Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Lecturer

Reports to:                              Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Position Type:                         Full-time, 12-month

Compensation:                        Commensurate with experience

Application Deadline:             Preference given to applications received by January 8, 2021

Target Start Date:                   July 1, 2021

About Menlo College

Menlo College is a diverse and tight-knit community of exceptional, involved people. Our mission is to: “…ignite potential and educate students to make meaningful contributions in the innovation economy.” We attract students from all over the world who are committed to learning, playing intercollegiate sports, starting and leading organizations, and making an impact in their communities.

Continuing an unbroken streak for more than a decade, Menlo College was named to The Princeton Review “2021 Best Colleges” list, recognition given to only 12% of all colleges and universities in the U.S. In 2020, Menlo College was also ranked #11 in Money for Best Business Colleges in the U.S. Menlo College is designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American, Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). Only 1% of all colleges and universities in the U.S. achieve this dual recognition.

Our campus is located 30 miles south of San Francisco, in Silicon Valley – one of the world’s most entrepreneurial and innovative locations. Silicon Valley is renowned as an innovation incubator with exceptional opportunities for experience-based learning. 

Position Overview

Menlo College seeks a creative and collaborative leader for the role of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI).  The DDEI will also be appointed as a Lecturer. The DDEI is a senior-level position that will report directly to the Provost. A newly established position, the DDEI will promote an institutional culture that values and supports social justice at Menlo College, and lead efforts to grow, integrate and sustain the College’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The DDEI will be charged with leveraging existing best and promising practices, as well as developing and introducing new practices, educational programs, and resources. The goal of this work is to propel the College by strengthening a welcoming and inclusive learning and working environment where all are treated with compassion and respect.  The appointment will have 50% effort dedicated to the role of DDEI, and 50% effort allocated to the role of Lecturer with teaching duties. 

Expectations of the Ideal Candidate

• Listen actively, coach, and mentor others
• Develop collaborative relationships with leaders and managers to generate energy and commitment to transformative change
• Practice nonviolent communication, and possess the ability, courage, and patience to name and help others transcend toxic and harmful practices
• Demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to equity, justice, and transparency
• Utilize conflict management and dispute resolution skills, including restorative justice
• Possess highly developed emotional intelligence, a collaborative mindset, and negotiation skills
• Exhibit exceptional strategic thinking
• Be resourceful and have a strong ability to operationalize collectively developed and agreed upon strategic goals

Key Responsibilities

• Provide vision, leadership, and coordination to design and guide the implementation of an institution-wide framework to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion and respect for all students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors
• Partner with stakeholders across the College to build meaningful experiences that foster knowledge, awareness, skills, and accountability in staff, faculty, and leaders to increase inclusion, diversity and equity on campus
• Develop and implement policies, programs and educational opportunities which actively foster and maintain an equitable learning, research, and work environment for faculty, staff, and students
• Work closely with student life and advising personnel to establish and optimize practices for inclusion and equity to enhance students’ sense of belonging
• Teach two courses each semester and serve on academic committees
• Chair the Social Justice Task Force and advance existing social justice initiatives
• Serve as a lead day-to-day point-person and ombudsperson for relevant issues and concerns raised by students, faculty, leaders, and staff
• Collaborate with human resources to develop strategies to recruit and retain a diverse community of faculty, staff, students and leaders, and to promote a culture of thriving and institutional commitment to inclusivity
• Advise the President, Provost, and other senior College leaders on DEI issues and restorative justice
• Serve on cross-functional committees, such as marketing and strategic planning
• Identify, develop, foster, and maintain strong internal and external relationships for integrating diversity and inclusion initiatives that advance diversity-building partnerships in the community
• Work closely with local law enforcement to ensure BIPOC students, faculty and staff are safe both on and off campus
• Proactively identify, plan, and implement additional diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives, as needed
• Other duties as assigned by the Provost or President

Required Education, Skills, and Experience

• Master’s in student affairs, multicultural education, international education, cross-cultural studies, counseling or related field required; doctorate preferred
• 5+ years of experience at a college or university with diverse learning programs preferred
• Demonstrated ability to teach effectively at the college level
• Knowledge of federal, state and local legislation related to the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 and the American Disability Act of 1990
• An excellent command of contemporary diversity, equity, inclusion, and restorative justice concepts and issues in higher education
• Working knowledge of historical events and causes of social injustice and specific challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC groups)
• Demonstrated ability to research, identify, and implement effective diversity, equity and inclusion practices in academic settings; change management expertise preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially within a complex, highly engaged college with a wide range of constituencies both on and off campus
• Demonstrated ability to utilize data to help drive positive institutional changes
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills
• Successful record of leading and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Ability to respond well to politically charged or politically sensitive situations through a restorative justice lens

Application Instructions

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a resume and cover letter via email to:

Menlo College
Attn: Cindy McGrew
1000 El Camino Real
Atherton, CA 94027
or via email to: cmcgrew@menlo.edu

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

• All prospective Menlo College employees are required to satisfy a criminal background check. 
• Menlo College is committed to a firm policy of equal employment opportunity
• All employees that operate a motor vehicle on behalf of Menlo College must be cleared annually using Department of Motor Vehicle records