Posted: 13-Sep-24
Location: PA
Salary: Open
Categories:
Internal Number: 495472
Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425?acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.
Who We Are:
Swarthmore College launched a new institutional strategic plan, Swarthmore Forward, in January 2024 that deepens the College’s commitment to creating a community that welcomes differences and prepares students for life in a multiracial, multicultural democracy. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) was established to develop institutional strategy and vision with respect to these goals. Led by the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, who serves on the President’s senior leadership team, the office collaborates with staff, faculty, and students to guide and monitor the implementation of strategic DEI priorities for the College, coordinate and align DEI efforts across the College, and foster an inclusive and welcoming campus environment. Swarthmore Forward outlines a vision for the present and future of the College in which “equity and inclusion are not just ideals, but lived experiences.” The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion serves a key role in delivering on this vision. It is an exciting time to join us at Swarthmore!
The opportunity:
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) at Swarthmore College invites applications for a Director of Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Officer. Reporting to the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Director of Equity and Inclusion/EOO serves as a key member of the ODEI team responsible for supporting efforts to build and maintain a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive campus environment by overseeing the College’s bias reporting, response, and education initiatives. This position will also serve as the College’s Equal Opportunity Officer to facilitate/coordinate, with campus partners, the College’s compliance with EO College policies, laws, and requirements.
The Director role includes but is not limited to receiving reports of bias, discrimination, identity-based harm, and other grievances from students, staff, and faculty, assessing incident reports for policy violations and facilitating investigations when needed, communicating with all parties involved with empathy, compassion, and clarity, developing restorative and educational mechanisms of accountability when incidents are determined not to violate college policy, maintaining organized documentation of bias incidents and submitting annual reports, and creating professional development opportunities focused on increasing cultural literacy, dialogue skills, and bias prevention for the campus community.
The Director will work collaboratively and collegially with campus partners, including but not limited to colleagues in Student Affairs, Title IX, Human Resources, Academic Affairs, General Counsel, and the Bias Incident Response Team to support the College’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. The Director may also serve as a highly visible representative of the ODEI for various meetings and/or events and, therefore, must be a skilled communicator with outstanding interpersonal and intercultural skills to support an inclusive and welcoming environment for diverse populations of students, staff, and faculty.
Essential Responsibilities
Bias Reporting & Response
Bias Incident Reporting
- Facilitate and oversee the bias incident reporting process by receiving bias reports from community members, meticulously documenting relevant information, and conducting initial assessments for policy violations.
- Ensure prompt, effective, and equitable investigations into bias and other grievance-related incidents; coordinate, appoint, and oversee the work of external investigators when necessary.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret bias reporting data; create annual reports reflecting trends and recommended actions.
Bias Policy, Process, & Compliance
- Coordinate and support the College’s compliance with Title VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the American with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, and College policies relating to discrimination, harassment, and equal opportunity in education
- Assist with Clery reporting and compliance; maintain a close working relationship with General Counsel, Title IX, and HR and consult with them as needed on policy, procedures, and active incident reports.
- Complete training and serve as a Deputy Title IX coordinator, as needed.
- In collaboration with the College’s General Counsel, VP for DEI, and HR, revise and update non-discrimination/bias policy and process regularly to ensure it meets the needs of the diverse Swarthmore community and maintains compliance with applicable laws.
- Facilitate and oversee the bias incident response process by providing outreach and support to community members reporting a bias-related experience, connecting all affected by the incident with appropriate on-campus resources, communicating options for support and resolution, and verifying timely resolution of each case
- Develop informal resolutions for incidents that do not meet the threshold for formal investigation rooted in educational and restorative practice approaches.
- Convene and coordinate the Bias Incident Response Team, provide training, lead meetings, and coordinate responses.
Bias Education
- Facilitate communication and education about bias, discrimination, bias reporting, bias response, and bias resolution for the campus community to facilitate appropriate engagement with the bias reporting process and contribute to bias prevention efforts.
- Collaborate with colleagues in Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, Athletics, and other campus partners to coordinate, implement, assess, and lead bias reduction efforts and bolster anti-bias education and practices.
- Lead and build dialogue-skill and dialogue facilitation capacity on campus, including being trained in or the ability to be trained in Intergroup Dialogue, Restorative Practices, or other/similar dialogue tradition.
- Meet with students, staff, and faculty to receive concerns related to culture and climate, and when appropriate, provide coaching and training to individuals and departments related to concerns about diversity, inclusion, equity, and discrimination.
Equal Opportunity Officer
- Consult with members of the community on equal opportunity matters to help ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and College policy on equal opportunity and non-discrimination in employment and student programs.
- In consultation with the Office of the General Counsel, manage discrimination-based issues involving the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to resolve relevant issues such as construction, housing, parking, and other relevant legal matters.
- Research and analyze EO-related data, maintain records, analyze and report statistical information to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Oversee maintenance of equal opportunity website, including resources, policy, and internal and external procedures.
- Disseminates current versions of the College equal opportunity policies, procedures, and regulations.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- Contribute to and support ongoing efforts to create a campus environment that is welcoming, authentic, and inclusive for all students, staff, and faculty.
- Participate in the implementation of the College’s strategic plan, Swarthmore Forward.
- Participate in developing and implementing a diversity action plan for the ODEI.
- Collaborate with Human Resources to recommend promising practices in inclusive and equitable recruitment, hiring, and retention to build a diverse community of faculty and staff.
- Serve as a subject matter expert on issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, bias, and discrimination for the Swarthmore community representing the ODEI; serve on College-wide committees as needed.
Who you are:
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills with the ability to interact effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives
- Demonstrated skill developing and leading impactful training programs for diverse audiences
- The ability to build trust and work collaboratively with students, staff, faculty, administrators, and community partners
- The ability to handle confidential material with utmost discretion and sensitive situations with compassion and professionalism
- Proven ability to build collaborative relationships with a wide variety of campus partners
- Ability to foster a thriving, culturally diverse, and inclusive learning community and promote a sense of belonging among students, alumni, faculty, and staff colleagues
Many job postings include a list of preferred qualifications, but we understand that candidates come from diverse backgrounds and may possess valuable skills and experiences that are not always represented in a job description. Your unique perspective and contributions are highly valued, and we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. So don't hesitate to apply – your voice and talents are needed and welcome here.
What you bring:
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- 5+ years of relevant experience
- Demonstrated expertise in cultural literacy and awareness, including diversity, identity, intersectionality, equity, inclusion, and implicit bias; working knowledge of Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the American with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, and other relevant federal, state, and local non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws
- Training in trauma-informed, mediation, conflict resolution, or restorative justice practices; ability to facilitate effective communication and diffuse intense conflict
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree or JD
- Experience working in higher education, preferably engaged with diversity, equity, and inclusion work
- Training and experience implementing restorative practices to respond to harm and build community
- Experience facilitating investigations of bias or grievance complaints
- Experience facilitating workshops on DEI-related topics
What You Will Get:
You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.
For full consideration, submit applications with pay expectations, including a resume and cover letter, by October 4, 2024. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled.
PA Criminal Required
Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.
Education Verification Required by Position
An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.
Review the 2024 Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.
Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and those with underrepresented identities are encouraged to apply.
