Job Title: Director of Diversity & Strategic Initiatives
Location: Case Main Campus
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 8718
Job Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The director of diversity and strategic initiatives will serve as a strategic thought leader in advancing Case Western Reserve University’s Diversity Strategic Action Plan (DSAP). The director will provide leadership and direction to the entire campus community, including university executives (deans, VP’s and others) in building consistency and accountability. The director will guide and lead efforts to cultivate an environment that values and demonstrates CWRU’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. The position will be responsible for developing and executing a cohesive approach to aligning and integrating a range of new and existing initiatives, policies, systems, and procedures that will foster an inclusive campus climate that embraces diverse perspectives, complex identities and lived experiences to ensure that all can thrive. The director will partner across the institution to actualize a strategic vision that advances and sustains inclusive excellence across the institution, while prioritizing and championing organizational change. As a key leader within the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and equal Opportunity (OIDEO), the director will establish and nurture collaborative partnerships with all institutional stakeholders: academic and administrative leadership, faculty, students, staff, alumni and extended CWRU community. The director’s principle university partners will be the Office of Development to serve as the key liaison within OIDEO to raise funds for new and existing initiatives to advance inclusive excellence across the CWRU community and the Offices of Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management to help enhance the overall experiences of undergraduate, graduate and professional school students in building a cohesive community that embraces, inclusion, diversity and equal opportunity among all of its constituents. The director will be responsible for working closely with the Office of Development to develop and implement strategies to raise private support to fund priorities identified within the DSAP and (OIDEO). On grant funded projects, the director will be the lead OIDEO representative on diversity programs to be included in large-scale proposals including in some cases the implementation of those programs. The director will develop and implement new avenues to gather and improve performance metrics related to diversity. The director will be a senior leader within the Office for Inclusion, Diversity & Equal Opportunity and as such will be a senior advisor to the vice president. In collaboration with the Office of Development partners, the director is responsible as the OIDEO "expert" of their portfolio of funding sources and acts as a central point for requested access and matching of company capabilities and interests with the programs and priorities of the university.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. The director will lead OIDEO’s collaboration on all financial development, including high net worth alumni, and senior executives, and external relations activities related to diversity. Serve as a lead strategist and practitioner with a level of expertise in diversity research, planning and programs. Design, oversee and provide training and educational opportunities in conjunction with the OIDEO team around university policies, local, state and federal guidelines, including but not limited to OFCCP, EEOC and OCR. (20%)
2. Lead the implementation of the deliverables outlined in the DSAP; includes measuring, and revising these goals as needed. Lead and promote programs, initiatives and alliances that will most efficiently achieve the goals and objectives of the plan. Lead the implementation of senior level projects outlined in the DSAP, engaging the senior leadership of the college and each of the schools and appropriately deploying other senior level offices and external organizations and foundations as needed to execute projects from conception to design to completion. (20%)
3. Identify, develop and in some cases execute programing in conjunction with student affairs, academic affairs and/or enrollment management, designed to support and enhance the academic, emotional and social experiences as well as professional development opportunities of the undergraduate, graduate and professional student population at CWRU. Develop strategies and lead initiatives which will build a sense of community around the principle of inclusive excellence focusing on curriculum, climate and culture. Work closely with campus partners to be a resource to promote recruitment and retention of historically underrepresented minority students (URM) and serve as an additional valuable resource within OIDEO for the URM student population. (20%)
4. Work with the Office of Development to craft strategies for and to coordinate university-wide fundraising activities for diversity scholarships, and programs. The Director will lead fact-finding about pipeline initiatives and international programming activities for students at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels to enhance recruitment and retention. (20%)
5. Lead all stewardship activities for the OIDEO. The director will develop and implement a strategic plan to cultivate key community relationships to positively impact the reputation and desirability of CWRU among the minority community in Greater Cleveland, and beyond. (5%)
6. Provide high level staffing to several OIDEO-led committees and initiatives to ensure continuity with executive leadership and other strategically aligned campus partners. (5%)
7. In collaboration with University Marketing & Communications, lead all marketing efforts for the OIDEO including, printed materials, proposal development, and web development. (5%)
8. Support faculty and staff development programs focused on creating and assessing social justice, anti-racism, anti-discrimination and diverse classrooms. (5%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Perform other duties as assigned. (<1%)

CONTACTS

Department: Frequent interaction with all levels of staff in the OIDEO.

University: Interacts extensively with members of the senior management centers including vice presidents, deans, and faculty members.

External: Regularly interacts and develops relationships with senior executives, and decision makers with key funding sources. Engages with high net worth individuals in the activities of the university to generate opportunities for future collaboration and/or financial support.

Student: Little or no contact with students.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Provide shared supervision of the OIDEO budget administrator/executive aide in the allocation and distribution of funds for projects identified in the DSAP and in alignment with the DSAP goal of resource development.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 8 or more years of increasing responsibility at a professional level with diversity & Inclusion work, higher education administration and/or student development. Fundraising experience and grant writing experience preferred.

Education/Licensing: Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree or other terminal degree preferred. Valid Ohio driver’s license required.

REQUIRED SKILLS

1. High degree of energy, creativity, organization and interpersonal skills as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute high level programs and program assessment. Demonstrated ability to focus and prioritize tasks. Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment and a multifaceted program. Must be able to work independently and show accountability for all results.
2. Computer proficiency (including Microsoft Office) and the ability to learn new programs.
3. Ability to meet consistent attendance.
4. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.

WORKING CONDITIONS

General office environment, some evening and weekend work hours will be required. Periodic travel required.

Diversity Statement

In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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Reasonable Accommodations

Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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