Assistant Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Note: To be considered for this position, candidates must include a cover letter specifying their interest in and qualifications for this position. The cover letter should be the first page of your resume and uploaded as one document.
As a comprehensive performing arts school set in one of the world’s finest public institutions of higher education, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) is deeply engaged in the creation, practice, scholarship, and pedagogy of music, theatre, and dance. We aim to provide leadership, nationally and internationally, in all three fields. We assert and celebrate the value of the arts to the mission of the University of Michigan. Further, SMTD is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion as a means of achieving and sustaining excellence.
Responsibilities*
- Collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders to assess potential barriers and develop strategies to promote a culture of inclusion and belonging where individuals from all racial and ethnic identities, ages, nationalities, social and economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religious, political, ideological perspectives, and physical and mental abilities are able to thrive.
- Regularly engage with faculty, instructors, and staff which may include:
- Building the structures, processes, and policies necessary to evaluate, assess, and improve the effectiveness of efforts to cultivate a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion
- Designing, planning, and implementing DEI programming for faculty, instructors and staff
- Collaborating with Chief Officer for DEI and Director of Communications to regularly communicate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to both internal and external stakeholders
- Attending the faculty DEI action team meetings and the staff DEI action team meetings and providing guidance to members on how to advance DEI in their work
- Training and Development
- Create DEI training programs, including, but not limited to, professional development, leadership development, cultural sensitivity, and implicit bias, as well as faculty and staff engagement events that educate and raise awareness.
- Developing and implementing ongoing training for faculty, instructors and staff
- Create learning goals for training and development workshops
- Manage faculty and GSI Canvas equity-focused training sites
- Consulting with faculty and instructors on strategies for optimizing DEI in the classroom
- Evaluate and assess the effectiveness of DEI-related trainings and workshops
- Lead programming
- Develop new programs focused on the development of faculty, instructors, and staff who hold marginalized identities
- Develop new programs focused on the development of faculty, instructors, and staff who hold marginalized identities and/or who are historically underrepresented in SMTD
- Create program evaluations for each program and utilize evaluation to assess the effectiveness of programming
- Partner with departments and campus partners to create collaborative programming that will benefit the wider SMTD community
- Supervision
- Supervise graduate student coordinators within the SMTD Office for DEI
- Partnerships and Collaboration
- Serve as a liaison between the SMTD Office for DEI and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and departments who wish to establish faculty and instructor DEI-related programming
- Serve as a liaison between the SMTD Office for DEI and staff supervisors and units who wish to establish staff DEI-related programming
- Working closely with Human Resources, Associate Dean for Faculty Development, and the Chief Officer for DEI to develop and enhance inclusive practices for instructors, staff, and faculty
- Represent SMTD Office for DEI by attending meetings, conferences and discussions pertaining to increasing and enhancing the experience for underrepresented faculty and staff as well as the DEI efforts of all faculty and staff
- Serve on College and University committees dealing with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and others deemed necessary or appropriate.
- For example: MLK Spirit Awards, Shirley Verrett Awards, SMTD Faculty-DEI Action Team, SMTD Staff-DEI Action Team
- Supporting DEI strategic goals and objectives
- Support Chief Officer for DEI with school-wide DEI strategic objectives
- Support DEI goals within the SMTD Office for DEI
- Compile, analyze and report on the performance of DEI initiatives within SMTD Office for DEI
- Other duties as assigned by the Chief Officer for DEI
Required Qualifications*
- Required Education
- Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Social Justice, Sociology or a related field
- Years of Experience
- 5 or more years of related experience; experience working in higher ed, with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, social justice and equity initiatives.
- Work Experience
- Proven track record of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and working directly with faculty and staff.
- Experience in creating academic and cultural programs and services for faculty and staff with privileged identities in a university setting.
- Experience in creating academic and cultural programs and services for underrepresented faculty and staff in a university setting.
- Experience in project management, planning, implementation, and assessment of programs.
- Demonstrated ability to respond effectively to challenging faculty, staff and community issues including the ability to lead difficult conversations and dialogues across differences.
- Proven ability to build alliances with and partner with stakeholders, as well as experience working in a shared governance organization to ensure greater cross-department integration and improve student success.
- Experience supervising students and/or full-time professionals
- Skills
- Strong knowledge of equity, historic and contemporary social disparities, multicultural education theoretical models, and effective co-curricular educational practices.
- Cultivated cultural competency, coupled with strong intercultural communication skills and demonstrated ability to effectively relate to and support diverse, underrepresented faculty and staff.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, diplomacy, and sensitivity to engage effectively with all constituencies, build consensus for change, and thrive in a complex environment.
- Budget development and fiscal management skills.
- Experience using assessment strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and services.
- Willingness to work in a hybrid work environment
- Willingness to work evenings and weekends as necessary.
Additional Information
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
Background Screening
A pre-employment background check must be conducted before a candidate may receive a firm offer of employment to a staff position at the University of Michigan.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.