Director Women's Advancement and Advocacy

The Director of the Office of Women's Advancement and Advocacy position was created through legislation for the Executive Branch and reports to the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources. The Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy (OWAA) is a division of the Delaware Department of Human Resources, and its director is a part of the DHR Leadership team. OWAA has two main areas of focus: advocating for the advancement of women and girls across Delaware, and advocating for women who work for the State of Delaware. OWAA is uniquely positioned to serve as a critical thought partner and policy driver to the Governor’s Office, the Legislature and the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources on women’s issues, providing technical assistance, including data analysis, research, best practices, and policy recommendations to ensure decisions are evidence-based and aligned with the community’s needs. OWAA also oversees the Delaware Commission for Women, which advises on strategic planning and programming, and the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee, which honors the contributions of Delaware women by annually recognizing their achievements.

The candidate will lead a team responsible for broad policy and advocacy for women and girls across Delaware and women who work for the State of Delaware. The candidate will closely monitor and work in partnership with Delaware legislators and the executive branch to shape and influence policies that align with the agency’s mission. The role also includes conceptualizing and managing all aspects of policies and programs aimed at eliminating gender-based bias and discriminatory policies and practices. Expectations will be to produce high quality reports on the status of women to a statewide audience. The candidate must possess the ability to draft legislative initiatives, conduct research on legislative topics, monitor legislation and track proposed laws. The candidate must possess strong negotiating skills and grow and develop partnerships with key stakeholders. Additionally, the candidate will lead and direct department events such as the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame, She’s on Her Way and various seminars and webinars.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. 

• Leads the development of state women’s advocacy programs, strategies, initiatives and services such as those that eliminate wage disparities, promote small business development, advocate for quality health services and provide solutions to work and family challenges. 
• Represents the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy and the Delaware Department of Human Resources at Legislative Hall, including testifying on relevant issues and policies. 
• Fosters collaborations between state agencies, the General Assembly, the Judiciary, individuals, organizations, businesses and institutions toward the elimination of gender-bias and discriminatory policies and practices. 
• Drafts and recommends new or revised policies and legislation that removes discriminatory laws and practices and advance women in the State. 
• Oversees the Delaware Women’s Workforce Council and the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee. 
• Represents the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy in the media and at academic and professional conferences and other community-based gatherings. 
• Refers complaints and inquiries to the appropriate state departments, agencies or community organizations when necessary and collaborates to identify solutions. 
• Studies, reviews and reports on the status of women in the State by conducting research projects, focus groups, public hearings, forums and discussion groups as necessary. 
• Serves as the clearinghouse for providing information on the status of women to the public, state agencies, the General Assembly, the Judiciary, organizations and businesses. 
• Advocates for women state employees by reviewing state policies and procedures, organizing professional development opportunities, programs of interest, and supporting initiatives that address issues disproportionately impacting women employees.

Please attach a resume with your online application or use the resume tab in DEL to provide a detailed description of how your education, training and/or experience meets each job requirement including employer, experience/responsibilities and dates (month/year) of employment/training.

1. Master’s degree preferred in Human Resource Management, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, Business Administration or related field.
2. Experience in directing, designing and executing strategic advocacy programs.
3. Experience managing policy-focused research projects and teams.
4. Experience in developing and implementing strategy for advancing policy goals with key decision and law makers.
5. Experience in public speaking and media interview skills.
6. Proven ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations.
7. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to navigate complex conversations and align diverse perspectives.
8. Experience in stakeholder engagement and consensus-building to drive initiatives forward effectively.
9. Skilled in conflict resolution and negotiation to address challenges and build mutual understanding.
10. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple relationships simultaneously while ensuring clear and consistent communication.
11. Manage and develop staff supporting the goals and objectives of the office and the Department of Human Resources.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware Executive Branch participates in the Federal E-Verify system where the State will provide the federal government with each new hires Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information refer to our job seeker resources.

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

Please attach a resume with your online application or use the resume tab in DEL to provide a detailed description of how your education, training and/or experience meets each job requirement including employer, experience/responsibilities and dates (month/year) of employment/training. It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application to include dates of employment, job title and job duties and responsibilities.  Once you have submitted your application on-line, all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email. Please keep your contact information current. You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the “My Applications” tab at State of Delaware - Delaware Employment Link.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.  To request an auxiliary aid or service please call (302) 739-5458. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance.

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.