Career Center

The Associate Director, Equity Strategy and Consulting (Associate Director), Graduate School Diversity Office (GSDO) joins engaged and dedicated colleagues who embrace the Graduate School’s mission and values, and who are committed to improving the educational experience and success of underrepresented graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at the University of Minnesota. The Associate Director reports directly to the Assistant Vice Provost (AVP), GSDO.

The Associate Director leads the development and maintenance of the GSDO Faculty Consulting strategy in partnership with the AVP; leads the design, implementation, delivery, and analysis of faculty consulting engagements and signature initiatives to ensure alignment with the GSDO’s strategic objectives;  partners with Graduate School (GS) leadership to reimagine, inform, and sustain strategic engagement practices; and leverages existing GSDO relationships, while extending their local and national network of diversity consulting professionals to maintain UMN’s reputation as a leader and thought partner in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The Associate Director exhibits confident leadership, knowledge of university systems and DEI practices, exceptional communication skills, and a growth mindset. The Associate Director leads the growth, development, quality, and continuation of Faculty Consulting initiatives and practices to enhance the experience of underrepresented graduate students at UMN and UMD; and serves as GSDO’s lead faculty consultant by researching, assessing, developing, and advising graduate programs, academic departments, and colleges on DEI practices that are critical to growing and sustaining the diverse values, standards, and efforts to inform transformative inclusion.

This is a 100%, 12-months annually renewable appointment in the Academic Professional and Administrative series (classification 9764S1, Student Services Program Specialist 1).

These responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
1. Faculty Consulting (75%):

• Exert visionary, dynamic, and effective leadership of the GSDO Pillar of Faculty Consulting and act as a catalyst for innovation and creativity in all DEI Faculty Consulting areas.
  • Partner with the AVP in the development and implementation of an annual Faculty Consulting strategy.
  • Develop annual strategic Faculty Consulting budget plan with AVP to achieve best results with available funding.
  • Oversee and manage the Graduate School Diversity Consultation Team (GSDCT) with an optimized consultation structure and process.
  • Partner closely with the GS Director of Faculty Initiatives to co-construct faculty outreach strategies.
  • Partner closely with Office of Equity and Diversity (OED) Education leadership to co-construct shared DEI philosophies and consultation strategies.
  • Consult with and advise GS/GSDO leadership on DEI Faculty Consulting strategies, best practices, goals, new developments, and lessons learned.
  • Create and implement an assessment plan for the GSDO Faculty Consulting Pillar to inform decision-making about current and future programs, services, and resources.
• Develop, provide, and maintain a comprehensive consultation process for UMN and UMD graduate colleges, departments, programs, and faculty to assist them in understanding, developing, and/or improving their own sustainable DEI practices to better serve and support their current and future students and postdoctoral scholars.
  • Support graduate faculty and administrators’ efforts to embed equity-mindedness in strategic planning; policy and program development; administration; service delivery; and evaluation. Provide data-informed support through recommendations, consultation, and signature resources.
  • Identify and support colleges and graduate programs that would benefit from and/or are seeking consultation on assessing and improving their cultural climate and DEI strategies, and implementing them in ways that can be sustained locally.
  • Lead efforts to increase institutional and individual capacity to implement changes that create and sustain a more welcoming and inclusive environment at the collegiate, program, and department levels. 
  • Build partnerships with graduate colleges, graduate programs, academic programs, and communities that currently utilize successful strategies to support the success of underrepresented graduate students.  Seek ways to both further enhance DEI strategies and to share successful strategies across the colleges.
  • Initiate partnerships between graduate programs across common disciplinary interests and experiences to foster development of diverse communities, particularly with programs that lack a critical mass of diverse graduate students.
  • Facilitate dialogue across varied viewpoints, providing opportunities to improve understanding of the experience of underrepresented graduate students at the University, and enhance graduate student success.
  • Collaborate with trained campus mediators and teams when acute differences of understanding need to be calmed and bridged.
• Serve as a resource for graduate colleges, departments, programs, faculty, and staff to develop self-sustaining DEI strategies in support of students’ and postdoctoral scholars’ academic and professional success.
  • Partner with the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED) and lead the development, implementation, and revisions of graduate DEI educational resources and trainings to empower administrators, faculty, staff, and students to move from a conceptual understanding of DEI to the practical application and integration of those principles in order to enhance graduate climate and a sense of belonging.
  • Monitor and share national trends, peer and aspirational institution efforts, and benchmarks for successful diversity initiatives that support the recruitment and retention of underrepresented graduate students.
  • Work closely with and facilitate campus connections to additional GSDO Pillar Leaders as appropriate in supporting the development of recruitment and retention strategies.

2. Strategic Initiatives Support (15%):

• In collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer, the Associate Director may serve as head of GSDO operations in the absence of and as directed by the Assistant Vice Provost or the Vice Provost.
• Promote GSDO Team growth and morale by: having and promoting a growth mindset in the GSDO to create space for continuous learning and development, helping to identify and lead discussion topics and introduce potential campus collaborators in GSDO Team Meetings, and intentionally and continuously working to create an environment of integrity, collegiality, and trust in the GSDO.
• Develop and implement a plan for identifying and engaging with strategic UMN/UMD stakeholders in order to increase visibility and impact of the full GSDO and the Faculty Consulting Pillar.
• Establish ongoing GSDO liaison relationships with diversity leaders in UMN/UMD central and academic units and with external diversity consulting professionals.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key partners within the GS leadership and across the UMN system for the identification and advancement of opportunities and collaborations.
• Dedicate time each week to expanding knowledge of industry trends and best practices in diversity consulting and organizational change and development, engage in regular thought-leader discussions with GS/GSDO leadership, and regularly share knowledge gained in GSDO Team meetings.
• Recommend communications content ideas and collaborate with the GS Strategic Communications Consultant to ensure relevant stories and examples of graduate faculty DEI efforts are promoted and publicized.
• Be an engaged participant in the University Community in support of the GS, GSDO, and UMN missions. Increase GSDO visibility and partnerships through participation on campus-wide committees.

3. Perform other duties and projects as assigned or necessary to advance the Graduate School and Graduate School Diversity Office missions, and as assigned (10%):

• Understand and align work with the mission, vision, and values of the GS and GSDO.
• Substantially contribute to GS meetings and committees as required or requested.
• Substantially contribute to the GSDO Team as a leader in the GSDO. Actively participate in team meetings and work collaboratively in support of the GSDO’s goals of recruitment, transition, retention, and success for underrepresented graduate students.
• Actively support all GSDO events as needed or requested.
• Partner with GSDO colleagues to support the development and evaluation of a seamless GSDO experience for our student, staff, and faculty constituents.
• Lead and promote efforts to educate UMN/UMD graduate programs, colleges, and central units about all GSDO programs and services.
• Actively and consistently pursue and participate in professional development opportunities to engage in continuous learning, growth, and development in a leadership capacity.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as Industrial Organizational Psychology, Organizational Leadership, Organizational Development, Student Affairs, Higher Education, etc., with a minimum of 6 years of consulting, project management, and/or research experience or a Master's degree in a related field and 4 years of consulting, project management, and/or research experience
• Minimum 3 years of this consulting, project management, and/or research experience should be in diversity, equity, and inclusion work in higher education or other organizations.
• Contemporary knowledge of the culture of higher education and the issues of access, inclusion, diversity, equity, and multiculturalism in a higher education setting; and a demonstrated commitment to and record of active promotion and support of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Proven ability to think strategically and creatively around the application of diversity equity, and inclusion to higher education and/or graduate education and have successfully created and led an innovative diversity and inclusion strategy or other change management initiative.
• Excellent writing skills with effective communication and presentations skills as may be demonstrated by presenting and/or teaching experience.
• Must be able to work flexible hours supporting evening and weekend programs/events as needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in a related field.
• Proven project management skills, a creative problem solving approach, and an understanding of the policies related to a successful educational and work experience.
• Proven ability to work with an evolving agenda; to bring organizational, interpersonal, and consultative skills to the position; and to work independently on concurrent projects under pressure of multiple deadlines.
• Collaborative and transparent leadership style, and demonstrated leadership experience that results in the ability to work effectively in ambiguous situations and navigate complex environments.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong and credible relationships with campus partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and cultural competencies in order to interact with a wide range of individuals, including an ability to successfully interact with, collaborate with, and advise senior faculty and administrators to drive consensus and influence outcomes.
• Ability to be persuasive, persistent, and committed to affecting real change in organizational culture.
• Ability to collect and utilize data to assess the effectiveness of initiatives, programs, and cultural climates. Survey, focus group, cultural climate, and large data assessment and analyses experience.
• Knowledge of current best practices, models, and literature on supporting underrepresented graduate students in PWIs in a shared governance model.
• Strong record of developing and implementing creative and effective personal and professional development programming and resources covering complex topics.
• Imagination, creativity, and a sound sense of organizational politics.
• Executive coaching and group facilitation experience or certification.
• Experience operating within a large, complex, decentralized organization.
• Openness to receiving both challenge and support to continuously grow in a leadership capacity.
• Ability to commit to our Graduate School values: Service, Diversity, Leadership, Collaboration, Dependability, Joy of Life, and Kindness.