Executive Director, The Center for Race, Equity, and Inclusion

Leadership Opportunity

Oberlin College’s newly emerging Center for Race, Equity, and Inclusion (CREI) seeks an exceptional leader to serve as the Center’s inaugural Executive Director. In partnership with the President, the deans of the College and Conservatory, the vice president of student affairs, and the chief financial officer, the next Executive Director of the CREI will provide vision around Oberlin’s renewed commitments to racial justice, equity, and inclusion on a national stage.

In August 2020, President Carmen Twillie Ambar and Oberlin College launched the Presidential Initiative on Racial Equity and Diversity, which seeks to elevate and advance Oberlin’s more than 180-year commitment to the education and rights of people of color in America by providing a framework for faculty and students to address issues of violence, police-community relationships, and racial injustices. The inaugural Executive Director will help shepherd this vision and provide leadership for those implementing programmatic innovations to further equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts throughout the institution. The successful candidate will work with a talented pool of faculty and students to pursue research delving into some of the most pressing issues facing our nation. Through analysis of the institution's EDI data and programmatic initiatives, the CREI’s next leader will ensure progress and measure the institutional effectiveness of Oberlin’s EDI ecosystem.

Position Summary

The Executive Director will fill a highly strategic position that paves the way for the next iteration of Oberlin’s widely recognized leadership in racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. An engaging educator, they will direct relevant research on campus, manage student, graduate, and faculty fellows, and support mentorship programs, all manifesting a holistic approach to Oberlin’s EDI work and culture. The Executive Director must embrace an entrepreneurial spirit to develop the Center and help it reach its full potential as a campus leader and liaison for EDI-related research, education, and fundraising. They will be a pillar of Oberlin’s long-term strategy to extend its EDI ecosystem on campus and to demonstrate national thought leadership. Most of the Executive Director’s focus will be on the creation, implementation, and success of the Center for Race, Equity, and Inclusion.

Candidates with diverse professional experiences will be considered, although ideal candidates will have demonstrated experience and success in the following areas:

• Strong Academic Credentials: It is preferred that the Executive Director have doctoral level research experience in the field of EDI and experience putting research into action with metrics of success. A Ph.D. or an advanced degree in a related field is required.
• Deep Experience in EDI Work: 10+ years of experience in cultural centers or higher education institutions focusing on similar work with a deep understanding of structural and systemic oppression.
• Successful Fundraising Experience: Fundraising experience or a significant and sophisticated knowledge of advancement. The Division of Advancement will be a strong partner in this work.
• Experienced Programmatic Builder: Deep experience in building programmatic initiatives focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Skillful Manager: Experience managing professional staff and student staff.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and ability to guide initiatives from the ground up.
• Strong Leader, Clear Communicator: Demonstrated history of strong leadership abilities, excellent interpersonal skills, and building collaborative relationships; outstanding written and verbal communication skills to be applied within and outside the institution.
• Higher Education Experience: An understanding of the faculty’s role in higher education and academic research is strongly preferred.

Oberlin College is assisted in this process by Spencer Stuart and invites nominations and expressions of interest. If you wish to pursue the opportunity or nominate someone to serve as the CREI’s next Executive Director, please send an email message with supporting materials to: OberlinEDCREI@spencerstuart.com.

In all of its relationships, Oberlin College is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, family relationship to an employee of Oberlin College, disability, or veteran status, except where such a distinction is proved to be a bona fide occupational qualification. Read the full Equal Employment Opportunity Statement at: https://www.oberlin.edu/humanresources/jobs.