Director of Multicultural Outreach & Recruitment

The Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity's (OMA&D) has an outstanding opportunity for a Director of Multicultural Outreach and Recruitment (MOR).   

The Director of Multicultural Outreach and Recruitment (MOR) leads a team of professionals committed to attracting and enrolling talented and diverse students to the University of Washington (UW) to create an intellectually and culturally vibrant student body. 

The Director reports to the Associate Vice President, College Access, and works closely with other members of the OMA&D administrative leadership team.  We seek a talented equity-minded individual who will exercise strategic leadership in and management of the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity's (OMA&D) recruitment and outreach efforts to attract and increase the number of underrepresented minority (URMs), low-income, and first-generation students to the UW.  This position works collaboratively with the following offices within UW Enrollment Management: Office of Admissions, Financial Aid and the Registrar.  It has primary responsibility for coordinating the activities of staff, resources, and programs dedicated to the enrollment of diverse populations.  The Director must be highly sensitive to various issues connected with access to the University of Washington by underrepresented minority students, first generation, and low-income students. A high degree of professionalism, collaboration, and nuanced understanding of diversity and equity is required. The successful candidate must apply high levels of knowledge of complex UW systems and procedures when developing and implementing programming and recruitment activities.

This position offers a notable opportunity for a talented and skilled professional that has an admissions/recruitment background, has a demonstrated commitment to diversity and equity, and has passion for expanding higher education opportunities for URMs, first generation, and low-income students.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership
• Lead the development, implementation and coordination for recruitment strategies to increase the number of freshman and transfer URM, first generation and low-income students to the UW.  In collaboration with the AVP provide oversight of the annual goals, strategy, and activities.
• Manage and oversee a $400,000 foundation grant including reporting to the UW or benefactors.  Cultivate additional funding sources to increase program reach.   
• Supervise a team of eight professionals, oversight of approximately 30 UW Student Ambassadors (part-time student employees), a graphics designer/web developer and visitation coordinator. Provide day-to-day management, fostering professional development, and evaluating work performance while promoting the continuation of our healthy and creative team climate that is based upon cooperation, trust, pride and respect.
• Hire, train, and oversee the ongoing professional development of the Multicultural Outreach & Recruitment team as advisors, presenters, recruiters, and managers of assigned recruitment territories.
• Hire, train and implement programs for the UW Student Ambassadors who support outreach and recruitment efforts.
• Support and participate in UW Admissions’ holistic review process for applicants.  
• Work collaboratively with offices within Enrollment Management (Admissions, Financial Aid and the Registrar) to assist in meeting the university’s commitment to enrolling a diversity, talented, and excellent student body.
• Develop strong and highly cooperative working relationships with existing programs within OMAD, other UW college access programs and departments, and community-based college-readiness programs.

Program Administration
• Manage all aspects of the M.O.R. program as needed (operational, financial, administrative, compliance, educational training, and professional development training). Assure that university policies are communicated and followed.
• Plan, develop and monitor annual budgets in collaboration with AVP and OMAD Fiscal.
• Develop a selection process to recommend candidates for scholarships aimed at supporting URMs and other diverse students.
• Use and model the use of data, assessment and technology in the recruitment, yield and communications work of the university and OMA&D.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders at the district, school, and community levels, and with college readiness coalitions and other external constituencies to achieve desired recruitment and programming goals.
• Provide expertise about local and national trends and best practices for admissions/enrollment management and expanding access to higher education for URMs, first generation and low-income students.
• Work collaboratively with the Associate Vice President to develop, recommend and build support for admission policies that expand access for URM students in Washington State.
• Ensure that state and university policies regarding admissions and recruitment are followed accurately and consistently.
• Manage budgets related to recruitment initiatives; including budgeting and tracking annual activity and making decisions in a manner that is fiscally responsible in meeting recruitment goals.
• Collaborate with other College Access programs and leaders of the College Access Leadership Team.
• Lead coordination with OMAD Student Success (support) Services to reduce Summer Melt and transition students to university based systems of support which includes community building through the Ethnic Cultural Center, Intellectual House, EOP advisors, First Year programs, mentors, etc.
• Collaborate with partners across the UW such as Advancement, Student Life, Marketing & Communications and academic units such as College of Education, Arts & Sciences, Law, Engineering, and Health Sciences to share information and leverage opportunities to maximize impact.

Other Duties As Assigned

Perform duties as delegated by Associate Vice President in areas, such as university service, writing of reports, representing the UW, etc.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Master's Degree and 4 - 5 years’ experience with:
•    Admissions, recruitment and diversity in higher education;
•    Supervision of professional and support staff from diverse backgrounds;
•    Three or more years’ experience using and modeling the use of data and analysis, assessment and technology in the recruitment, yield and communications work of the university

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
•    Excellent knowledge of college-going process and the barriers that students face while preparing for postsecondary education, education reform, the challenges facing low-income, first generation, and minority student populations; and
•    Advance knowledge of recruitment and enrollment strategies

DESIRED EXPERIENCE
•           Experience working with students from historically underrepresented groups, low income or first generation and sensitivity to the multicultural needs and characteristics of these communities;
• Experience in recruiting, hiring, training, and onboarding staff.  Demonstrated experience in leading, motivating and encouraging employees to create a high performance team;
• Experience working with community college systems and the ability to articulate challenges and opportunities to increase transfer rates for URMs to the UW;
• Excellent communications skills:  Ability to express oneself clearly and empathetically in interactions with others in all forms of communication (verbal and written, one-on-one and group);
• Advanced knowledge of the legal and policy landscape related to access to higher education for URMs;
• Demonstrated successful marking and communications experience in university and external community settings;
• Strong level of comfort with and making data informed decisions;
• Appreciation of the complexities of a large public flagship institution; and
• Demonstrably strong computer skills and data management skills, as well as proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for producing correspondence, special reports, spreadsheets, databases, forms, and more.