Equality officers design, coordinate, drive, implement, manage and evaluate plans, programmes, projects and campaigns to promote positive action for gender equality opportunities in a range of professional fields and settings.
Hence, their main function to promote the advancement and expansion of equal opportunities and gender equality in organisations and institutions through the implementation and assessment of actions and policies aimed at achieving equality of opportunities and treatment between men and women, in both public and private sectors.

• Develop, implement and evaluate plans for equal opportunities between men and women, which involves coordinating the different areas of intervention, social partners and organisations involved in creating them.
• Design, promote and assess the progressive incorporation of gender perspectives in different areas of intervention or areas in which organisations work.
• Define positive actions for equality of opportunities, advice and cooperation to achieve their creation and implementation.
• Design and manage programs of awareness, information and training in equal opportunities and gender equality for different target audiences.
• Support and drive the social and political participation of women's associations and individuals with particular disadvantages.

Regulated training and graduates

There is no specific formal training that qualifies you to work as an equality officer. However, an undergraduate university degree is usually required, mainly in the fields of social sciences (sociology, psychology, etc.), combined with specific training as an equality officer.
The National Federation of Associations of Professional Officers for Equal Opportunities (FEPAIO) considers the minimum equality training that equality officers should obtain to be between 250 and 600 hours (as is the case for Master's-level studies).
Although not yet accredited, FEPAIO offers certification for equality agents consisting of 216 ECTS credits.

• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Serveis Socioculturals i a la comunitat: Promoció per a la igualtat de dones i homes (Nivell 3)
• Vocational Training Course(s) in the field of Professional Socio-cultural and Community Services - Advanced Level: Gender equity promotion
• Grau: Antropologia social i cultural
• Grau: Ciències polítiques i de l'Administració
• Grau: Sociologia
• Grau: Ciència política i gestió pública

Complementary training

In addition to university education and training in equality, to work in Catalonia officers are advised to have a C Level Certificate in Catalan.
It is desirable that, owing to the nature of their work, they have additional training in personnel management, neurolinguistic programming and research methodologies in gender studies and equal opportunities.

Other specific skills

In addition to speaking and writing Catalan and Spanish correctly, officers are advised to also have an advanced level of English that will enable them to understand technical documents and studies on gender equality, since many of them are written in that language.
It is necessary for these professionals to be advanced users of word processor and browser software because they must manage documentation and share it with other professionals.

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 2

Planning and organisation: Level 3

Initiative: Level 3

Empathy: Level 2

Customer orientation: Level 2

Conceptual thought: Level 2

Management

The organisation, administration and control of a company or entity are the main interests of people related to the management field. Activities included in this field of interest vary from effective resource management, feasibility analyses and solving business problems to the development of skills and fostering of motivation in relation to human resources. Knowledge regarding specific techniques of strategic administration and business management are required to carry out these activities.

Social community worker

Individuals related to the social/community field have an interest in working to improve people's social well-being and quality of life, as well as enhance their integration into their social, family and/or work environment. The professional activities that are common in this field include providing special support and aid to people at risk of social exclusion, designing programmes and implementing resources for the social and cultural stimulation of an area, and acting as mediators for conflict resolution in family, social or interpersonal environments. These activities involve constant interaction with people in order to improve their psychological and social well-being.

Employment and local development agent

Adoption and fostering technician

Job placement specialist

Technician in international cooperation projects

European Union regulations specialist

• Work hours

  Weekly timetable of 37.5 hours per week in morning only or morning and afternoon shifts, as stipulated by one¿s labour contract. Timetables may also consist of half-days worked in mornings.

• Salary

  According to FEPAIO, equality officers earn between €7,500 and €60,000 gross per annum working for private organisations. This range is wide because remuneration is calculated on the basis of work experience, hours of work performed and educational level. However, the normal range is normally between €20,000 and €35,000 gross per annum.

• Professional category

  Technician