Senior Director for Access & Opportunity

The Senior Director for Access and Opportunity is a new and critical leadership role within North Dakota State University.
This position will lead, strategize, and implement initiatives that break down barriers for students and nurture a vibrant campus community that reflects the rich tapestry of our world.
This individual will champion equity and inclusion by integrating principles of fairness and accessibility throughout every aspect of student life and by working to increase access and belonging for all NDSU students, staff, and faculty, across all identities such as veteran status, religion, first-generation status, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, disability, race/ethnicity, nationality, age, or citizenship.
In collaboration with the President, Provost and the President’s Council on Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect (PCDIR) the Senior Director will work to augment existing programs to foster an inclusive campus environment, promote equitable practices, and enhance access and opportunity throughout NDSU's campus community.
This position will report to the Provost and serve on the President’s Cabinet and as co-chair of the PCDIR.
See Diversity and Inclusion at NDSU.
Responsibilities: · Foster an inclusive campus community by facilitating open dialogues, promoting awareness and understanding of equity and inclusion-related issues, while creating opportunities for engagement and collaboration among various campus stakeholders.
· Advance NDSU's culture of the lived experiences of BIPOC, underrepresented groups, LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff.
· Improve and maintain positive relations with regional tribal communities.
· Provide policy feedback or initiate policy changes to improve campus belonging, recruitment, and retention.
· Coordinate and enrich existing work on inclusion initiatives throughout campus (i.
e.
BIPOC, tribal and LGBTQ+).
· In coordination with other campus entities (i.
e.
Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs and Vice Provost of Student Affairs) provide relevant programs and professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.
· Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis to analyze data and provide insights and action items to close access and opportunity gaps at NDSU.
· Build collaborative relationships with external organizations, community groups, and other higher education institutions.
· Serve as a liaison to student groups and other student-focused NDSU units.
· Supervise the Office of Multicultural Programs (transitioning into the Office of Community, Belonging, and Inclusion), indirect leadership line with the LGBTQ+ faculty fellow, and other NDSU entities.
Work Schedule: M-F: 8:00-5:00 Advertised Salary: Competitive and Commensurate with Experience Minimum Qualifications: · Master’s degree in any discipline.
· Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
· Excellent organizational and project management skills.
· Demonstrated experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations.
· Experience building community among diverse groups and perspectives.
· Collaborative and team-oriented leadership.
· Ability to resolve conflict with compassion and clarity.
· Experience designing, developing, and implementing events and programs.
Preferred Qualifications: · Demonstrated experience with student engagement.
· Data-informed decision-making skills and the ability to assess and report on the impact of belonging and inclusion efforts.
· Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
· Demonstrated experience in a supervisory role with direct reports.
Applicant Materials Required: CV/Resume Cover letter addressing how your experience meets minimum and preferred qualifications, and your diversity and inclusion philosophy.
Screening will begin 4/8/24 and open until filled Benefits: NDSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes single or family health insurance coverage with premiums paid for by the university – with an effective date for new employees the first of the month following date of hire.
Other benefits include: wellness benefits, basic life insurance, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual leave, EAP, sick leave and holiday pay.
Optional benefits include: supplemental life, dental, vision, long-term care insurance, flexible spending account, and supplemental retirement plans.
About Us: North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student focused, land-grant, research university.
We educate leaders who solve national and global challenges by providing affordable access to an excellent education that combines teaching and research in a rich learning environment.
NDSU is in the highest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, R1, granted to the top research institutions in the country.
NDSU has offices across the state of North Dakota, and the main campus is in Fargo, on the Minnesota border.
Along with Moorhead, Minnesota, Fargo forms one of the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis and Seattle.
The community is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live.
No Smoking Notice: As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.
D.
C.
C.
§ 23-12-10.
EO/AA Statement: North Dakota State University is an Equal Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable.
Diversity Statement: NDSU strives to be a community of belonging, recognizing unique differences as strengths of our university.
We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that supports a community in which diverse populations and perspectives will know and learn from one another.
NDSU values candidates who are committed to our core values of respect, inclusivity, community, creativity, excellence, impact, innovation, integrity, resilience, responsiveness, and transformation.
Successful candidates will be committed to and help advance our strategic goal to create and maintain an open and respectful environment to promote inclusivity and diversity as a cornerstone of education, research, and outreach.
Veteran’s Preference Notice: This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran’s Preference requirements.
Reasonable Accommodation Information North Dakota State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities.
To request disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources at 701-231-8961 or ndsu.
hr@ndsu.
edu.
Land Acknowledgement We collectively acknowledge that NDSU, a land grant institution, on the traditional lands of the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda) and Anishinaabe Peoples in addition to many diverse Indigenous Peoples still connected to these lands.
We honor with gratitude Mother Earth and the Indigenous Peoples who have walked with her throughout generations.
We will continue to learn how to live in unity with Mother Earth and build strong, mutually beneficial, trusting relationships with Indigenous Peoples of our region.
(see www.
ndsu.
edu/inclusioncouncil/native_american_initiatives/).