GENERAL PURPOSE:

The Executive Director for Communications and Relationship Management serves as the primary liaison between the Office of Equity and Inclusion and administrative staff, leadership teams, and high-level administrative staff both within and outside the University. The Executive Director serves as the principal point of contact for leaders concerning DEIJ matters and, with the Vice President’s guidance and input, is responsible for understanding and meeting the needs of students, staff, visitors, volunteers, and faculty pertaining to DEIJ.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

• Maintains positive relationships with Deans and leaders throughout the university to ensure a bidirectional flow of information pertaining to DEIJ.

• Proactively identifies DEIJ-related needs and challenges impacting UR campuses and schools and advocates for those concerns within the OEI Senior Leadership Group.

• Takes initiative to make introductions and create collaborations between DEIJ-focused individuals in all parts of the University.

• Offers consultation on emergent and emerging DEIJ topics.

• Builds and strengthens relationships with external and internal stakeholders, including the office of the President, Provost, Trustees, leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other campus units in support of the Vice President.

• Serves as liaison and proxy on behalf of the Vice President to internal and external groups dealing with wide range of concerns and issues pertaining to DEIJ.

• Builds and maintains a thorough understanding of all areas of the organization to help determine priorities and increase overall organizational effectiveness.

• Serves and supports University committees as assigned.

• Proactively seeks opportunities to engage with faculty, staff, leaders, and community members across the enterprise.

• Stays in contact with key stakeholders throughout the University and understands their concerns, goals, and barriers related to DEIJ initiatives.

ENGAGEMENT MANAGEMENT

• Hosts events to facilitate cross-disciplinary DEIJ efforts at the University.

• Manages Vice-Presidential engagements / prioritizes engagements / coordinates with advancement, events, planning, and other liaisons.

• Attends town halls, departmental meetings, and other such events to stay informed about the DEIJ-focused needs of constituencies.

• Ensures that all OEI events are appropriately staffed and that guest speakers are welcomed and have a positive experience.

• Forms and maintains connections with DEIJ experts nationally and internationally to broaden the University’s reach and pool of speakers/consultants.

• Visits all campus locations on a regular basis to form new connections and stay apprised of day-to-day functioning.

LEADERSHIP

• Serves on the VP/CDO’s Leadership team.

• Thought leader on broad-based DEIJ matters.

• Assists in facilitating decision-making with the VP/CDO.

• Acts as confidant, sounding board, and advisor to offer strategic perspective and guidance.

• Represents the University to external organizations and communities on matters of diversity and inclusion.

• Manages and oversees the EDI Council of Deans and Directors, leads monthly meetings, takes ownership of inter-school initiatives.

• Visible and accessible leader on all relevant university campuses; demonstrates commitment and pride in institution in actions and communication.

• Represents the Office of Equity and Inclusion at campus events, galas, and fundraising events.

• Provides a positive first experience for campus community members who are unfamiliar with the Office for Equity and Inclusion.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

• Works collaboratively with UR leaders and the talent acquisition office in Human Resources to advance the institution’s commitment of recruitment, retention, and advancement of a diverse workforce.

• Promotes and monitors progress in the recruitment, retention, success, and advancement of faculty, staff, and students who represent diverse populations and groups traditionally marginalized at the institution.

• Identifies and brings forward opportunities to foster a culture of respect and inclusion for all faculty, staff, students, alumni, and members of the community and to advocate for the role that diversity and equity initiatives play in achieving institutional excellence.

COMMUNICATION

• Develops and implements cohesive, forward-thinking communications strategies and frameworks to drive OEI’s mission and initiatives.

• Determines the most effective channels for a variety of communications.

• Executes the improvement of current channels and the development of new channels to achieve communication objectives specific to the office.

• Maximizes presence on various channels and ensures message consistency and cohesiveness.

• Leads preparation of reports, briefings, presentations, speeches, and responses on DEIJ and strategic issues.

• Serves as primary speechwriter for VP/CDO.

• Prepares and delivers reports for presentation to senior leadership and the University community.

• Establishes and effectively uses multi-media communication channels to share news, events, opportunities, and VP messages with UR campus community.

• Develops and effectively uses communication channels to share DEIJ-related successes and news with Rochester community.

• In close collaboration with university Communications, plays a key role in the coordination of campus responses to emerging local, national, or global events that affect the experience of employees and students from diverse groups and populations and stewards relationships with external communities with which the institution interacts

STAFF MANAGEMENT

• Provides ongoing supervision and training, conducts performance reviews, and manages personnel issues and actions of assigned staff members.

Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in communication, marketing, or related field required.

• Master’s Degree in communication, marketing, or related field preferred.

• Equivalent combination of education and experience required.

• 7 years of relevant experience that includes communication, leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion required.

• Experience delivering high-level briefings, reports, and/or presentations with success required.

• Experience writing remarks/speeches for an executive required.

• Knowledge of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 1991 Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments, Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity, and other related regulations preferred.

• Knowledge of trends and issues impacting diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education required.

• Effective at managing complex and multiple projects in a fast-paced environment required.

• Exceptional communication (written, oral, presentation) skills with demonstrated proficiency designing and delivering presentations required.¿

• High level of emotional intelligence, and ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information required.

• Demonstrated ability to form positive working relationships with diverse individuals from various backgrounds required.

• Speechwriting and presentation development required.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the University’s mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations.

How To Apply

All applicants must apply online.

EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled

Pay Range

Pay Range: $120,640 - $180,939 Annually

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job’s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

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