- Who May Apply : This vacancy is open to all qualified job seekers
- Date Posted : 02/02/2024
- Closing Date : 02/26/2024
- Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Office of Cannabis Management
- Division/Unit : Office of Cannabis Management / office of Social Equity
- Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift / 8:00am – 4:30pm
- Days of Work : Monday – Friday
- Travel Required : Yes – Up to 25% of the time
- Salary Range: $41.51 – $59.72 / hourly; $86,672 – $124,695 / annually
- Classified Status : Classified
- Bargaining Unit/Union : 220 – Managerial Plan
- FLSA Status : Exempt – Administrative
- Telework Eligible : Yes
- Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities : Yes
Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.
The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.
Job Summary
The Social Equity Director will play a key role in the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to ensure the principles of social equity and inclusion are embedded across the Agency. The incumbent will engage with and support communities that experience a disproportionate, negative impact from cannabis prohibition and usage in order to promote economic development, improve social determinants of health, provide services to prevent violence, support early intervention programs for youth and families, and promote community stability and safety. This position will also act as an ombudsperson for the office to provide information, investigate complaints and provide or facilitate dispute resolutions; reporting to the office on the status of complaints and social equity in the cannabis industry.
This position will engage communities to help create opportunities to support new cannabis businesses and the cannabis industry, identify data that they need; work across OCM to coordinate and maximize use of social equity data; address structural racism and inequities that contribute to disparities; increase cultural understanding; deepen relationships with communities and engage residents in decision-making; and work across the agency to advance the use of data and social equity in all of OCM’s activities.
This position is located in St. Paul and is expected to report to the office three days per week and may telework two days per week.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper years of service crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.
Four (4) or more years of leadership experience in a position with responsibility for directing the work of cross-functional teams, informing and advancing the strategic direction of an organization, and with a successful track record of building and maintaining effective and efficient partnerships.
Master’s degree in public administration, public affairs, business administration, communications, social justice or related degree may substitute for 18 months of experience; Bachelor’s degree in one of these areas may substitute for one (1) year of experience.
Additional required experience includes:
- Experience conducting outreach and engagement with community groups.
- Experience utilizing information gained from outreach to inform and advise leaders and program development.
- Existing relationships with communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition.
- Experience with racially and ethnically diverse coalitions or groups working to achieve a common goal.
- Experience with strategic planning.
- Leading or facilitating meetings and training sessions with varied and diverse stakeholders.
- Experience getting buy in from diverse stakeholders to implement change or projects.
- Measuring and analyzing program and strategy effectiveness.
- The ability to celebrate diversity and a strong commitment to a respectful and inclusive work environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience communicating and sharing information with populations with diverse learning styles and abilities.
Knowledge of public sector continuous improvement methods and their practical application.
Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills sufficient to develop effective consensus.
Proficiency in complex project management, data-driven solution design, and implementation of recommended results.
Experience resolving complaints and conflicts through informal and formal processes such as facilitated conversation, informal coaching, mediation and investigations.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion experience in the public sector.
Additional Requirements
A job offer will be contingent upon successfully passing a background check. It is the policy of the Office of Cannabis Management, as part of its hiring procedures, to conduct background checks on the finalist(s) for positions within the agency. The background check may consist of the following components:
- SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and former state employees only)
- Employment Reference Check
- Driver’s License Check
- Conflict of Interest Review
- Criminal Background Check
The Office of Cannabis Management will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.
Application Details
How to Apply
Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [email protected]. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.
If you have questions about the position, contact Katie Knutson at [email protected]
To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Becky Hierlinger at [email protected].
About Cannabis Management Office
Be a part of building the new Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) from the ground up and supporting Minnesota’s new cannabis industry. The OCM will serve as the primary regulatory agency for the state’s new and expanding cannabis industry, (including the new adult-use market, the Medical Cannabis Program, and existing lower-potency hemp edibles), issue business licenses, provide education and technical support to new businesses, administer grants to support community reinvestment, and oversee all aspects of the Minnesota’s cannabis industry.
Diverse Workforce
We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.
A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:
- 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission
- 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
- 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job
- 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule
Comprehensive Benefits
Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:
- Public pension plan
- Training and professional development
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- 11 paid holidays each year
- Paid parental leave
- Low-cost medical and dental coverage
- Prescription drug coverage
- Vision coverage
- Wellness programs and resources
- Employer paid life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability
- Health care spending and savings accounts
- Dependent care spending account
- Tax-deferred compensation
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Tuition reimbursement
- Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.
