5C34

PAY RANGE N25

 

HUMAN RELATIONS  DEPUTY DIRECTOR – COMMUNITY RELATIONS

 

GENERAL DEFINITION

 

This is deputy director level Human Relations work directing the operations of a major division within the City's Commission charged with eliminating discrimination in employment, housing and real property, city services, and public accommodations.  The Deputy Director in the Community Relations Division supervises through subordinate supervisors, the community relations and education programs aimed at achieving these objectives by promoting understanding, cooperation and conflict resolution and by advancing equal rights and opportunity, fair treatment and fair housing for all city residents.  Work includes planning, assigning, reviewing, and coordinating operations, recommending the establishment and modification of policies and procedures, and providing public education support to the various functional areas of the Commission and outside agencies, when applicable. It also includes interacting with members of the Human Relations Commission, City Council, attorneys, governmental and private agency officials, complainants and respondents, is important in the work.  Work is performed under the general direction of the Executive Director of the Commission on Human Relations.

 

ALLOCATING FACTORS:   (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

 

·                     The position must be responsible for directing the Community Relations division at the City's Commission of Human Relations

·                     The position must report directly to the Executive Director of the Commission on Human Relations.

 

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

 

            Plans, directs and coordinates, through subordinate supervisors, the operation of a major division within the commission responsible for eliminating discrimination in employment, housing and real property and public accommodations and resolving community conflicts.

Develops policies and procedures designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Commission operations; drafts and updates manuals, policy documents, templates and other materials to standardize Commission processes; evaluates and recommends changes in procedures and methods relating to the division; recommends changes in assignment and level of staffing;.

Directs the formulation of programs and plans to reduce interpersonal and inter-group tension and conflicts and to end discriminatory practices throughout the City.  Directs a program providing mediation and conciliation services to facilitate the resolution of neighborhood tension and disputes.

Collaborates with the police, civic groups and other public and private agencies to acquire their cooperation and participation;

 

Directs ongoing professional staff training, as well as activities designed to develop and enhance community cooperation and empowerment at the neighborhood level; directs staff activities designed to educate the public regarding the programs of the commission;

Oversees identification and analysis of cases, assists in developing strategies and action plans; assigns cases and projects to staff, along with subordinate supervisors; advises staff to ensure that case investigations reflect sound  professional standards and are sufficiently  dispositive of complaint allegations; reviews and monitors case work and projects for effectiveness and conformance with PCHR policies, practices, procedures and laws.

Performs research necessary to the formulation of sound opinions on questions presented;  monitors local and state laws and policies for developments relevant to the Commission’s Community Relations work; works in collaboration with the Commission’s Compliance Division to stay abreast of discrimination laws and policies; performs neighborhood and community research on issues such as census statistics, neighborhood demographics, immigrant and refugee statistics and patterns of neighborhood change; evaluates studies of problems arising from intergroup or interpersonal conflict.

Conducts training and informational programs for City, state and federal agencies and interested groups regarding human relations laws, policies and procedures.  

            Represents the agency on various boards and other organizations designed to further the cause of civil rights and conflict resolution; speaks before civic and private agencies to explain programs and elicit support; attends and participates in Commission and organizational meetings to give advice and report on activities of the division.

            Performs related work as required.

 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

 

KNOWLEDGE OF:

 

•      the principles, and practices of administration and operational analyses

•      supervisory methods and techniques

•      organizational planning and development

•      the principles practices and problems of the administration of a human relations program

•      social problems resulting from discriminatory practices in housing, industry, public accommodations and educational institutions.

•      the community resources which can be employed to assist in meeting problems relating to groups as defined by relevant statues and ordinances (i,e, Race,  Religion, Sex, National Origin, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Familial Status)

•      the methods of investigation leading to public hearings regarding violations of the law or community-based issues leading to intergroup disharmony.

•      Administrative law enforcement procedures and issues.

•      methods and techniques of gathering and compiling statistical and anecdotal data for studies concerning patterns of discrimination and the level or potential of intergroup conflict and intergroup harmony.

•      methods of effective presentation of educational programs to the public and to private and governmental agencies.

•      civil and criminal law enforcement procedures as they relate to the field of human relations.

•      methods and techniques of gathering and compiling data or pattern studies concerning inter-group integration and related discriminatory practices.

•      mediation procedures, principles, and practices.

•      Personal computers and common computer software

 

SKILL IN:

 

•      coordinating the activities of the organization

•      problem-solving among mutual levels to achieve mutual objectives

•      organizational planning and development

•      conflict resolution practices

 

ABILITY TO:

 

•      Supervise the work of a subordinate staff of human relations representatives and to review and evaluate their work performance

•      Provide oral and written interpretations and determinations on issues relevant to the Commission

•      Plan, organize and direct, through subordinate supervisors,  activities of the  staff

•      Ensure that activities and services reflect policies of higher management.

•      Establish and interpret policies, procedures and guidelines Implement new or revised programs and policies

•      Communicate the Commission's vision and mission to staff

•      Inform subordinates about developments and their impact on organizational activities

•      Explain significant goals, activities, policies, and procedures to subordinates

•      Formulate and obtain acceptance of ideas and programs

•      Develop and increase employee commitment to desired results and outcomes

•      Learn the controlling ordinances, statutes and charter provisions governing the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations

•      Learn the structure of city government, and the formal relationships among local, state and federal agencies

•      Establish programs, guidelines and priorities for staff

•      Allocate staffing and other resources to meet program goals

•      Set deadlines for project completion

•      Develop reporting, quality control, and tracking systems for monitoring cases

•      Set deadlines for project completion

•      Take corrective action when problems arise

•      Advise employees of performance standards

•      Control attendance and leave, including approval of sick and annual leave

•      Identify potential problems in employee behavior and take appropriate action

•      Model high standards of honesty and integrity

•      Maintain a high level of professional expertise

•      Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing

•      Explain or justify decisions, conclusions, findings, or recommendations

•      Exercise significant judgment and tact in resolving problems

•      Persuade others to take a particular course of action or to accept findings, recommendations, changes, or alternative viewpoints

•      Present the complex human relations program, goals, objectives and mandates to the public

•      Prepare interesting and informative case stories, articles, speeches, reports and other informational materials

•      Establish and maintain effective working relationships with civic groups, public officials, community leaders, policy-making officials in labor and industry, and other private and public agencies affecting the public welfare

 

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests.  Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 11/13.)

 

EDUCATION:

 

Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, social work administration, social sciences, urban studies or a closely related field.

 

AND

 

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

 

Six years of experience in community organization, social work, counseling or guidance, adult education, public relations, conflict resolution or human relations work.

 

AND

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

 

Two years of supervising subordinate staff engaged in the investigation and resolution of community and neighborhood conflict and crises situations and the promotion of understanding and cooperation among communities.

 

OR

 

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources, which has included a bachelor's degree as an educational minimum and the specific experience pertaining to the area of specialization.

 

NOTE:            Completion of a master's degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, social work administration, social sciences, urban studies or a closely related field can equate for two years of general.

 

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

 

            Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

 

Class Established - 5/53

Spec. Revision - 5/86

CSC - 11/01; Ad. Board - 1/02

CSC - 1/04; Ad. Board 5/04

Latest Spec. Revision:  CSC - 10/13; Ad. Board 11/13

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