Director, Civil Rights Division - R6577

Please complete the application in its entirety. Include all previous employment so that it may be taken into consideration. Please include a resume attachment with submittal of your application. Resume should document months and years with your dates of employment. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received before the closing date and time listed.
 
At Regional Transportation District (RTD), We make lives better through connections!
 
When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD's values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience. Come join RTD on this great journey to be the trusted leader in mobility, delivering excellence and value to our customers and community.
 
RTD Employee Benefits: https://www.rtd-denver.com/careers/benefits
 
(RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.)
 
The Director, Civil Rights develops, plans, directs, and manages the operations of the organization’s Civil Rights Division. This division is responsible for furthering Civil Rights goals through programmatic strategy development and implementation, training, community outreach, regulatory compliance, and complaint investigation. Program areas include Title VI compliance, ADA compliance, Title VII and equal employment opportunity compliance, Colorado Revised Statutes §24-34-601 compliance, and inclusive contracting and diversity supplier programs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise). This position reports to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer with a dotted line to the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer.
 
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
 
Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight
    * Develops annual work plans and goals in alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, mission, state and federal regulations and laws.
    * Oversees development and implementation of the agency's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program, Title VI Program, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) programs, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) program.
    * Guides, implements, and monitors legislative activity that impacts program areas, including Title VI and Title VII programs, public access ADA compliance, equal employment opportunity compliance, civil rights investigations and enforcement, language assistance program, and DBE and SBE programs.
    * Serves as the principal liaison to government and political entities, community organizations, and/or individuals in all matters pertaining to the Civil Rights programs and provides timely, thorough, and accurate responses to information requests.
    * Directs and provides consultations for EEO, transit equity, and disability-related complaints and investigations.
    * Develops and submits required programs, plans, policies, and methodologies to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to ensure compliance with civil rights laws and regulations governing public transit agencies.
    * Collaborates and manages inclusive contracting in the procurement/solicitation process, ensuring DBE regulation requirements compliance and fostering small/disadvantaged business participation.
    * Directs and makes recommendations for division resource allocation to achieve goals and objectives; reviews and approves division expenditures and implements changes as appropriate.
 
People Power Management
    * Maintains appropriate staffing levels and reviews progress to ensure the quality and quantity of work meet standards and deadlines for deliverables to meet program goals and objectives.
    * Recruits staff to include interviewing, hiring, assigning work, training, coaching, and counseling to ensure consistent application of Employee Guidelines, processes, and procedures.
    * Conducts performance reviews and holds employees accountable for optimal performance of their responsibilities.
    * Fosters a safety-first culture, prioritizing prevention, accountability, and continuous improvement.
    * Takes action to advance the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity, SBE/DBE, Title VI and ADA Plans, thereby ensuring RTD's hiring programs, work environment, contracting and procurement practices, and transit services/programs are fair, equal, and non-discriminatory.
 
OTHER:
 
All job-related duties as assigned.
 
QUALIFICATIONS:
 
Required Qualifications:
    * A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with relevant coursework in public administration, business administration, human resources, or a related field.
    * A minimum of ten (10) years of experience developing and managing DBE/SBE programs, workforce programs and initiatives, compliance with EEO, compliance with Title VI programs, compliance with ADA, or related field.
    * A minimum of five (5) years of experience leading and managing the performance of multiple professional direct reports.
 
Preferred Qualifications:
    * Master’s degree in public administration, business administration, human resources, or related field, or Juris Doctor.
    * Prior transit or transportation experience is preferred.
 
Or:
 
An equivalent combination of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities.
 
Key Competencies & Characteristics:
    * Proficiency in federal, state, and local statutes and provisions of transit services pursuant to Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, US DOT DBE Program Regulation (49 CFR Part 26), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
    * Proficiency in arbitration/conflict resolution aspects and procedures.
    * Operates with integrity and a high degree of ethics.
    * Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing.
    * Deals tactfully and persuasively with others in controversial situations.
    * Reasons logically and creatively and utilize a variety of analytical techniques to resolve complex and specialized diversity, equity, and inclusion problems.
    * Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with employee associations, community groups, and individuals at all levels of the organization.
    * Manages time and workload effectively, which includes planning, organizing, and prioritizing.
    * Uses sound judgment and always maintains a high degree of confidentiality.
    * Works independently and in a team environment.
    * Considers “customer first” in decision making.
    * Creates a climate of optimism.
    * Maintains effectiveness in stress/pressure/adversarial situations.
 
WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
 
The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations.
 
CAREER MAP
Based on job performance, experience, education and position availability the next step on the career map for this position may be: a larger scope Director position.
 
We are considering all applications for this position up until the position close date of 1/11/2026 at 11:59 PM MT. For consideration, please be sure to apply before the posting end date.
 
Pay Range:
$123,234.00 - $174,067.50 Annual
 
EEO POLICY AND ADA ACCOMMODATIONS 
 
RTD is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless to the race, sex, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. RTD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to
employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, promotions, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to our Employment ADA Coordinator Kris Frazier at adarequests@rtd-denver.com, or the Talent Acquisition team rtd.ta@rtd-denver.com.
 
To learn more or see our EEO policy, please visit our EEO page at: https://www.rtd-denver.com/open-records/reports-and-policies/eeo-policy
 
RTD posts a compensation range that represents a good faith estimate of what RTD anticipates paying for the position at the time of posting.  Starting salary is based on the candidate’s relevant and verified education, training and work experience.  Applicants should submit all relevant and verifiable education, training and work experiences at the time of application.