ABOUT SMC

Spartanburg Methodist College, founded in 1911, is a private residential liberal arts institution serving a diverse student population within the United Methodist Connection. Since its founding as the first co-op school in the nation, SMC has remained dedicated to its mission to connect education and employment. After over 100 years as an Associate Degree granting institution, the college launched its first bachelor’s degree in 2019. Today, the college’s emphasis on education and employment includes a unique professional development concentration comprised of eight required courses for students seeking associate and bachelor’s degrees.

DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (POSITION REVISED)

All employees of Spartanburg Methodist College are entrusted with assisting the College to achieve its vision and mission. Customer focus, college service, and a willingness to assist as needed are expectations of all employees.

Organizational Responsibilities: The Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion  reports to the Dean of Community Wellness

Job Summary: The Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, reporting to the Dean of Community Wellness, has the exciting responsibility of creating an inaugural diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program at Spartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Director will work with departments across campus to create an environment that is welcoming of all aspects of campus members’ personal identities (including race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, disability status, socioeconomic level, age, and broader diversity). The Director will also be responsible for developing initiatives promoting student engagement and success within the Spartanburg Methodist College Student Experience (SMCX), educating campus about DEI initiatives, fostering an environment that allows all students to develop a strong sense of belonging and inclusion, and creating programming that prepares students to lead in our diverse society.

The Director will work with faculty, staff and students to offer and assist with training opportunities surrounding DEI initiatives. The Director will also have some opportunity to collaborate with Human Resources, advising and consulting where needed. This position is intentionally housed within the SMCX to ensure that our focus as a college remains on student development and service to all students.

Major Areas of Responsibility:

• Initiate, develop, maintain, and provide oversight for DEI programs and services that support students in their academic pursuits, campus life, and civic and social responsibilities.
• Create and implement campus-wide education and programming on various DEI topics.
• Develop (in consultation with third=party consultant) long-range strategic planning, program development, and metrics to assess DEI programs and services consistent with the college’s mission.
• Create opportunities for ongoing conversations with students and employees about diversity.
• Develop and lead best-practice training for college employees on matters of DEI and creating a more inclusive campus community.
• Advise the college’s faculty on best practices for promoting diversity in academic programs, including student support services and career objectives.
• Monitor national trends in promoting the success of diverse students and help to educate the campus on the changing needs related to various personal identities.
• Work collaboratively with Enrollment Services and the Office of Human Resources in attracting a diverse community to campus.
• Provide department reports and presentations as needed.
• Provide strategic guidance and advice to the Dean and the President’s Cabinet on matters of policy interpretation and practice concerning diversity, accessibility, equity, inclusion, freedom of speech and freedom of expression for students, staff, faculty, and visitors.
• Advise the Dean, the President’s Cabinet and the Board of Trustees on major areas of DEI that require attention and resources.
• Attend and participate in campus programs and events when possible, interacting with faculty, staff and students outside of normal business hours.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Commitment and adherence to strict professional standards without passion or prejudice.
• Ability to maintain neutrality, exercise diplomacy, good judgment, and discretion, maintain confidentiality at the highest level.
• Demonstrated ability to cross-organizational and cultural boundaries with ease, adapting language and style to the context both in person and at a distance.
• Ability to develop and maintain a compliance matrix and repository of compliance resources.
• Ability to implement and monitor administrative systems to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
• Effective communication (verbal, written and electronic) and interpersonal skills combined with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and students having a range of backgrounds, interests, and perspectives.
• Demonstrated awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion to support a welcoming environment.
• Extraordinary organizational skills, including efficient management of time and resources.
• Proven success in obtaining cooperation and innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as an internal resource and consultant, working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders in a politically sensitive context often complicated by the presence of competing perspectives or interests.

Working Conditions:

This work is typically performed in an office setting and will require significant contact with students, faculty, staff, and the campus community. Regular hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:00am - 1:30pm on Fridays. Hours will vary widely to include working evening and weekends, contingent on on-call duty rotation, student activities, and events. May be required to work on some college and national holidays.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to move around the campus and frequently climb a flight of stairs in the residence halls.
• Manual and physical dexterity and visual acuity needed to operate a computer keyboard and handle paper documents.
• Sufficient near vision acuity to read information appearing on a computer monitor, in handwritten form, and printed on paper.
• Adequate hearing and verbal abilities to communicate effectively in person and by telephone.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.

HOW TO APPLY: 

Please send a letter of interest, resume and list of three (3) references to:

Director of Human Resources
Spartanburg Methodist College
1000 Powell Mill Road, Spartanburg, SC 29301.

Application materials may also be submitted electronically to dunnj@smcsc.edu.

• Application open until filled.

AA/EOE

FLSA: Fulltime, Exempt

Spartanburg Methodist College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or any legally protected status in any personnel action regarding the recruiting, hiring, and promotion of faculty and staff members.

This job description provides a representative summary of the nature and responsibilities of the position.  It is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all duties and responsibilities which may be modified at any time.  The job description is not intended to imply or to create a contract of employment.