Champion Equity, Protect Rights, Transform Systems – Lead Madison’s Department of Civil Rights
The City of Madison is launching a search for an exceptional and visionary leader to serve as the next Director of the Department of Civil Rights. This executive-level role is central to shaping the City’s civil rights strategy, strengthening equity and inclusion across government operations, and advancing justice and opportunity throughout the Madison community. The successful candidate will bring strategic insight, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to civil rights as they guide a department recognized for its leadership and impact.
For more information about the Department of Civil Rights, please visit their webpage.
The RoleThe Civil Rights Director provides overall vision and direction for the Department of Civil Rights and its three divisions—Equity and Social Justice; Affirmative Action; and Equal Opportunities. Together, these divisions drive the City’s internal and external civil rights work, from advancing equitable hiring and contracting practices to ensuring language access, disability rights, and equal opportunity across City services. Externally, the Department leads community outreach and education, administers complaint investigation and resolution processes, builds strategic partnerships, and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal civil rights laws.
This role oversees all managerial and administrative functions of the department, including leading, coordinating, and evaluating staff, programs, and services. The position requires substantial independent judgment and discretion in planning, directing, and implementing departmental functions, and operates under the general direction of the Mayor.
Employment will be governed by a five-year contract negotiated by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council. Residency within the City of Madison is required.
What We’re Looking For
A leader who knows how to turn vision into action. You thrive in complex environments, balancing innovation with regulatory expertise. Our ideal candidate is:
- A strong people leader who supports professional growth and fosters a healthy, inclusive workplace
- A strong communicator who builds trust with staff, partners, and the community
- Innovative and willing to challenge outdated processes in pursuit of better outcomes
- Skilled in interpreting and applying federal, state, and local civil rights laws
- Knowledgeable in civil rights programs and policies, including Affirmative Action (AA), Equal Opportunities (EO), Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and related areas
- Deeply committed to equity, with a broad, intersectional understanding of civil rights and the historical movements that shaped them
- Grounded in values of sustainability, fairness, and long-term systems change
IMPORTANT: THERE ARE TWO (2) SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTIONS ON THE JOB POSTING.YOU MUST ATTACH YOUR RESPONSES IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION. YOU MUST ALSO ATTACH A RESUME.(To view the questions, click on the supplemental question tab OR view the bottom section of the job bulletin)**APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT ATTACHED ESSAY RESPONSES AND RESUME WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION.**Our Community
The City of Madison is regularly included in lists of top places to live. A thriving food scene, more than 200 miles of trails for hiking, biking and snowshoeing, excellent healthcare, and of course great transit work together to help meet Madison’s vision to be inclusive, innovative, and thriving. Madison is actively working to become a more welcoming and inclusive community through ongoing initiatives, partnerships, and investments that support diverse populations and advance racial equity. Local organizations and spaces such as the Madison Black Business Hub, Centro Hispano of Dane County, and the The Center for Black Excellence and Culture play an important role in fostering community, supporting entrepreneurs, and creating spaces for connection and belonging.Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through thePublic Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn’t match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.
Executive Leadership
- Provide high-level interpretation and integration of federal and state law into City operations.
- Develop and direct the department’s budget, including the pursuit of non-City revenue streams and grants.
- Oversee and facilitate the work of the Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunities, and Disability Rights Commissions to facilitate community input into policy and programs.
- Manage all agency human resources functions, utilizing interest-based problem solving and equity-centered supervision.
Equity and Social Justice
- Work with City agencies to ensure that equity and social justice work is embedded into the City’s operations at all levels.
- Advise the Mayor and Common Council on pertinent issues including budgets and procedures to eliminate systemic disparities.
- Lead the development and implementation of the City’s Language Access Plan.
- Oversee the development and implementation of programs to connect the community with City services and programs, particularly English as a second language communities and historically underserved communities.
Equal Opportunities and Disability Rights
- Ensure compliance with local, state and federal laws and rules.
- Implement the Equal Opportunities Ordinance, including the investigation and adjudication of complaints, and educate the community about the rights conveyed in the Ordinance.
- Guide city-wide ADA compliance and Disability Rights initiatives to ensure physical accessibility and the opportunity for participation in civic life.
- Develop and implement processes for resolving internal allegations of discrimination or harassment by City staff and residents.
Economic Justice
- Manage programs to maximize the participation of small, disadvantaged, and minority/women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) in Madison's economy, including via contract compliance programs.
- Collaborate with city partners in the development and implementation of recruitment and retention programs aimed at increasing representation of protected classes at all levels of City government.
- Oversee development of programs to increase the hiring and success of underrepresented groups by the City and private sector employers, including the negotiation of affirmative action plans.
Community Engagement- Forge partnerships with businesses, non-profits, and advocacy groups to advance departmental and City goals.
- Work directly with diverse communities to overcome language, cultural, and physical obstacles to City services.
- Create both formal and informal mechanisms and coalitions for public input, ensuring the City remains responsive to emerging community needs.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in civil rights administration, equal opportunities and/or affirmative action work, which includes three (3) years in a senior-level supervisory or management capacity, overseeing the development, implementation, and administration of programs that promote civil rights, disability rights, and equal opportunities; AND
Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Public Administration, Law, Social Work, Human Resources, or a closely related field
-OR-
- Four (4) years of experience applying all of the following:
- Principles and methods of equity and social justice, including structural racism, sexism, institutional oppression, and the historical drivers of socioeconomic disparities.
- Interpretation and application of federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including the ADA, Title VII, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations.
- Principles and administration of budget formulation, justification, expenditure control, and program planning.
- Full range of supervisory principles and practices, which includes hiring, training, directing, evaluating, and disciplining, along with handling labor relations matters; AND
- Two (2) years of experience in the following:
- Conflict resolution and restorative justice techniques to navigate high-stakes disputes.
- Identification and neutralization of implicit bias within organizational structures and individual decision-making.
Other equivalent combinations of experience, training, and education that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position will also be considered.
For a complete list of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, please see the class specification.
The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore, successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural communities.
- RESIDENCY IN THE CITY OF MADISON IS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION.
- Ability to meet the transportation requirements of this position.
- The employee will be expected to attend meetings and provide presentations outside the normal work schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Physical Requirements:- Ability to stand or sit at a computer workstation and desk for long hours.
- Ability to use standard office equipment, including computer, phone, copier, etc.
