Worcester Begins Equity Officer Search Amid City Hall Restructuring

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester has taken a step toward hiring a new chief equity officer more than a year after the last person to hold the post resigned — a move that comes alongside a larger restructuring of the city's approach to equity and diversity.

Worcester on Tuesday began accepting bids from search firms to conduct a nationwide search for a new chief equity officer. Stephanie Williams resigned from the job in February 2021, and criticized city leaders for treating diversity, equity and inclusion as an "extracurricular activity" in her resignation letter.

City Manager Eric Batista filled in for Williams before he took the top job inside City Hall. In February, Batista pitched a plan to shake up Worcester's equity and human rights operations. Under the plan, the new chief equity officer would oversee a new department that has the power to conduct investigations into civil rights complaints — both against city employees, and external actors like landlords and employers.

"The chief equity officer will lead the newly established Executive Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and its efforts in recruiting, hiring, developing, retaining, engaging, and motivating a diverse, results-oriented, high-performing workforce that is representative of the community we serve," Batista said in a news release.

Executive search firms will have until May 10 to apply to conduct the actual chief equity officer search. Batista said the city hopes to have a new equity officer on board by the fall.