Job no: 498329
Department: Office of the President
Location: Oxford, OH
Work type: Salary Staff
Categories: Administration
Status: Full Time
Temporary: No

VP for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion

40

Miami University seeks an innovative, resourceful and collaborative professional to lead the University’s efforts to strengthen and advance its diversity, equity and inclusion. Building upon a comprehensive strategic plan, the Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion collaborates with the President, Executive Cabinet members, senior staff and faculty to establish diversity initiatives and to ensure that objectives are directly linked to the University’s mission statement and policies.

The Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion reports to the President and is a member of the President’s Executive Cabinet, which is the University’s senior leadership team. The Vice President is charged with providing vision and leadership for university-wide diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, advancement and enhancement. The Vice President will work collaboratively with all Miami University entities to fully integrate and advance DEI efforts, impacting students, faculty, staff and the Miami community.

Role and Responsibilities

The Vice President is a campus leader who assists, promotes and facilitates the university community in achieving practices and policies, such as, but not limited to:

● Leading diversity, equity and inclusion efforts broadly across campus within the inclusive excellence model
● Actively recruiting, admitting, hiring, and retaining the widest array of talented students, faculty, and staff, nationally and internationally
● Providing appropriate financial aid to those who need it
● Deliberately designing and offering curricula that promote deep learning (including opportunities for deep learning about human diversity) and provide critical learning opportunities
● Providing support, professional development, and working conditions for students, faculty, and staff that lead to long-term retention, satisfaction, and growth
● Examining these and other practices and policies for impact and effectiveness, and changing them when found to be lacking

In addition to promoting proactive steps like these, the Vice President also actively works to address and eliminate acts of harassment, hate, and violence that negatively impact the ability of our community members to engage in their intentional work together. Miami University opposes activities that threaten the educational mission and the rights, dignity, or humanity of the students, faculty, and staff who are fulfilling that mission and working in good faith to engage respectfully across differences. In these ways, Miami University works to ensure that all students, faculty, and staff experience and recognize Miami as a community environment where a diversity of thoughtful ideas and lived experiences are welcome, valued, and contribute to collaborative and respectful knowledge-making.

Essential Duties

The Vice President will lead and provide strategic direction for the Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity (OEEO) which ensures that Miami University provides an equitable environment for students, faculty, and staff. OEEO achieves its mission with compassion, understanding, and fairness to all parties involved and acts as a resource for all members of the university community.

The Vice President will also:

● Work with Academic Affairs to foster faculty diversity, inclusion and related issues.

● Review and evaluate the University’s diversity programs and make modifications where appropriate.

● Coordinate the University’s strategic diversity and inclusion efforts, encouraging collaboration and success.

● Connect Miami’s diversity efforts to its core emphasis on teaching and learning.

● Devise and monitor systems of evaluation that measure success for diversity and inclusion, reporting evaluation results to the university community, and using the results for continuous improvement.

● Work with vice presidents, deans and department heads in sharing resourceful ideas and corrective measures to develop outreach strategies which attract and retain a more diverse faculty, staff and student body.

● Work with administrators to develop and administer development programs to enhance responsiveness to issues of racial and cultural diversity in the workplace.

● Develop and implement processes and strategies to communicate effectively the University’s plans and policies on diversity. Serve as the Chair of Council for Diversity and Inclusion.

● Act as a liaison to minority community groups, organizations and stakeholders to enhance diversity and inclusion initiatives.

● Represent Institutional Diversity on the President’s Executive Council (PEC). Participate in strategic planning for Miami University and participate as an active member of Miami’s leadership/administration.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative, experienced leader to join one of America’s premier student-centered, public universities and play a key role in its evolution and continued success. The ideal candidate will bring a distinguished record that commands the respect of the University community. In addition, the individual must have significant leadership experience appropriate to the size and complexity of Miami University. The next Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion will possess many of the following qualities and experiences:

Required:

● An Advanced Degree is required, a Doctoral or Terminal Professional Degree is preferred.

● At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in higher education working on matters related to diversity and inclusiveness is required.

● Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills including ability to deal with employees at all levels of the organization, senior administrators, politicians and regulatory administrators.

● Demonstrated ability to work with faculty and administration in a higher education setting.

● Demonstrated servant leader – positive and collaborative spirit, serving, elevating and uplifting others in our campus community.

Preferred:

● A deep appreciation for the history, achievements and aspirations of Miami University, and the ability to effectively and eloquently convey those to a diverse audience.

● A demonstrated ability to craft substantive and cohesive messages based on the institution’s strategic DEI goals, communicate them successfully to key audiences, and adapt and adjust as appropriate over time.

● Substantial experience evaluating the strengths of existing programs and identifying opportunities for improvement. Ability to demonstrate effectiveness of programs and initiatives, using data-driven techniques and benchmarking is preferred.

● Superlative interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work well with people at all levels of an organization, across a diverse range of education and social backgrounds, and to demonstrate an honest respect for each individual, is required.

● Skill working in a complex, decentralized environment serving many internal clients and interacting with external constituents.

● Ability to craft and defend positions despite critiques, persuasively describing evidence and rationales with the President’s Executive Council. Network throughout the institution, serving as a resource and identifying resources in turn; convincing, persistent, and determined.

● Collaborative and collegial orientation, eager and able to engage a diverse university community, and able to build strong professional relationships.

● A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and the ability to build robust and collaborative cross-campus partnerships.

● The intellectual depth, maturity and confidence to garner the trust of the President, Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and other constituents. Strong personal integrity and work ethic, as well as a sense of humor and perspective.

● A keen eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources; the ability to plan, monitor, and manage a budget.

Requested application materials include a letter of interest; curriculum vitae; and five professional references.

Miami University, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, encourages applications from minorities, women, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Miami University prohibits harassment, discrimination and retaliation on the basis of age (40 years or older), color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin (ancestry), pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, status as a parent or foster parent, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, programs or employment practices. Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560. As part of the University’s commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe living, learning, and working environment, we encourage you to read Miami University’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report at: http://www.MiamiOH.edu/campus-safety/annual-report/index.html, which contains information about campus safety, crime statistics, and our drug and alcohol abuse and prevention program designed to prevent the unlawful possession, use, and distribution of drugs and alcohol on campus and at university events and activities. This report also contains information on programs and policies designed to prevent and address sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Each year, email notification of this website is made to all faculty, staff, and enrolled students. Written notification is also provided to prospective students and employees. Hard copies of the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report may be obtained from the Miami University Police Department at (513) 529-2223.

Yes

A criminal background check is required. All campuses are smoke- and tobacco-free campuses.

For questions regarding reasonable accommodations for disabilities, or to follow-up with a request, please contact ADAFacultyStaff@Miamioh.edu or (513) 529-3560.

Advertised: 25 Feb 2021 Eastern Standard Time