Director of Equal Opportunity

Iowa State University
Director of Equal Opportunity

Iowa State University (ISU) is a student-centric leading university serving 30,177 students. ISU is classified as a Carnegie Foundation Doctoral/Research University-Extensive, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top public universities in the nation. As a land-grant institution, ISU is a global and culturally diverse institution committed to providing a supportive environment for both learning and employment— variety in experience and perspective is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and building a comprehensive academic community. Students thrive in learning communities and actively engage in 800-plus student organizations, undergrad research, internships, and study abroad. They learn from world-class scholars tackling some of the world's biggest challenges—feeding the hungry, finding alternative fuels, and advancing manufacturing. ISU is located in Ames, Iowa, a community of 67,000 situated 30 minutes north of the state capital of Des Moines and was recently voted as the number one "Best College Town in America" by 247WallSt.com in June 2023.

The Position
Reporting to the president, the director of equal opportunity will define, assess, and promote the university's objectives in the areas of equal opportunity, affirmative action, and compliance. The director serves as the Title IX coordinator, affirmative action officer, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator, assuring compliance with the law, regulations, and university policies.

The director of equal opportunity will be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the Title IX, Title VII, equal opportunity, and affirmative action programs at the university, including compliance with federal and state laws, executive orders, and university policies and procedures; overseeing the university's non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy, which includes campus education as well as enforcement of the policy through complaint resolution and investigations; and compliance with affirmative action requirements, including the university's annual affirmative action plan.

It is critical for the director to work in close collaboration with many offices across Iowa State, including but not limited to human resources, general counsel, provost, public safety, dean of students, intercollegiate athletics, and student affairs. In addition, the director will develop policies and programs relating to equal opportunity, affirmative action, and related compliance efforts and is responsible for implementing, monitoring, and reporting these programs. The director oversees the office of equal opportunity's administrative and operational activities, with a talented staff of six professionals and a $900K+budget.

Qualifications
The successful candidate will have a formal university education coupled with extensive experience as a senior leader of an organization of substantial size and complexity. The ideal candidate will have experience in Title IX investigations and resolutions and comprehensive EEO/AA compliance expertise. In addition, the next director will have a highly collaborative management style and a demonstrated interest in promoting a culture of openness and transparency with experience in report preparation and analysis, policy development and implementation, budget development, and staff supervision. Preferred qualifications include experience working in equal opportunity in a higher education institution; cooperating in the creation and delivery of educational programming; working with federal and state compliance agencies; investigating and/or resolving complaints of discrimination and harassment; and working in a highly decentralized environment of similar size and complexity.

The director of equal opportunity will bring a compliance-based problem-solving approach to this role with a collaborative mindset that invests in developing their team as well as contributing across the broader university to train, educate, and live the institution's philosophy around equal opportunity, affirmative action, and compliance. A solid ability to work with and manage the work of others while also overseeing and completing multiple projects with critical deadlines and strong presentation skills to reach a broad audience with varying learning and communication styles is necessary. Further, excellent verbal and written communication skills and a strong consultative and collaborative approach are key to effectively communicating with all levels of the organization, from senior leaders to a broad manager and employee base, as well as students.

Application and Nomination
Review of applications will begin October 18, 2023, and continue until the position is filled. A resume with an accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Heather J. Larabee at hjl@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.

Visit the Iowa State University website at www.iastate.edu

Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against. This position serves at the pleasure of university administration and is exempt from certain P&S policies.