The Michigan Department of Transportation is creating a new executive-level position to help the agency incorporate equity and inclusion in all aspects of its business.
[Above photo by the Michigan DOT]
As a result, the Michigan DOT is posting a job opening for the new position of chief culture, equity, and inclusion officer or CCEIO – fully described here – who will oversee areas within the Bureau of Transportation Planning, the Office of Organizational Development, the Office of Business Development, the Equal Employment Opportunity Office, and the Office of Economic Development.
The agency noted that it designed this new CCEIO position to help it make “meaningful progress” optimizing its organizational culture, aligning equity and inclusion goals with business outcomes while responding to changes or policies that affect employee and customer populations.
This includes developing and supporting change and culture management initiatives by serving as a leader through education and collaboration on equity and inclusion initiatives across the department, the Michigan DOT said.
While there is no specific timetable in terms of filling the CCEIO position, the Michigan DOT said it hopes to have it filled by the end of the summer.
The new CCEIO position created by Michigan DOT is reflective of a growing focus on equity/inclusion issues by the state department of transportation community.
For example, in November 2020, the board of directors for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials unanimously passed a resolution pledging to address issues related to race, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The organization also agreed to address those efforts within the transportation industry with “humility, introspection, and respect, being mindful of the importance of listening to and learning” from those most adversely affected by past decisions.