum of 1 year experience in compliance monitoring, construction or construction project administration, human resources, labor relations, contract oversight, workforce development, community outreach, or a closely related field.
Knowledge of affirmative action principles, workforce equity policies, and equal employment opportunity practices.
Familiarity with the construction industry, labor standards, and workforce structures.
Ability to interpret and apply Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.
Ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and present statistical data accurately.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information clearly to varied audiences.
Proficiency in using computers, tablets, and mobile applications for documentation and reporting.
Proficiency in using applications such as Word and Excel for creating documents, reports, correspondence, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Competency in using email clients (e.g., Outlook, Gmail) and calendar applications for scheduling and managing correspondence.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with staff, other City departments, contractors, public officials, labor unions, external partners, community members, and the general public.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced environment
Ability to work well under pressure.
Demonstrated experience handling sensitive/confidential records.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively in a diverse community, recognizing and respecting cultural differences, and fostering an inclusive environment.
Must have and maintain a valid driver’s State of Connecticut driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Coursework or certification in Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance, affirmative action, or workforce diversity is ideal.
Experience working with or auditing contractors, labor unions, apprenticeship programs, or workforce utilization plans is highly desirable.
Experience analyzing workforce data, preparing compliance reports, or conducting outreach to community or industry stakeholders is advantageous.
In lieu of college degree or technical school certification, an additional 1 ½ years of closely related experience may be substituted.

Responsibilities

Conducts on-site inspections of City-related construction projects to ensure compliance with workforce equity, workers comp insurance review, OSHA card verification, I-9 review, and wage laws.
Analyzes and reviews daily workforce reports, interviews employees, and evaluates documentation for accuracy and completeness
Prepares reports on results of site visits.
Prepares comprehensive compliance reports summarizing findings, trends, and project progress.
Uses mobile devices and/or compliance software to document site visits and maintain accurate inspection records.
Investigates potential violations and recommends appropriate corrective action or penalties.
Assists in pre-bid, pre-construction, and pre-award meetings to explain City, State, and Federal requirements related to workforce utilization, apprenticeship programs, required training programs, and wage standards.
Reviews contractors’ affirmative action plans, workforce projections, payroll certifications, and policy statements.
Advises contractors and labor unions on strategies to recruit, train, and retain women, residents, and minority workers.
Represents the Commission at community meetings, outreach events, and workforce development trainings and workshops.
Assists in developing, delivering, and presenting of educational materials and training sessions that explain mandated workforce equity requirements.
Performs related work as required.