Position: Head of Inclusion and Institutional Improvement
Department: Office of Human Resources
Employment Status: Regular/Full-Time/Exempt
ABOUT LSC:
Established by Congress in 1974, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the country's single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. LSC currently funds 132 independent nonprofit legal aid organizations with more than 800 offices throughout the nation. LSC's mission is to promote equal access to justice and provide grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. This position will require working from an office in D.C. in accordance with LSC's hybrid work model. The successful candidate must live in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
BASIC JOB FUNCTION:The Head of Culture and Belonging is responsible for providing leadership and expert advice in the development and delivery of strategies, programs, learning, and tools to support the creation of a more inclusive, accessible, diverse, and equitable culture and practices at LSC. The Head of Culture and Belonging partners with the President and Chief Human Resources Officer in ensuring the implementation of LSC's Strategic Plan while incorporating adjustments as needed. As a member of the Office of Human Resources, the Head of Culture and Belonging supports staff and managers with education, systems and policy review, employee engagement, communications, and progress reporting to realize the goals of the Strategic Plan and overall strategy at LSC. Reports to the Chief Human Resources Officer. We embrace a hybrid workplace culture that values flexibility, collaboration, and inclusivity. Our team thrives on diverse perspectives, bringing together remote and in-office employees, including a portion of our unionized workforce, to foster innovation and creativity. In this role, the Head of Culture and Belonging will play a crucial part in shaping LSC's DEI initiatives, ensuring that every voice is heard and respected, regardless of location or union affiliation. LSC is committed to creating an environment where all team members can contribute to their fullest potential, promoting a sense of belonging and shared purpose across our organization.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES- Develop a deep understanding of LSC culture and organizational needs to inform evolving goals promoting inclusion, accessibility, diversity, respect and equity, while continuing to implement components under the current Strategic Plan. Use surveys, feedback mechanisms, and other tools to gauge the organization's cultural health and employee satisfaction.
- Build relationships with employees and managers to understand the community and the needs of diverse audiences. Create and deliver a range of tools to reflect the diverse learning needs of employees and solicit ongoing input and ideas to further institution building goals.
- Collaborate with leadership, managers, and employees to promote a culture of inclusivity and respect. Serve as a facilitator, partner and trusted advisor to the senior leadership team.
- Create a metrics framework to identify gaps and track progress against goals. Develop and publish a scorecard tracking institution-building data and milestones.
- Function as the primary internal expert and trainer on matters relating to core values including inclusion, accessibility, diversity, respect, transparency and equity. This includes providing thought leadership and guidance regarding current events, and meeting regularly with senior leadership to provide updates regarding these values and best practices.
- Partner with recruitment and hiring team members to identify ways to increase outreach and recruitment of underrepresented candidates, review interview support materials, conduct interviewer bias training, and create a best-in-class recruitment and hiring function.
- Chair internal Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group focused on establishing DEI goals and the strategies to achieve them.
- Review LSC policies, contracts, and systems through a "DEI lens" and identify changes needed to ensure they reflect and promote LSC's core values and objectives.
- Set budget priorities to support the development and recommended strategies to promote inclusion, accessibility, diversity, respect, transparency and equity. Manage relationships with vendors hired to promote these core values.
- Engage stakeholders in the planning and engagement needed to implement proposed policy and operational changes. Create project plans and comprehensive timeline to sequence implementation. Work with relevant stakeholders to implement plans.
- Lead the effort to train staff best practices for creating an inclusive culture at LSC. Create, maintain, and disseminate DEI resources in a variety of formats across all levels of LSC to facilitate growth, understanding, and meaningful engagement.
- Lead the effort to encourage and support identity and/or experience-based groups and initiatives (LGBTQI+, Black, Indigenous, etc.), and associated events and activities (heritage months) with intersectional lens.
- Approach matters with compassion, empathy, and active listening, while maintaining confidentiality.
- Other related duties, as assigned.
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:
General
- Excellent active listening skills with the ability to hear what is not being said.
- Strong empathy with excellent judgment.
- Ability to think critically and strategically and effectively anticipate and identify problems and propose solutions.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Exceptional emotional intelligence and excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with a wide variety of collaborators and partners.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information in an approachable manner.
- Ability to function in a discreet, diplomatic, and confidential matter.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Adaptable and able to manage multiple priorities with shifting and/or competing priorities and tight deadlines. Ability to influence without authority.
- Ability to excel independently and on teams.
Technical:
- A minimum of a bachelor's degree and six years of experience in DEI program management experience preferred; an advanced degree and relevant experience will be considered.
- Thorough knowledge of the laws and regulations related to human resources/employee relations
- Strong project ideation and ability to manage projects from idea development through full implementation while proactively managing milestones and metrics.
- Skilled in understanding racial and cultural differences and demonstrated sensitivity to issues and concerns of underrepresented communities.
- Strong research and analytical skills with experience using data and metrics to drive improvements.
- Able to develop learning resources and services for a variety of audiences. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and videoconference platforms.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:Head of Inclusion and Institutional Improvement: $120,323 - $125,184
LSC has a competitive market-based salary structure that establishes a specific salary range for this position which has 10 steps. A new hire is typically hired at Step 1 and receives a step increase annually. In special circumstances, LSC may authorize a new hire to start at a higher step based on a special business need or the significantly higher qualifications of the new employee. Employees hired after October 1st of any calendar year will receive their first step increase the January following their first full year of employment.
This position is eligible to participate in LSC's excellent employee benefits program, including medical, dental and vision plans, 403(b) thrift plan, paid leave, and other employee benefits.
APPLICATION PROCESS:You must apply on our website. To have your application considered, you must answer all questions and provide all requested information. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Your application must include your résumé and a cover letter explaining why you are a good fit for this position. Apply at: www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/careers
Note: If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please notify OHR at [redacted].
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION STATEMENT:We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our differences fuel excellence, and we strive to create an environment where every individual is valued and feels empowered to bring their full, authentic self to work. We are building a community rooted in openness and trust where colleagues have the resources to grow, thrive and fully contribute to achieving equal access to justice.
LSC is an equal opportunity employer.
