Assistant Director, Head of DEI

City of Bellevue, WA • Full-time • Bellevue, WA, US • $150.44k - $207.60k / year • 4m ago

Salary: $150,439.73 - $207,598.33 Annually
Location : Bellevue, WA
Job Type: Regular
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 25-00396
Department: Human Resources
Division: HR_DiversityEquityInclusion
Opening Date: 12/15/2025
Closing Date: 1/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: NONAFF

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the "Hiring Process" section below to learn more.

New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.
Job Summary
The City of Bellevue is looking for an Assistant Director, Head of DEI. This Assistant Director role will lead, inform, oversee, develop, organize and evaluate citywide internal and external diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)initiatives and programs in order to strengthen and continue to build a culture of equity and inclusion, foster and recognize continuous learning, and demonstrate a commitment to our core values. The core values include exceptional public service, stewardship, commitment to employees, integrity, innovation, and diversity, equity & inclusion.

The primary focus of this position is to serve as a strategic partner with the city's leadership and management teams on internal and external DEIwork, while supporting community members, employees, and people who interact and do business with the city. The work is performed through demonstrated expertise and experience in systems and culture change, building equitable processes in a collaborative, adaptive and relationship focused manner.

This position reports to the Director of Human Resources & DEI, with a dotted line to a Deputy City Manager and is a member of the Human Resources (HR) Leadership Team. This role serves as a member of the city's Operations Policy Team, a team of the city's Deputy and Assistant Directors. The successful candidate will be a strategic, collaborative, innovative and visionary leader with proven experience in leading, supporting and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and systems change management processes, internally and with the community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Background:

Bellevue's long commitment to DEI began with the city's original 1993 Diversity Action Plan. The work continued for the next two decades. In 2014, the City Council adopted the vision statement "Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past." In addition, the council adopted the Diversity Advantage Plan, a 60-point plan that was created with wide participation from employees and the community. Since the adoption of the plan, Bellevue's cultural, racial, and language diversity continued to grow. More than half of Bellevue residents are people of color and 41% were born outside of the United States. A progress report in 2017 on the Diversity Advantage Plan highlights that collectively, Bellevue continues to find new ways to build inclusion into our community and economy and strengthen equitable access to basic needs, such as public safety, education, and human services. More recently the city has adopted the citywide Diversity Advantage Plan 2035 and this position will be instrumental in implementing that plan.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide leadership in establishing the strategic direction for the diversity, equity and inclusion programs to meet citywide objectives.
Work with teams to analyze and re-engineer processes to minimize the impact of bias in systems.
Develop short and long-range plans for the diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Establish policies and methods to accomplish program objectives, workplans and performance measures, in coordination with the Operations Policy and Leadership Teams.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the City Manager, Leadership Team, Operations Policy Team, and department management teams, build and maintain collaborative relationships to further the work of the DEI program.
Provide expertise, assessment and consultation on the design, coordination and implementation of programs, policies, and practices focusing on addressing systemic disparities including race, age, ability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, language that may exist or serve as barriers in the delivery of city services.
Developing and delivering multi-mode communications on DEI issues that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences, internally and externally.
Identify and develop tools that result in developing greater awareness and understanding in the use of an equity mindset for analyzing the impact of the design and implementation of policies on underserved, underrepresented and/or marginalized individuals and groups, and to identify potential barriers.
Determine and define DEI performance measures, monitoring performance, and guide staff in making adjustments to program administration and strategy to ensure standards are achieved.
Help build and maintain productive and collaborative relationships between the City Manager's Office, city departments, external parties and outside agencies in order to foster a climate where the city can accomplish its DEI priorities.
Oversee title VI and ADA work for the city
Represent the city at federal, state and regional efforts in DEI.
Establishes and maintains a supportive working environment conducive to positive morale, creativity, and teamwork.
Partner with city departments on the development, monitoring and execution of diversity, equity, and inclusion systems including contracting, purchasing, Diversity Advantage Plan implementation, training and development, the diversity talent hiring initiative, supportive employment, and the employee resource groups.
Present diversity, equity, and inclusion-related reports and status on DEI initiatives to the council, city manager, Leadership Team, Operations Policy Team, other officials, and official boards when required.
Manage the day-to-day operations of the Diversity team
Manage/supervise, coach, lead, support, motivate, and evaluate Diversity Advantage Team members.

Qualifications

5 or more years of experience (7+ years preferred), demonstrating success and knowledge in the administration of a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, community outreach, government, or social justice programs, at least two years in a DEI-focused leadership role, and experience supervising staff.
Demonstrated leadership role with subject matter expertise building equitable processes, working collaboratively with teams, and the ability to build and maintain relationships among members of underrepresented communities externally, and internally with employees from a wide variety of professions.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, education, public administration, ethnic studies, Human Resources or a closely allied field, or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the position's work.

Competencies

Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
Project and Program Management Knowledge and Use of Tools: including planning, scheduling, monitoring and problem solving. Ensures accountability, holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
Manager and Supervisor: Ability to effectively plan, assign, direct and evaluate the work of staff, providing leadership, coaching and support. Creates a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization meet its objectives.
Balances needs of various parties: Anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple parties with different interests and priorities.
Instills trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity and authenticity, and through building and maintaining collaborative relationships.
Communicates Effectively: Skilled in communicating effectively, developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences, internally and externally.
Interpersonal Savvy: Ability to relate openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people across levels, functions, and culture.
Organizational Savvy: Ability to maneuver comfortably and effectively through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.
Manages Ambiguity: Skilled in operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
Builds Networks: Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.
Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
Manages Complexity: Skilled in making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Manages Conflict: Skilled in handling conflict situations effectively and collaboratively.

Supplemental Information
FLEXIBLE/HYBRID WORKING

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.
HIRING PROCESS
The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably, the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name, address, and other demographics. To help us, please complete the online application form as fully as possible.

Answer the Supplemental Questions when requested which can be found on the Questions tab of the Job posting.
We do not accept resumes and cover letters during the anonymous application screening stage, unless otherwise stated in the job description.
Applicants advancing to the next stage may be required to provide a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
All positions require the completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor.
Some positions may require completion of a criminal background check prior to start employment
Some positions may require obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL), licensures, or additional certifications.

At the City of Bellevue, you'll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The six essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions, our interactions, and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is: Exceptional Public Service, Stewardship, Commitment to Employees, Integrity, Innovation, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. You'll work in an environment that is innovative, collaborative, future focused, and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. It's what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet? Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 425-452-6838 or If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

The City of Bellevue participates in the E-Verify program. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
For any technical difficulties with your application, please contact the NEOGOV support line at 855-524-5627.
** Please be sure to check your junk folder for any messages that may be sent to you about this recruitment.**
The City of Bellevue offers employees a comprehensive benefits package providing choice, flexibility, and value!

Please Note: Seasonal, part-time, and variable employees are not eligible for the below benefits except for mandatory participation in the retirement plan assigned to the position, which will be the Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT 2) retirement plan or the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement plan and any other benefits as required by law.

The following summary applies to fully benefited positions:
Medical
Employees are offered a choice of medical coverage through the City's self-insured Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan or Kaiser Permanente (HMO).
Dental
Employees are offered a choice of two dental carriers with plans that offer regular checkups, x-rays, fillings, and crowns. Orthodontia is available through one of the carriers.
Vision
Employees are offered a choice of vision coverage through an annual exam-only plan or a buy-up plan which includes an annual eye exam and hardware coverage.

Retirement Plans - Employees are offered three retirement plans:

Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS): Mandatory participation (PERS, LEOFF or PSERS), depending upon eligibility.
City of Bellevue Municipal Employee's Benefit Trust (MEBT): Optional participation in this 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match contributions that vest on a 3-year schedule.
Deferred Compensation Program (457 DCP): Optional participation in the supplemental Deferred Compensation Program also administered by DRS that allows tax-deferred savings into a variety of investments options.

Other benefits include:
More detailed information about our employee benefits is available at

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
Long Term Disability (LTD)
Survivor Income
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
11 observed holidays per year plus 2 additional personal holidays, vacation (standard accrual of 12 days a year), and sick leave (accumulated at the rate of one day per month)
An ORCA Card bus pass
On-site fitness center, and self service food/coffee options
Career development and training programs
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Paydays - The City of Bellevue pays employees on the 8th and the 23rd of each month (24 pay periods per year).

Please note: The City of Bellevue does not participate in the Social Security Administration (SSA) program and employees do not earn social security credits. The mandatory DRS retirement pension plan provides the required social security replacement plan.

NOTE: This is a brief summary of the benefit programs for the City's non-represented employees. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Benefits for employees represented by a may have different benefits. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a CBA, the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
01

Which statement below best describes the highest level of education you have completed in sociology, education, public administration, ethnic studies, Human Resources or a related field?

High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (GED)
Associate degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree or above

02

How many years of prior related and demonstrated professional experience in the administration of a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, community outreach, government, or social justice programs do you have?

1-3 years of experience
3-5 years of experience
5-10 years of experience
10+ years of experience

03

Please explain how your previous experience translates into this role and makes you a qualified candidate.
04

Why are you interested in this position?
05

How many years have you served in a DEI-focused leadership role?

0 years
1 year
2-3 years
4+ years

06

If you selected 1 year or more in the question above, please describe the role and indicate how many people you supervised.
07

Have you served as a strategic advisor to senior leadership or executives on DEI or equity?

08

Do you have experience working within a government or public-sector environment?

09

The City of Bellevue is a hybrid workplace. This is a job in Washington state, and candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of City Hall and be onsite in Bellevue at a minimum of two day(s) per week.