Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Company: Fitch Ratings
Location: New York
Posted on: February 25, 2021

Job Description:

Career Opportunities: Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (26265) Requisition ID--26265-----Posted--09/22/2020-----Fitch Ratings New York-----Fitch Ratings Inc.----- Job Posting Country (1) -----Human Resources-----New York Fitch Group is a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Fitch Group is comprised of: Fitch Ratings, a global leader in credit ratings and research; Fitch Solutions, a leading provider of credit market data, analytical tools and risk services; and Fitch Learning, a preeminent training and professional development firm. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is majority owned by the Hearst Corporation. Department Overview Fitch Group's Human Resources function comprises just over 60 staff based in New York, Chicago, London, Hong Kong and Singapore. We support all Divisions of Fitch Group - responsible for approximately 4000 colleagues - and we are accountable for designing and delivering a broad range of programs and services to drive Fitch's "Focus on our People" strategic objective. In addition to providing the typical Human Capital Management services to Fitch Group's lines of business, HR is either directly responsible for or closely engaged in the advancement of Fitch's goals for Diversity & Inclusion, Employee Engagement and Internal Communication, and Workplace Culture. The Chief Human Resources Officer is based in London and is a member of the Fitch Group Executive, reporting to the CEO. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Fitch Fitch Group's mission is to be recognized as providing products and insights that support efficient capital markets and help drive global economic growth. As a knowledge business, our people are the key difference-makers and our success has been based on a long history of striving to do the right thing to deliver value to our stakeholders, build our franchise for the long term and conduct ourselves in a responsible and ethical way. As we grow and expand, our future depends on preserving these values while consciously cultivating a working environment that actively embraces different perspectives, cultures, and diversity of thought. We are also committed to ensuring our teams, especially our leadership, better reflects the diversity of talent, cultures and perspectives of the communities and markets we operate in as well as the global scope of our business. We recognize that we have some way to go to achieve this, and in 2017 we established an Executive Steering Group to drive the development of a DEI program, which was embedded in the HR Talent function. Our initial DEI strategy was built around a three-year plan, designed to increase awareness of and engagement in DEI across our businesses, develop a stronger understanding of workplace inclusivity. and improve the pipeline of senior female talent through focused development and sponsorship initiatives. Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Role Overview This exciting and important new role is part of our investment in elevating and broadening DEI beyond HR programming and the initial focus on gender and, alongside our recently launched CSR program, establishing it as a core enterprise strategy. Reporting to the CHRO, the Head of DEI will be accountable for shaping Fitch's new Global DEI strategy in conjunction with the Fitch Group Executives, and for coordinating collaborative execution across multiple stakeholder groups including Line of Business management, Employee Resource Groups, and the Global HR team. Successful delivery will require especially close partnerships with the respective Heads of Talent Programs, CSR, Internal Communications, and Strategy & Business Intelligence. Key responsibilities:

• Develop the Fitch Group DEI strategy in collaboration with the CHRO, CEO and Executive team and translate this into Enterprise and Line of Business level initiatives, programs and measurable objectives. Track and transparently report progress.
• Form and lead the Diversity Council, in conjunction with executive leadership and Employee Resource Groups. Leverage resources from HR, legal, communications, marketing, finance and other areas as needed.
• Assess and monitor all relevant data relating to our employee population. Increase year-over-year diversity and representation metrics in line with specific goals you help define, and positively impact engagement and retention of our diverse workforce globally in measurable ways.
• Analyze market trends and continuously benchmark against companies that are recognized for their success in this area.
• Integrate expertise in DEI into existing HR programs and practices so they drive clear ROI and help us achieve our DEI outcomes, specifically:
  • Partner with Talent Acquisition and CSR as appropriate to identify and drive diversity recruiting efforts with clear measurement strategies including strategic sourcing, diverse talent pooling, diverse interview panels, balanced candidate slates, participation at external events and diverse career fairs, blind resumes/CVs, diverse job board postings, and other innovative solutions.
  • Partner with Talent Programs and HR to integrate DEI initiatives into Talent practices including exit interviews, performance management, leadership development, succession planning, total rewards, retention, Hi-Po programs, internships, and mentoring programs.
  • Provide on-going consultancy to our HR Business Partners to help them act as DEI ambassadors and to design, develop and execute on tactical business and location-specific Inclusion and Diversity plans
  • Work with local HR and Legal teams to establish key metrics to measure and track the outcomes of DEI programs in territory, while ensuring compliance and other legal requirements are met.
  • Establish and manage the DEI budget, including ERG funding. Engagement
    • Challenge, support and influence business leadership to promote ally-ship and engage meaningfully with the Fitch DEI agenda, and assist the Group Executive in acting as champions and advocates for DEI
    • Role Model the openness and care of true listening. Connect in a highly accessible, approachable way so you have access to the pulse of our people, our past, our cultures, and our aspirations in order to create an environment for real and sustainable change
    • Collaborate with, mentor and support Fitch's Employee Resource Groups in contributing to and aligning with Fitch's DEI initiatives and business priorities
    • Work with CSR to develop community initiatives reflecting Fitch's commitment to DEI
    • Work with Internal Communications and the Head of CSR to tell Fitch's DEI story and ensure that initiatives are understood and accessible. Develop impactful, coordinated campaigns to maintain and increase engagement in key issues Branding & Marketing
      • Work with the Group Marketing function to build Fitch's brand as a diverse, inclusive, equitable employer, as we progress towards becoming a role model in this regard. Ensure messaging is embedded in Fitch's Employer Value Proposition, policies and procedures, communications plans, marketing and advertising, customer service philosophy, and community outreach.
      • Represent the company externally at key DEI meetings and events. Build a strong public network and presence in the DEI community. Monitor external social platforms providing insights and feedback i.e. Glassdoor.
      • Aim for Fitch to become an 'employer of choice' based on diversity. Participate in select DEI related awards and rankings to gain recognition for our achievements in this area i.e. Corporate Equality Index, Diversity Inc, etc.
      • Author annual DEI report, as well as provide regular reporting to senior management on progress against objectives Required Skills and Experience
        • Passionate about the role DEI can play in the development of a successful business, and the drive to make a difference
        • 12+ years of DEI or HR-related business experience in developing, articulating, implementing, and measuring strategic programs at an enterprise level in an organization greater than 5000 people, ideally with > 5 years exposure to DEI or CSR.
        • Knowledge of Financial Services sector, ideally with insight into Fitch's competitors to ensure we are differentiated
        • Excellent writing and presentation skills. Highly effective communicator, able to clearly and concisely articulate ideas and proposals to enroll employees, peers, and leadership
        • Program Management experience; demonstrated ability to design and deliver programs for a wide audience, ideally demonstrating experience in organizational behavior change
        • Demonstrated success in metrics-driven environment; experience with data analytics preferred
        • A keen sense of public policy, and deep understanding of the political forces in the region, where it relates to DEI
        • Ability to successfully work across geographies and cultures. Flexibility to travel up to 10% of the time or more depending on location. Personal attributes
          • An action-oriented mindset, able to balance the tactical and strategic elements of work and to mobilize others
          • Ability to be an integrating force, working effectively across the highest level of the business, acting as intermediary between independent functions, and maintaining an open, two-way channel with employees
          • Highly collaborative and relationship-oriented
          • Resourcefulness and tenacity, ability and willingness to progress with ambiguity--
          • Ability to confront issues and challenging conversations with warmth and empathy
          • A strong team orientation. Willing to be a utility player when needed. #LI-HB1 Fitch Group is a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Fitch Group is comprised of: Fitch Ratings, a global leader in credit ratings and research; Fitch Solutions, an industry-leading provider of credit risk products and services; and Fitch Learning, a preeminent training and professional development firm. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is owned by--Hearst.-- Fitch complies with all laws governing employment in each jurisdiction in which it operates, and provides equal opportunity to all applicants and employees. All applications will be considered without regard to race, colour, creed, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity--and other status protected by applicable laws. Fitch is committed to providing global securities markets with objective, timely, independent and forward-looking credit opinions. To protect Fitch's credibility and reputation, our employees must take every precaution to avoid conflicts of interests or any appearance of a conflict of interest. Should you be successful in the recruitment process at Fitch Ratings you will asked to declare any securities holdings and other potential conflicts for you and your Family Members prior to commencing employment. If you, or your Family Members, have any holdings that may conflict with your work responsibilities, they must be sold before beginning work. In certain roles, employees and their Family Members may be limited to investments in diversified mutual funds only.

Keywords: Fitch Ratings, New York , Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Accounting, Auditing , New York, New York