Chief Diversity Officer - Central Ohio Transit Authority

Join the organization that received Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award from the American Public Transit Association in 2018 & 2020!

Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is Central Ohio's public transportation provider, providing nearly 19 million passenger trips per year servicing Franklin County and parts of Delaware, Fairfield, Licking and Union counties. Guided by our 2019-2024 Strategic Plan, our vision is to move every life forward. Our mission is to provide solutions that connect people to prosperity through innovation, dedication and teamwork.

Location: 33 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Benefits: COTA offers competitive benefits including medical/Rx, vision, dental, supplemental insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, employee discounts, employee bus pass; wellness initiatives, on-site cooking classes & chair massages, on-site Health Coaches & Dietitians, tuition reimbursement and retirement benefits through OPERS & Ohio Deferred Compensation.

Position Summary:

COTA's Chief Equity Officer is responsible for developing, leading, and executing diversity, equity and inclusion strategies that foster an inclusive organizational culture and equitable service delivery. This role ensures the agency's workforce, policies, and practices reflect the values of diversity, respect, and inclusion, while addressing systemic inequalities both internally and in the communities COTA serves.

Performs other duties in alignment with the 2019 - 2024 COTA Strategic Plan and in support of the organization's vision to Move Every Life Forward.

This Position is Responsible For:

• Owns and leads the strategy, design, implementation and execution of COTA's EDI internal and external strategy. Serves as the primary advisor for equity, diversity, and inclusion practices;
• Sets measurable DEI objectives for both internal workforce development and external community engagement;
• Passionately champions COTA's DEI programming and interacts with the CEO, the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Board of Trustees to influence, educate and guide on actions relating to COTA's DEI strategy and programming;
• Promote and monitor programs that encourage the participation of minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses in COTA's procurement process; collaborates with Procurement to ensure supplier diversity targets are met;
• Collects and analyzes data to ensure compliance with all COTA regulations and policies as they relate to COTA's DEI goals and EEO programming;
• Supports COTA's existing employee resource groups and fosters the creation of additional groups;
• Creates innovative solutions to strengthen cultural competencies across the business to support a growing organization;
• Collaborates with Learning & Development on trainings needs; develops new diversity training programs for the organization including initial identification of needs to content development, implementation, facilitation and evaluation;
• Designs, monitors and reports actionable and measurable diversity and inclusion goals and metrics in alignment with strategic organizational goals;
• Responsible for reporting outcomes to the COTA Board of Directors on a regular basis;
• Partners with External Relations to identify and foster relationships with external networks and local, state, and national organizations as part of diversifying community outreach and inclusion efforts;
• Collaborates with Planning and Transportation to ensure DEI and access in new and existing services and services areas;
• Stays informed of emerging EDI trends and best practices in public transit and other industries; and,
• Evaluates existing initiatives, programs and policies and recommends enhancements to promote a more diverse and inclusive culture and workforce.

At Minimum You'll Need:

• Requires a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Economics or related field and a minimum of five (5) years' experience directing and managing diversity, disadvantaged business enterprise and equity programs, plans and initiatives. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Advanced degree is preferred.

COTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are of core importance and essential to the success of the organization. All employment decisions are based on job needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. COTA believes that diverse and inclusive organizations gain the benefits in creating a stronger and more effective workforce resulting in services that better meet the needs of consumers and in result Move Every Life Forward.