Working Title: Director of Equity and Inclusion
Job Class: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant Senior
Agency: Human Services Dept
Job ID : 94925
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 06/16/2026
Closing Date : 07/06/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Human Services Dept / MAPE DHS Central Office
Division/Unit : DHS-Central Office / HHSSA AC Office
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift / 8:00am to 4:30pm
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : Yes, (Approximately 25% for meetings)
Salary Range: $39.93 - $59.35 / hourly; $83,373 - $123,922 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status : Exempt - Administrative
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The Department of Human Services is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DHS does not participate in E-Verify.
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
This position is eligible for telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) for applicants who reside in Minnesota or in a bordering state, with supervisory approval and satisfactory performance. If you live in a state bordering Minnesota, you must live within 50 miles or less from the primary work location to be eligible for telework.
Flexible work hours may be permitted with supervisor approval.
The purpose of this position is to provide leadership and direction to directors, managers, supervisors and staff in the Homelessness, Housing, and Support Services Administration. The position supports the administration to strategically plan for and obtain legislative, stakeholder, and organizational support for changes in multiple public programs and to promote access and more equitable outcomes for Minnesotans who receive publicly funded services. To achieve this, the person in this position must:
Champion the administration's strategic planning around equity to develop and implement promising goals and strategies.
Lead efforts for the administration to understand gaps in social and physical determinants of health between the communities experiencing health disparities and the population receiving services.
Work closely with the administration's leadership, Equity Committee, legislators, and external stakeholders to promote changes in public policy to improve outcomes for cultural and ethnic communities, American Indians, people with disabilities, and other populations experiencing health disparities.
Use partnerships with the administration's leadership, directors, managers, supervisors and legislative directors, to develop, recommend, and champion legislation and legislative budget requests with partners and at the capital.
Evaluate the success of the administration's equity agenda and share those results with internal and external partners; and
Use performance data to inform future initiatives to further the administration's equity agenda.
This position will also be responsible for the administration's internal equity agenda. The incumbent will lead staff and leadership team to assess equity and inclusion awareness/capacity, identify activities to build equity and inclusion, and implement those activities at all levels of the administration.
As a member of the leadership, the Director of Equity and Inclusion work with the leadership to oversee compliance with the DHS Equity Policy, ensuring that equity and inclusion are considered in all administration policies and processes to reduce population health inequities. This position supports the administration's Equity Committee; the group charged with advising the administration's leaders on equity and inclusion issues. * The position supports and advises the equity-related work of the "equity champions," staff members from the administration who promote equity within their work areas as a portion of their professional duties. The position also coordinates closely with the Equity Directors in other administrations, Human Resources, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion.
*This position description reflects the mission of the administration's Equity Committee, which is described in their Charter as "to advise the administration and champion equity work throughout the Administration. Their work will lessen the potential for harm, reduce inequities, and ensure equitable, respectful, quality services for communities that include, but are not limited to, communities of color, American Indians, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ people, and people with disabilities. It will also help build an equitable culture within the Administration so that all staff are treated fairly and with respect."
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.
Four (4) years specialized work experience advising and/or providing strategic direction building and/or leading a medium to large organization in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion related programs.
Experience must demonstrate:
Championing equity, inclusion, and anti-racism by evaluating policies, procedures, and ideas to interrupt systemic racism and provide recommendations for improvement.
Knowledge of and experience with contemporary diversity, equity, inclusion and multiculturalism theories and issues.
Strategic planning, change management and project management.
Working with ethnically and culturally diverse communities, American Indian communities, people with disabilities, and other communities that experience health inequities.
Influencing/directing goals, objectives, or policy and/or influencing decision makers/policymakers.
Experience supporting and advising teams; coordinate training and staff development; meeting facilitation.
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge of programs and policies related to housing, homelessness, and/or behavioral health.
Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.
Strong human relations and communication skills; communicate clearly and professionally both verbally and in writing; respond openly to requests and concerns.
Understanding for the role and operation of state government in building the health and human services infrastructure.
Facilitator of groups to solicit information, feedback, and areas of development.
Must have a strong grasp of overall DHS goals and the DHS Equity Policy and be able to translate those into everyday decisions and actions.
Bachelors' degree or higher in Public Policy, Human Services, Public Administration, Business Administration, or similar field.
Additional Requirements
The MinnesotaDepartmentofHumanServices(DHS) will conduct criminalbackgroundchecksonallfinalistsforthis position.Finalistsmustpassthe DHS backgroundcheck.
Employee reference checks will be conducted on all finalists. This may include a review of documentation related to jobperformance.It alsoincludescontact withtheapplicant'sformer employer(s).
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
