WORCESTER – The office of City Manager Eric Batista announced on Friday that it has opened a search for the city’s first chief equity officer.
GovHR, a woman-owned and led public management consulting firm, which the city says has extensive experience with recruiting executive managers specifically within the DEI field, was selected to perform the search. It was the only firm to respond to the request for proposal.
The person hired for the position would be the first chief equity officer of the city and lead the city’s Executive Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EODEI). The office has nine full-time equivalent positions and a $744,000 budget in fiscal year 2024. The office’s responsibilities include human rights, accessibility, investigations, training and development, and serves as the staff liaison to the Accessibility Advisory Commission, Human Rights Commission, Advisory Committee on the Status of Women, and the Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs.
The EODEI is the result of a reorganization of previous agencies by Batista. Prior to Batista’s reorganization, the city had three chief diversity officers in six years.
“We are excited to begin the search process for the City’s first Chief Equity Officer, who will lead our newly formed Executive Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and its efforts to accelerate representation within the City’s workforce and leadership,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “The right candidate for this position will not be afraid to affect change and hold others accountable while setting and advancing our DEI strategy.”
Anyone interest in the position can apply here.
