Director, Office of Equal Opportunity

Director, Office of Equal Opportunity

James Madison University


About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:
The Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI) leads and supports university-wide initiatives focused on creating a sustainable culture of inclusivity for the diverse faculty, staff, students, and alumni of James Madison University.
Collaborating with various stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, and external partners, DDEI implements strategies that foster a diverse and inclusive campus environment and engages surrounding communities in mission-focused, mutually beneficial partnerships. The vision of the office is a diverse university where all thrive and excel. The following offices comprise the division:
Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement
- Office of Title IX
- Office of Equal Opportunity

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Director for the Office of Equal Opportunity supervises three employees and leads all areas within the office, including Affirmative Action Plan, Complaint and investigation processes, and procedures, 504 ADA guidance and search exemptions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

James Madison University is committed to providing a university environment that addresses any form of discrimination or harassment that is protected under federal and state law on the basis of a protected characteristic. The Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity is charged with leading this responsibility for the university in coordination with many university partners.

• Lead training for the campus on OEO topics, policies, and procedures related to creating a safe and productive campus environment.
• Lead the investigative process for formal complaints and facilitate resolutions of informal reports; assist with the training of hearing boards/panelists.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations related to equal employment opportunity and recommend appropriate changes to university policies and procedures; assist in the development of the annual Affirmative Action report.
• Collaborate with other university offices to facilitate understanding and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Supervise the OEO staff; maintain accurate records as required.
• Assist with other investigations such as Title IX and other areas of compliance, as needed.
• Oversee the leadership and implementation of JMU policies 1302 (Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination), 1324 (Discrimination and Retaliation Complaint Procedures) and 1331 (Disabilities & Reasonable Accommodations).

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master's degree in a relevant field and/or higher education
• Progressive leadership in affirmative action, compliance, and inclusion work
• Proven experience managing compliance-based administrative tasks and processes related to claims of protected class discrimination, serving complainants, respondents, and the institution
• Demonstrated expertise in conflict resolution facilitation
• Strong background in conducting investigations and determining appropriate resolutions
• Up-to-date knowledge of trends and issues in higher education, including familiarity with federal and state laws and policies (EEOC)
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with a variety of stakeholders (especially regarding discrimination, retaliation, and hiring compliance challenges)
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across the institution as a team player
• Experience with 504 ADA Compliance
• Ability to serve on a variety of university standing committees (knowledge and expertise)
• Knowledge of EEOC, Title VI, VII regulations
• ADA 504 Coordinator Certification or must be able to obtain within the first six months of employment
• EEOC Investigator Certification or must be able to obtain within the first six months of employment
• Experience in maintaining accurate records
• Experience successfully managing multiple projects simultaneously
• A record of commitment to inclusiveness and diversity

Preferred:

• Experience in developing and delivering trainings to a variety of audiences
• Experience in implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs


To apply visit http://jobs.jmu.edu/ and reference posting number 20000540. Pay Range: Commensurate with Experience.
James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

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