POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant to the President
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1004
GRADE Unclassified
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR President
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant to the President (CDO) is responsible for coordinating executive efforts to establish diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence as core values throughout all aspects of the university community. The CDO is also responsible for coordinating the university’s efforts to collaborate in the external community on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and efforts. In collaboration with administrators in academic affairs, student affairs, administrative services, human resources, compliance, and other university units, the CDO coordinates DEI programs, initiatives, programming, and practices. As a university leader and representative of the Office of the President, the CDO maintains strong collaborative working relationships among senior executives, faculty, students, staff and external constituents, and builds teams that function effectively.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A bachelor’s degree is required, a master’s degree is preferred.
Experience: Five years of management experience in a complex organization, preferably at an institution of higher education, with involvement in the organization’s DEI efforts is required. Experience leading a team of professional staff is preferred.
Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required. The ability to research, identify, and implement DEI best practices is required. The ability to work effectively and collegially within a large, complex university system and to network and negotiate with a wide range of constituencies is required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Provides vision, leadership, coordination, and strategic planning for DEI throughout the university.
2. Advises the President, senior university administrative officers, and members of the Board of Governors on issues relating to DEI strategy and develops and presents an array of innovative ideas and program concepts for consideration, selection, and implementation by executive sponsors.
3. Leads, manages, and administers the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and assumes budgetary responsibility for the division.
4. Pursues inclusion of diversity initiatives in strategic programming and partners with the Office for Institutional Equity and Compliance, Office of Human Resources, the Division of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and other university units to ensure that diversity initiatives are aligned with overall university policies.
5. Ensures the development and delivery of DEI training programs and opportunities and provides training and development to educate faculty, staff, and students—as well as stakeholders in the external community—on how to recognize, accommodate, and appreciate individual differences.
6. Establishes and advances partnerships in the community.
7. Ensures support for the institutional mission of the university by coordinating university-wide and unit-specific DEI plans, goals, and objectives, designing systems of effective controls to guide work toward expected outcomes, and evaluating progress towards their accomplishment.
8. Promotes a positive image and positive external relations for the university by communicating and interacting with local, state, and national stakeholders in matters related to DEI efforts.
9. Represents the university and/or the President in various community, state and other events, meetings, and activities in matters related to DEI efforts.
10. Ensures that miscellaneous assignments are completed in the best interest of the university by accepting and accomplishing tasks delegated by the President.
11. Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
12. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as appropriate.
SUPERVISION
The CDO is supervised by the President of the university and supervises full-time staff and graduate assistants.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
JUNE 2022