Assistant Vice President, Organizational Culture, Inclusion, and Equity

Assistant Vice President, Organizational Culture, Inclusion, and Equity

Main Campus - Boston, MA
R07354

Simmons University is committed to building a community that is equitable and inclusive of all its students, staff, and faculty members. The Office of Organizational Culture, Inclusion and Equity (OCIE) is dedicated to upholding Simmons' mission of providing a transformative and supportive learning environment.

We recognize that a robust intellectual community for all requires moving beyond representation and toward authentic engagement, thoughtful participation, and inclusive membership.

At the Office of Organizational Culture, Inclusion & Equity, we seek to effect the fundamental cultural and institutional changes necessary to establish and maintain a fully inclusive campus, and to promote ongoing, meaningful, and engaged diversity. In doing this work, we center a broad range of social identities and perspectives including, but not limited to, race, socio-economic status, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religious/spiritual affiliations, physical abilities, sexual orientation, citizenship status, and national origin.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Vice President, Organizational Learning and Development (“VP”), the Assistant Vice President, Organizational Culture, Inclusion, and Equity (“AVP”) is a critical member of the Office of Organizational Culture, Inclusion and Equity (“OCIE”) and will play a pivotal role in helping develop organizational capacity and effectiveness across the institution focusing on aligning the University's stated values regarding diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion to its policies, practices, structures, climate, and culture. The AVP shares responsibility for expanding Simmons' significant programs and practices underlying the university's commitment to inclusive excellence. In this role, the AVP will guide efforts to conceptualize, define, assess, nurture and cultivate diversity as an institutional and educational priority.

The AVP will also serve as a strategic partner to other leadership teams and units such as the Office of the Provost, Human Resources, Advancement, Student Affairs, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Research, among other colleagues, in building bridges and identifying and pursuing meaningful engagement and discourse with faculty, staff, students, alumnae/i and the Boston community. In collaboration with the VP and the Office of the Provost and the Deans, the AVP also will work to integrate inclusive excellence into the university curriculum and pedagogy, preparing faculty to teach diverse learners and preparing students to navigate diverse communities.

Essential Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the President's Advisory Council on Diversity, lead the development of a comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategic plan; work with decision makers to guide the ongoing development, alignment, and assessment of strategies that enhance diversity and serve to create and sustain a more inclusive living, learning, and working environment;
  
• Manage, implement, and partner with programs, activities and initiatives designed to foster a campus climate that promotes, respects, and appreciates diversity and inclusion, which may include seeking external or internal partners to execute relative programming;
  
• Establish, facilitate and/or identify appropriate ongoing training and professional development opportunities across all constituencies that emphasize the importance of a diverse and inclusive campus environment;
  
• Identify opportunities to partner with community groups and organizations to support diversity and inclusion in the broader community;
  
• Create opportunities to engage diverse ideas inside and outside the classroom;
  
• Assess campus climate and develop appropriate responses to climate surveys and other diversity and inclusion assessments;
  
• Develop and implement opportunities for dialogue across and with all constituencies;
  
• Create a series of shared experiences that link all students, faculty, staff and other leadership;
  
• Promote access and success for all community members to foster a sense of belonging, in particular, underrepresented segments of the population;
  
• Supervise the Director of Multicultural Center and serve as thought partner to student facing offices such as Study Abroad Office, Student Affairs, Center for Student Success, etc.
  
• Advocate and support mechanisms for infusion of diversity concepts in the general education curriculum including multiple perspectives and teaching strategies;
  
• Research, identify and implement best practices of diversity and inclusion and demonstrate an excellent command of contemporary diversity, inclusion, and multicultural concepts and issues;
  
• Work with the Office of Advancement to identify and seek outside funding resources to support the equity initiatives involving faculty and the classroom environment;
  
• Serve as a liaison to the Multicultural Center Staff providing support and connection to student leaders success and capacity for DEI competencies and practice;
  
• Develop and implement professional development training initiatives on diversity, inclusion, and intergroup facilitation to build organizational awareness for inclusive excellence and a climate for diversity;
  
• Assess training and development needs on inclusion and diversity through consultation with employee resource groups and managers in various campus units and divisions;
  
• Assess learning opportunities across multiple dimensions of diversity and develop programs designed to build an equitable and inclusive community and strengthen partnerships across the University;
  
• In partnership with Human Resources, develop and implement DEI training for all employees, search committees, and manager groups;
  
• In coordination with the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Deans and the Office of the Provost, develop and implement training in classrooms as needed, curriculum development and re-design for DEI;
  
• Identify and develop mentorship and affinity group opportunities to support staff and faculty of color and other marginalized identities;
  
• Work with ‘faculty fellows' to ensure ongoing integration of DEI into the curriculum and pedagogy of each college;
  
• In collaboration with The Center for Excellence in Teaching, plan and facilitate faculty professional development (Inclusive Excellence Seminars);
  
• Partner with the Provost Office to provide programming to coach and support new and junior faculty of color and other marginalized identities;
  
• Represent DE&I initiatives internally and externally building impactful relationships with peer organizations and DE&I thought leaders to support the University's mission and recruitment strategies for underrepresented groups;
  
• Participate on faculty search committees and President's Advisory Council on DEI; serve on other institution Committees as needed.
  

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited institution;
  
• Minimum of ten years of relevant experience in either designing, implementing, sustaining and/or advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs;
  
• Minimum 5 years of extensive supervisory experience.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant area strongly preferred; Ph.D., J.D., or other terminal degree;
  
• Experience working in higher education, nonprofit or public sectors administering relevant programs and services with affirmative action/diversity responsibilities, including civil and human rights;
  
• Associated with national diversity and equity organization;
  
• Three or more years of demonstrated experience serving as a resource and consultant, working collaboratively with multiple constituents;
  
• Experience with curriculum & program development.
  

Required Application Materials:

• Resume
  
• Cover Letter
  

Salary Grade
S12

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the "Resume/CV" box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.


To apply, visit https://simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmons-Careers/job/Main-Campus---Boston-MA/Assistant-Vice-President--Organizational-Culture--Inclusion--and-Equity_R07354

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons College is a small, private, non-sectarian College which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals.

We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.