The University of Denver's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) engages the work of equity, Inclusive Excellence, and diversity across the university, with a unique lens on the academic experience. For example, ODEI supports DUs efforts to advance diversity, equity, and Inclusive Excellence by providing the campus community with opportunities to extend their knowledge, perspectives, and experiences vital to performing effectively in a culturally diverse and globally connected society.

Position Summary

The University of Denvers Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is seeking an Associate Director for DEI with a focus on Black Community Initiatives (BCI) to join our team, effective December 1, 2022. Black Community Initiatives, as an area of focus at DU, started as a response to a calling from our Black community in tandem with national protests in the spring of 2020. As one of the five impact areas of the DEI Action Plan, building support for DUs Black Community, this position has crafted a series of signature programs, formed a community advisory board, and worked alongside faculty, staff, and students in garnering an understanding the historic and current lived experience of members of our Black community toward beginning to draft strategic systemic engagements of inclusion.

The Associate Director (AD) will work alongside DEI leadership in the envisioning and implementation of strategic initiatives and engagements, integrating efforts for Black Community support at DU across administrative, academic, and operational units. The BCI associate director will draft and support implementation of institutional and systematic efforts that support for Black faculty, staff, administrators, and student needs toward structural transformation. This will include cultivating relationships and collaborations with the Black community and organizations to help foster an environment of mutual respect and cooperation. The candidate filling this position will identify, evaluate, and innovate programs and structures to center and value the Black experience in the intellectual and everyday life of the University.

The AD will serve as a consultant to the University of Denvers Vice Chancellor (VC) for DEI in attending to the challenges, support opportunities, and find new ways to open doors for our Black faculty, staff, and students. This team member will be a conduit, along with the Faculty Director for Black Community Initiatives, for the VC and for the DEI division in connecting with DUs Black community and with the Denver Black community.
The AD should stay current on other higher educational institution responses to anti-Black racism as well as related diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The AD should embody both strong alignment with the Universitys diversity, equity and inclusion vision and goals and a commitment to efficient and collaborative work.

Essential Functions

Black Community Initiatives Leadership:

• Consult and advise the University of Denvers Vice Chancellor for DEI, making and evaluating ongoing recommendations to advance strategic support and planning for the Black Community Initiatives.
• Provide guidance, support, and training for faculty, staff, and administration in the creation, maintenance, and sustaining practices of making an affirming and welcoming environment for our Black campus communities.
• Organize and coordinate the building of more extensive support and resource systems and networks for DUs Black Communities aimed at furthering DUs retention and success metrics, including but not limited to Alumni of Action, Faculty, Staff, and students (both graduate and undergraduate).
• Work with the BCI Faculty Director to coordinate the management, development, implementation, assessment, and growth of BCI activities, programming, and community engagement.
• Guide and contribute to strategic planning and BCI program sustainability through goal setting, assessment and innovations of programs and initiatives across the institution.
• Build upon and refine already established structures and programs in direction and alignment with the vision and trajectory of DEI at DU.
• Assist the development and implementation of BCI signature programs and annual events, including but not limited to the MLK Jr. Commemoration, Juneteenth Celebration, and Black History Month activities.
• Advise on and support campus efforts to incorporate Black cultural elements, practices, and protocols into university events.
  Black Community Initiatives Collaboration and Liaison

Campus Liaison:

• Serve as a liaison and support to the BCI faculty director in developing reciprocal and mutually beneficial community partnerships as well as facilitate and foster collaboration among and across DU entities.

Community Liaison:

• Build capacity for partnerships with community entities (e.g., by attending community meetings) to support and facilitate connections to BCI projects.

Administrative & Managerial Leadership:

• Update, coordinate, and grow all public facing BCI media, including the website, social media, and newsletter. Assist the BCI faculty director with public relations efforts to showcase BCIs supported projects on campus and off-campus.
• Coordinate and supervise Black Community Initiatives staff, both professional and student.
• Support the hiring and development of professional staff and manage student employees (both graduate and undergraduate - including work study students, graduate assistants, and interns), and volunteers.
• Manage the BCI budget(s) including the signature programs, operational budgets, seed funding, and possible grant funding.
• Raise funds for BCI utilizing the DU advancement platform through various engagements including but not limited to OneDay4DU.
• Support the DEI divisional team and the DEI efforts across the university, with an understanding, appreciation, and skills in advancing overall DEI priorities, this person will be asked to provide trainings and other strategic engagements of DEI beyond BCI concerns in creating a seamless and intersectional DEI approach at the University of Denver.

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree from an accredited university program.
• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant education and/or work experience with Black communities related to university processes and engagements.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships with Black communities, and organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to implement community programming events and to work productively with individuals across campus to make university events inclusive and successful.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD degree in an area such as higher education, counselling, Black/African American studies, communications, social science, leadership, or a related field.
• Ability to maintain a positive and productive working relationship with university and local communities
• Three (3) years of experience working in areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and or community engagement in higher education
• Work experience in higher education or similar educational settings

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often, and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) on October 24, 2022.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 10.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $60,000 - $70,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidates sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.