Applications are being accepted for the role of Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) and Associate Vice President, a full-time role that oversees the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and reports directly to the President of the College. The CDO is responsible for providing a vision and an integrated program of equity and inclusion efforts to enhance SUNY Potsdam’s mission and goals. Responsible for developing, implementing, and providing strategic leadership for SUNY Potsdam’s Diversity Plan, the CDO oversees programs and policies that result in a learning and workplace environment that is welcoming, supportive, and inclusive for all students, faculty, and staff. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated leadership in cooperatively creating and delivering organization-wide diversity and equity programs; the proven ability to establish effective partnerships with community members, organizations, and government entities; and the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders and to engage with and incorporate the voices of students and student groups, particularly those who have been marginalized.
Required qualifications:
- A master’s degree in a field related to the goals of the position; terminal degree or equivalent work experience strongly preferred.
- Proven success as a leader, with experience appropriate to a highly visible senior leadership role, experience in a residential, liberal arts higher education institution preferred.
- Fluency in the principles and language of equity, inclusivity, diversity, justice, and anti-racism as they relate to higher education.
- Evidence of building and managing successful partnerships with faculty or other thought leaders.
- Experience working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders to facilitate change and as an organizational change agent and planner.
- Proven success at engaging multiple campus constituents and building strong, collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, and students.
- Demonstrated expertise in building an inclusive community that provides enhanced outcomes for all community members; knowledgeable of the history and present state of anti-blackness and current literature on anti-racism; knowledgeable about challenges faced by the LGBTQ+, Indigenous, Latino/a/x students, and awareness of the needs of disabled students, students from different religions, and those of low socio-economic status.
- Experience utilizing data to inform planning and decision-making with a results-oriented mindset.
- Experience leveraging high impact, low resourced programs with grant writing and budget management.
- Impeccable interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, and strong emotional intelligence.
- Ability to lead, manage, and motivate diverse constituent perspectives.
- Proven success at responding with compassion, care, and an educative lens during moments of crisis.
- Passion for the values of a residential, liberal arts education for students.
- Ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters.
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and a statement of their vision of the role of the DDEI in higher education, plus contact information for five references to: https://employment.potsdam.edu/postings/4328. Candidates should include in their cover letters a demonstrated interest in and understanding of SUNY Potsdam, and evidence of how their experience and skills can help make the institution a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus community. Application review begins February 1, 2021 and continues until the position is filled.