Executive Director of The Center for Race, Equity, and Inclusion
Full Time
Oberlin, OH
Posted
Job description
Oberlin College and Conservatory (Oberlin), one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges, is pleased to announce the national search for its inaugural Executive Director of the newly emerging Center for Race, Equity, and Inclusion (the Center). This role represents an incredible opportunity to contribute to the next generation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at a college known for its leadership in this space. The Executive Director will have the opportunity to partner with President Ambar in Oberlin’s renewed commitments to racial justice, equity, and inclusion on a national stage while working with a talented pool of faculty and students to pursue research delving into some of the most pressing issues facing our nation.
Responsibilities
The Executive Director will report to the president and to a cabinet council that includes the deans of the College and Conservatory, the vice president (VP) of student affairs, and the chief financial officer (CFO). The Executive Director, along with the president, will help raise funds to support the ongoing operations of an innovative and groundbreaking center grounded in robust research. The Executive Director will help implement the vision articulated in the Presidential Initiative on Racial Equity and Diversity and provide leadership for those implementing programmatic innovations to further equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts throughout the institution. The Executive Director will, through analysis of the institution’s EDI data and programmatic initiatives, ensure progress and measure the institutional effectiveness of Oberlin’s EDI ecosystem.
The Executive Director will fill a highly strategic position that leads the next iteration of Oberlin’s widely recognized leadership in racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. 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 will fill a highly strategic position that leads the next iteration of Oberlin’s widely recognized leadership in racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. 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. The majority of the Executive Director’s focus will be on the creation, implementation, and success of the Center for Race, Equity, and Inclusion.
Essential Job Functions
Serving as a key fundraiser for Oberlin around race and equity but have particular focus on Center-driven initiatives.
- Serving as a leader and liaison of EDI research, thought leadership, and other work across campus.
- Elevating faculty research, as a convener and leader of the Center’s Faculty Fellows and postdoctoral programs and the connector of academic departments associated with the Center for cross-disciplinary research and collaborations.
- Leading the creation, implementation, and execution of the Center for Race, Equity, and Inclusion including the development of undergraduate fellows, faculty fellows, and post-doctoral fellows’ programs.
- Envisioning and supporting EDI efforts across campus, leading to an EDI ecosystem.
- Conducting, guiding, and producing valuable research with the collaboration of undergraduate fellows.
- Providing strategic collaboration and support to the human resources equity specialist and the multicultural resource commons director.
- Advising, leading, mentoring, and advocating for the work of the Center to many constituents: students, faculty, staff, alumni, the community, etc.
- Serve as a proven manager of professional staff through new initiatives and entrepreneurial projects.
- Form an advisory board for the Center.
- Prioritize presidential initiative recommendations and work with campus partners towards implementation.
- Serve as a key link to the Center’s engagement and partnerships to local, national, and international organizations dedicated to work performed by the Center.
- Partner with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to ensure data driven tracking of diversity and equity data.
Marginal Job Functions
Required Qualifications
IDEAL
EXPERIENCE
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 have 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 new 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 strong history of strong leadership abilities, excellent interpersonal skills, and collaborative relations building; outstanding written and verbal communication skills within and outside the institution.
Higher Education Experience: Understanding of the function of faculty in higher education and academic research is strongly preferred.
Desired Qualifications
CRITICAL
LEADERSHIP
CAPABILITIES
Strategic Leadership
- Can turn a vision into a strategic plan while engaging both internal and external stakeholders.
- Articulates research and partnership initiatives, funding and talent requirements, core values, and future needs in a clear and coherent way.
- Provides a clear strategic direction that leads to logically derived changes in the actions of the community.
- Thinks more than five years ahead.
Collaborating and Influencing
- Possesses political acumen and demonstrated experience relying on creative problem-solving, flexibility, and willingness to collaborate.
- Invites and uses the opinions and perspectives of others.
- Engages people in a dialogue to gain commitment and bring them “on board”, linking their perspective to the intent.
- Checks with multiple viewpoints to ensure a common understanding.
- Nurtures productive and collaborative relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders while being both empathetic and motivating.
Change Leadership
Understands and appreciates the core values and strengths of Oberlin College while facilitating the college’s aspirations of being a leader in EDI nationally
- Demonstrates a commitment to the student experience while also highlighting and supporting faculty research and scholarship.
- Sets clear goals and creates a culture celebrating positive change and experimentation, engaging people in a reasoned way.
- Establishes processes and practices to encourage and reinforce collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking.
Compensation
Within the range established for these positions, salary and title will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Oberlin College is being assisted in this process by Spencer Stuart and welcomes nominations or expressions of interest. If you wish to submit your application materials or nominate someone to serve as the Executive Director of the Center for Race, Equity, and Inclusion, please send an email message with supporting materials to:
OberlinEDCREI@SpencerStuart.com.
Applications are currently not being accepted on Oberlin College’s job portal.
Applications are currently not being accepted on Oberlin College’s job portal.
Documents Needed to Apply
Required Documents
Optional Documents
- Cover Letter
- Resume
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