Director of Equity and Justice (34935) | Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Location
Dekalb, IL | United States
Job description
Full-Time/Part Time: Full-Time
Overview:
Northern Illinois University ( NIU ) is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health, and law. NIU offers more than 100 courses of study while serving a diverse and international student body of more than 16,000 through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Naperville, Oregon, and Rockford,
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are defining characteristics at NIU . We know that the differences, along with the commonalities, of all who live, study, and work here shape and strengthen our Huskie community in meaningful ways. Defined broadly at NIU , our growing diversity is one of our greatest strengths . While we are proud of our diverse Huskie community, we know it is not enough to simply be diverse. We will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to ensure all Huskies feel welcome, included, valued, and their voices are uplifted. Our commitment, plans and progress for how Huskies are working together for racial and social justice, equity and inclusion are reflected in our mission, vision and values and our annual University Goals .
Position Summary:
The Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ( ADEI ) leads the charge in establishing an equity-minded community through its educational programs, resources, partnerships, and collaborative engagement with offices, colleges, and departments throughout campus. Specifically, ADEI oversees each of NIU's diversity and cultural resource centers — the Asian American Resource Center , Center for Black Studies , Latino Resource Center and Gender and Sexuality Resource Center , the Office of Undocumented Student Support , offer places of community, support, connection, celebration and conversation. Amongst its vast offerings, ADEI also provides meaningful trainings, social justice education opportunities and resources for faculty, staff, students and the community the Office of Prevention Education and Outreach and Social Justice Education ADEI has many partners across campus which include but are not limited to the academic diversity centers, the Disability Resource Center and Military and Veteran Services , which also offer provide similar support and connection.
The Director will be a visionary and strategic leader who will provide oversight for a comprehensive social justice education program within the division of ADEI . The Director for Social Justice Education is responsible for developing collaborative programs focused on cultural competency, racial healing and reconciliation, counternarratives, community building, restorative justice, equity, and inclusion responsive to the ongoing needs of all constituents at NIU . Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ( ADEI ), the Director of Social Justice Education will develop and implement university-wide programs in alignment with the three Strategic Priorities within Academic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ( ADEI ), the annual University Goals, and the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan in alignment with, Northern Illinois University ( NIU ) mission vision and values. With vision and expertise, the Director, in conjunction with the social justice team will advance signature social justice programs (i.e., CODE Programs, Huskie Conversation Café Podcasts, CODE Peer-to-Peer Program, Social Justice Town Halls as well as the new Faculty Academy for Cultural Competence and Equity ( FACCE ) Institute and Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation ( TRHT ) Campus Center. The director will supervisor a dedicated team of professionals and university-wide volunteers committed to implementing and assessing all SJE initiatives and programs. The Director will have fiduciary responsibilities for the Social Justice Education operations and programs and personnel. The Director will work with the Assistant Vice President of ADEI and the ADEI team and key campus constituents to strategically address the campus climate needs and proactively create innovative data informed programs that assist in transforming the NIU campus community.
In additional to program leadership, the Director will work collaboratively with all divisions and community partners to synthesize and develop education and awareness programs and professional development initiatives, tools, and resources to address climate. The Director will play a major role in advancing programs and resource that contribute to university-wide culture shifts and will engage and educate staff, students, faculty, and administrators with the goal of creating a more socially just and inclusive NIU community.
The Director must be diplomatic, strategic, organized, creative, visionary, ethical, committed to social justice, equity, and fundamentally an educator driven to deliver results focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and organizational transformation
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Leadership and Administration
- Provide strategic leadership of student, faculty, and staff diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice educational frameworks, workshops, and trainings of the unit and services under the direction of the Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Executive Director of Equity & Inclusion.
- Lead strategic planning, goal setting, outcomes, curriculum development and implementation of the Equity and Justice Education unit, including workshops, trainings, courses, and university department consultations.
- Lead a diverse team of full-time and part-time professional and student staff towards university, division, and unit goals and outcomes.
- Chair the Equity and Justice Education Advisory Group which will provide strategic recommendations for future curriculum and strategic planning.
- Develop new programs, services, and initiatives to meet university priorities, gaps, and needs.
- Assist with key activities of NIU's Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center work to include serving on the advisory committee, co-coordinate the Real Talk Conference, National Day of Racial Healing, and facilitate and train on GIVE Circles for students, faculty, and staff.
- Serve as co-lead to signature programs, experiences, and events on behalf of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ( ADEI ) including but not limited to: POWER , State Day, Mujer a Mujer, and MLK Week.
- Ensure education strategies and plans cultivate and promote inclusive work and learning environments for faculty, staff, and students in alignment with institutional values and ADEI strategic priorities.
- Develop bi-annual, annual, and ad-hoc reports with quantitative and qualitative data that align with university and division strategic priorities, program outcomes, and demonstrate transformational impact for closing equity gaps, increase students, faculty, and staff sense of belonging, and foster inclusive excellence.
- Support the Assistant Vice President for Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on the strategic direction of diversity, equity, justice and Hispanic Serving Institution initiatives. Work with the Assistant Vice President to support and implement campus signature programs in alignment with ADEI strategies and goals.
- May represent the AVP of DEI on committees, task forces, working groups, and other meetings in their absence.
Education Program Development and Execution
- Lead and develop strategic goals in the development and assessment of campus-wide equity and justice curriculum based in empirical research, emerging practice, and innovative learning approaches.
- Develop content presentations, facilitator guides, and training materials for workshops, professional development, inclusive leadership, social justice, equity, HSI initiatives, and diversity programs.
- Oversee the vision of the CODE program and CODE Faculty/Staff Facilitator and Peer Facilitator development to enhance the cultural intelligence of facilitators towards expanding equity and justice for campus participants with the goal of eliminating systemic campus barriers and creating more inclusive environments.
- Co-coordinate and serve as an area lead with Student Affairs, ADEI , and campus partners for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center annual conference, mini-conferences, workshops, and GIVE Circles to include learning outcomes, speaker requests, event planning and management, assessment and evaluation, and creating reports.
- Engage in on-line and in-person professional development and education to remain current on current practices and new initiatives regarding equity and justice education.
- Lead the development and evaluation of faculty/staff CODE facilitators while supporting the student CODE facilitator development with the Associate Director.
- Work collaboratively with campus partners and advisory committee to design, assess, and implement innovative equity and justice programs, workshops, trainings, and initiatives under the direction of the AVP of DEI .
- Scale and expand educational offerings, workshops, and presentations for students, faculty, and staff.
- Collaborate with Student Affairs and other campus partners to embed innovative restorative justice practices (i.e., GIVE Circles, restorative justice sessions, mediation) to promote the expansion of equity and justice education and restorative practices.
Campus and Community Engagement
- Work collaboratively with ADEI staff and campus partners to support University Goals, Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, and ADEI Strategic Priorities.
- Expand and strengthen partnerships within NIU and external institutions to support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and provide professional development opportunities for students, staff and faculty while improving facilitators cultural competency, enhance student success and reduce equity gaps.
- Work with department leaders to evaluate the needs of divisions, units, and colleges with the goal of developing ongoing educational programs that advance cultural and identity competency, justice, equity and belonging for students, faculty, and staff.
- Engage in university-wide special projects and assignments focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice as is appropriate and serve on community and college wide committees as needed.
- Work in collaboration with campus partners to develop and implement campus racial healing and restorative justice practices to engage students in educational and development initiatives.
- In conjunction with the AVP for DEI , partner with key constituents, on and off campus to provide education and resources for students, faculty, and staff that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and TRHTC initiatives.
- Develop relationships with two and four-year institutions and corporate partners to advance social justice education at NIU . Work collaboratively with campus and external partners to evaluate incidents and recommend resources and tools to address sensitive and complex issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Supervision
- Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation of the Equity & Justice (1) Associate Director and (1) Graduate Assistant.
- Serve as an indirect supervisor to (2) Graduate Assistants that report to the Associate Director
- Establish workplace expectations for all unit staff and accountability measures to address needs and challenges through coaching, mentoring, corrective action, and other measures.
- Ensure the supervisory and leadership development of the Associate Director.
- Supervise volunteers, facilitators, and trainers for respective unit programs.
- Provide budgetary oversight and management of the Equity & Justice programs and initiatives.
- Responsible for ensuring university compliance with spending, purchasing, contracting, travel, and credit card usage for unit, including all staff.
- Forecast and project budget needs, reconciliation of p-card, and make necessary adjustments to ensure proper usage of funds.
- Assist AVP for DEI in developing innovative outreach initiatives to external partners to develop revenue generating DEI programs that meet the needs of the unit and ADEI .
Financial Management and Responsibilities
- Provide budgetary oversight and management of the Equity & Justice programs and initiatives
- Responsible for ensuring university compliance with spending, purchasing, contracting, travel, and credit card usage for unit, including all staff.
- Forecast and project budget needs, reconciliation of p-card, and make necessary adjustments to ensure proper usage of funds.
- Assist AVP for DEI in developing innovative outreach initiatives to external partners to develop revenue generating DEI programs that meet the needs of the unit and ADEI .
Specialty Factors (Civil Service):
N/A
Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service):
- Master's degree required with field-of-study preference in higher education, curriculum and instruction, sociology, race, ethnic, intercultural, gender, sexuality studies, social work or related field.
- Three (3) years of progressive management and leadership experience.
- Two (2) years of experience creating and facilitating diversity and cultural competency training, workshops, and educational sessions.
Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS):
N/A
Salary: $73,000.00 - $78,000.00 annually; NIU offers a robust Benefits Package.
Application Procedure:
Application Procedures:
- Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.
- If eligible for Veteran's Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.
- After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.
- Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from [email protected] and [email protected] . Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.
- Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.
Credentials Assessment Examination:
- The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant's/employee's education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
- Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver's license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
- After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.
Additional Details:
- Click on Program Director for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.
- Applicants who may assume they do not meet the exact minimum qualifications are still invited to apply. Within the application documents, applicants should be sure to explain how their credentials and related qualifications address the requested minimum requirements.
- Please click on Human Resource Services – Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University's benefits package.
- Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.
EEO Statement Summary:
In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services 230
[email protected] 815-753-5560
About Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University's vision is to be an engine for innovation to advance social mobility; promote personal, professional and intellectual growth; and transform the world through research, artistry, teaching and outreach.The mission of Northern Illinois University is to empower students through educational excellence and experiential learning as we pursue knowledge, share our research and artistry, and engage communities for the benefit of the region, state, nation and world.
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