If you’re looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work in your community, join the passionate, community minded team at the Committee on Temporary Shelter! COTS, a nonprofit recognized nationally as a model for innovative programs, provides emergency shelter, services, and housing for those who are without homes or who are at risk of homelessness. For over 30 years we have been working in Chittenden County to creatively find solutions to end homelessness; we aren’t afraid to try new things. We are looking for team members with a passion for doing good and creative thinking. Join us on our mission to end homelessness!
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist
COTS is seeking a part-time Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist to lead and oversee the DEI programming and training for 50+ employees, as well as review both internal and external practices and procedures to identify opportunities for improvement. This position will work closely with the leadership team as well as staff members to evaluate current needs within the organization and create an actionable, strategic plan for addressing those needs. As this is a newly created position, we are looking for a driven, creative thinker who can create programming from the ground up. Some responsibilities will include forming a DEI Committee consisting of employees from all levels within the organization; collecting information/data regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion at COTS and creating a action plan for improvement; creating and facilitating regular, ongoing training focused on DEI for employees as well as our board of directors; and regular reporting on our DEI efforts and results to employees and leadership. We are looking for an individual who is passionate about DEI and looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in an organization that is doing meaningful work in the community. By helping COTS to enhance our culture and bring DEI to the forefront of our practices and policies, you will be helping the organization thrive now and into the future, ensuring we are able to continue supporting those marginalized individuals in our community.
We are seeking an individual with a minimum of three years of experience working in DEI programming, preferably with demonstrated ability to build a program from the ground up. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required; work experience in lieu of a degree is accepted. Successful candidates will possess a positive track record of implementing strategic initiatives; strong analytical ability; ability to relate to people at all levels of an organization; excellent communication skills; knowledge of federal and state policies affecting diversity, equity and inclusion; ability to have difficult conversations; ability to maintain confidentiality; ability to work independently and as a positive member of a collaborative team; and a commitment to the COTS mission.
This is a 24 hour per week position, with occasional need to flex hours for training facilitation. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to jobs@cotsonline.org. The cover letter should indicate why working in DEI is important to you, as well as your interest in working for COTS.
COTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We embrace diversity, and encourage all to apply.
A core value COTS has espoused and practiced since our organization’s inception in 1982 is our belief in the value and dignity of every human life. We affirm that together we are a community that recognizes and honors the innate dignity of every individual and embraces the principle that everyone among us has the capacity to achieve great things. We also believe that bringing diverse individuals and entities together allows us to collectively and more effectively address the pressing and complex issues that face our community.
Adding this newly created position to our team is a critical step to being able to tangibly identify how we incorporate diversity, equity and belonging into our culture. However, we have started initiatives such as including a DEI section in our most recent employee survey, collecting voluntary self-identification information from team members so we can appropriately incorporate pronouns into our organizational framework, and rolling out a training program which requires a minimum of four hours of related training from each team member annually. We wish to do more and do better, and are looking forward to having a dedicated team member to support these efforts.