Executive Director of Climate, Culture, Diversity, and Belonging

Salary: $110,000.00 Annually

Location : Wenatchee, WA

Job Type: Full-time

Job Number: 2023-00037

Department: President’s Office

Opening Date: 07/20/2023

Job Summary
The Executive Director of Climate, Culture, Diversity, and Belonging Officer (CCDB) is a critical member of the President’s executive leadership team (Cabinet) and will serve as the executive of the newly created “Center for Excellence and Inclusive Belonging,” and in conjunction with the Human Resources Department, is responsible for creating a welcoming and inclusive culture for the College. The position serves as an advisor to the president on matters related to Campus Climate, Culture, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice. The incumbent serves as a highly influential leader focused on deepening ongoing efforts to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for all faculty, staff, and students. Priorities for this role are strategy and engagement; coordination and alignment; communications and issues management; implementation and success metrics. The incumbent strengthens the college’s relationships, morale, and creates a place of belonging for the campus community. The incumbent is a hands-on, tactical practitioner who can fluidly execute strategy while cultivating a true sense of belonging for every team member to thrive. Success in this overarching goal involves working across multiple constituencies (full and part-time faculty, staff, and administrators) and using the Personal Assessment of the College Environment (PACE) and other appropriate measures to develop, advance, and empower a values-driven workplace to strengthen the college and attract and retain the best workforce. The Climate, Culture, and Belonging Officer will take a strengths-based approach to talent and performance management, utilizing assessments to develop outstanding commitment and excellence in employee roles of responsibility toward achieving the College’s mission. The individual will develop a culture of excellence and lead the vision of the College’s workplace culture and organizational inclusion programs aimed at advancing the mission and fostering a collective ownership culture throughout the district. The candidate is an assessment, impact, outcomes, and results-driven innovative thinker and skilled negotiator who seeks collaborative solutions to common and complex challenges in managing and developing people, policies, and practices. A critical thinker with outstanding interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, the candidate is ethical, trustworthy, and credible, and values diversity, equity, inclusion, and fostering a culture of belonging.

Essential Functions

• Integrate the PACE Climate Factors and Customization framework and the feedback from surveys as an instrument for developing individual and college-wide programs that support the well-being of all employees.
• Partner with Human Resources to provide the appropriate training and support to strengthen supervisorial relationships with fellow colleagues (faculty, staff, and administrators).
• Provide strategic leadership in the development of a comprehensive and integrated framework for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ensure campus climate before, during, or after a change in leadership, personnel, or other foreseen or unforeseen changes within a department, division, or the College.
• Serve in a collaborative and coordinating role with division, college and department units who are responsible for diversity, equity, and inclusion to develop (and where appropriate coordinate) programmatic activities that support the achievement of the strategic commitments. Develop a strategic plan for the department and evaluate the effectiveness of strategic plan implementation.
• Provide guidance and support to employee resource groups and affinity networks.
• Coordinate with student support services related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Gather employee insights on climate, culture, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives and practices.
• Work in conjunction with faculty, staff, and students to address equity and inclusion within the classroom and the campus community and to encourage the development of curricula that are appropriately inclusive in content and method.
• Strengthen communication, professionalism, and civility among and between employee groups.
• Create a teamwork, professionalism, and collegiality culture among the campus community.
• Serve as the confidential advisor to the President and Human Resources regarding the well-being of employees.
• Spearheading and leading organizational performance through leadership – linking strategy to structure, building transformational change approaches, and facilitating solutions to complex organizational issues.
• Thorough assessment of institutional structures, change readiness, diversity, and fostering a culture that addresses the college’s inequities, power dynamics, and other individual and structural systems that impede teaching, learning, research, and student and employee success.
• Partner with Human Resources and collaborate with peers across the organization to develop and integrate training, planning and analysis, onboarding, learning and development, professional development, succession planning, policy development, employee relations, and off-boarding.
• Train and deploy Equity Advocates to observe and report, intervene, and support equitable and safe collaborations across campus.
• Influences organizational decision-making using relevant, measurable, and value-added metrics.
• Develops and implements an effective engagement strategy to increase organizational, programmatic, and individual performance aligned with the College’s strategic priorities.
• Consult and partner with Human Resources and legal counsel for matters requiring support to ensure the fair and effective administration of policies and procedures and for advice on complex matters or as directed by the President.
• Builds a comprehensive diversity, inclusion, and belonging strategy as a capability throughout leadership and at all levels of the organization.
• Works with the executive leadership to implement and maintain strategies that enhance, develop, direct, and maintain a healthy workplace climate and culture, programs, and initiatives related to employee communications, engagement, and relations across the College.
• Provide strategic leadership in the development of a comprehensive and integrated framework for campus climate, culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion, synchronizing and leveraging current efforts, and initiatives, and introducing emerging practices in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Proactively and effectively address components of workplace culture that impede organizational and individual effectiveness in a manner consistent with the College’s procedures, processes, and institutional values.
• Fosters a system of accountability that builds trust, recognition, and results among faculty and staff at all levels consistent with the College’s short- and long-term objectives.
• Effectively implement strategies/action steps for new or improved programs, policies, and processes to affect defined organizational outcomes, strengthen campus morale, and mitigate risks.
• Work closely with Human Resources to help in the development of diversity and inclusion strategies and measurements.
• Collaborate across the district to identify and address systemic barriers to diversity in recruitment and retention efforts for race and gender underrepresented staff, management, and faculty.
• Foster an inclusive campus culture that supports and values diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Serve as an advocate for all employees while assuring support for management and compliance with policies, procedures, and applicable laws.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to strengthen and communicate policies, processes, and procedures that ensure all employees feel safe, heard, respected, and have recourse to address perceived violations of WVC Policy 500.090 Workplace Civility and Respect.
• Provide timely positive and constructive feedback; monitor the accomplishment of team and individual goals and objectives.
• Foster an environment of teaching excellence and holistic support for employees and students, integrating a continuous improvement framework for the college.
• Provide workshops, consultation, and training to enhance the understanding and engagement in the growing need for strengthening the climate and culture on campus, cultural competencies, and a broader appreciation and practice of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging on the College’s campus.
• Embed the College’s purpose, mission, and values throughout workplace culture and employee and student engagement.
• Implement and measure inclusion strategies related to College’s increasing diversity.
• Lead the development of the Center of Excellence and Inclusive Belonging budgets, strategically aligning the activities, initiatives, and outcomes to support the priorities of the College and the Division.
• Serve on or chairs campus committees, including the President’s Advisory Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (PAC-DEI). Represent the college on state and national organizations, governmental and other appropriate groups.
• Serve as the college Title IX Coordinator.

This is not intended to be an exclusive list of all duties and responsibilities. Related duties and responsibilities may be assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:

• An earned master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Five years of higher education leadership, climate, culture, change management, or human resources and at least three years at the executive level.
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of DEI (e.g. implicit bias, intersectionality) and applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations (e.g. Americans with Disabilities Act, Civil Rights Act, Equal Employment Opportunity Act)
• Experience working with and on behalf of underrepresented and marginalized groups.
• Experience successfully facilitating professional development/training.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and presentation skills to engage key stakeholders in on and off campus initiatives.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and awareness with the ability to work with the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, abled, and ethnic backgrounds of members of the College community.
• Demonstrated support in leadership and the development of a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive culture and team.
• Effective ability to assess, mitigate, and provide solution-oriented approaches to conflict management and behaviors that are not conducive to developing a collaborative culture of excellence.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of research, trends, and best practices as they relate to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.
• Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, sociology, communications, human resources, or relevant degree that involves working with people.
• Ability to challenge and motivate, be welcoming of a wide variety of perspectives and modes of action and the ability to lead conversations about difficult topics.
• Experience gained in a college or university of comparable size and complexity, state, or federal government agency.
• Familiarity with shared governance organizations.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Demonstrated competency and experience working in a diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological, gender and racial/ethnic backgrounds and those with physical, emotional and/or learning disabilities.
• Develop and maintain active external partnerships with advocacy groups, community-based organizations, foundations, and alumni affinity groups to build and strengthen relationships that advance department and college initiatives.
• Demonstrated intercultural competency skills and knowledge of contemporary issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion, and a demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and providing an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment.
• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to apply data and utilize institutional benchmarks to program and operational design, promote accountability for the diversity mission and inclusive excellence values, and strategically drive organizational change.
• Strong demonstrative experience in practical problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
• Proven experience in building strong, collaborative partnerships across the organizational community.
• Demonstrative experience applying inclusion, equity, civility, and access in an organizational setting.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to examine and develop operations and procedures and formulate policy.
• Experience creating digital content (such as Word/PDF documents and web and learning management system content as appropriate to the role) in accessible formats.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Customer Service: Knowledge of customer service skills and best practices with ability to provide general and specialized student support with professional courtesy, empathy, and interest in positive problem solving.
• Oral communication: Speak clearly and persuasively, actively listen and take the time to understand the points being made, including asking questions as appropriate and responding to questions.
• Quality: Accurate and thorough, look for ways to improve and promote quality, provide feedback to improve performance, monitor own work to ensure quality.
• Professionalism: Approach others in a tactful manner, react well under pressure, treat others with respect and consideration and follow through on commitments.
• Problem solving: Ability to assess situations and think beyond the immediate issue to anticipate and fulfill future needs before they become complications.
• Technical/computer skills: High level of proficiency and accuracy in Microsoft Office; familiarity with Canvas, PeopleSoft, and other college systems; ability to be cross trained to provide basic technical support.

Additional Information
Additional Information

Terms of Employment:
This is full-time professional exempt position contracted on an annual basis. The salary for this position is $110.000 annually. The salary will be prorated to reflect the actual number of contract days worked in the remainder of the fiscal year. Flexibility in scheduling is required to meet the needs of the department.

Your paycheck is just part of the total compensation package. There is an outstanding benefits package which is worth an additional value equivalent to about 30% of your salary. A comprehensive health care benefits package for you and your dependents includes medical, dental and vision insurance; life and long- term disability insurance plans; vacation, sick and personal leave; reduced tuition; and retirement benefits are also provided. For more information, please visit our benefits website at:

Work Schedule & Environment:

• Normal work hours are Monday through Friday, but occasional evening and weekend work may be required. Work in a busy office environment with frequent interruptions and distractions.

Conditions of Employment:

• Wenatchee Valley College only employs U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show proof of identity, and eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• All offers of employment are subject to background checks. Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Finalists are required to complete the sexual misconduct disclosure form as required under RCW 288.112.080.
• A valid Washington state driver’s license may be required.

Application and Selection Procedure:
Complete application packages must include the following:

• Complete Wenatchee Valley College online application.
• Upload cover letter that specifically describes how your educational background and experience meet the minimum and preferred qualifications.
• Upload resume.

It is your responsibility to submit all required application materials before the deadline. Please do not send reference letters or other unsolicited materials. They will not be shared with the screening committee and cannot be returned to you. Only finalists may be asked to send additional materials.

Attachments from prior applications will not upload automatically to your new application. Should you have difficulties uploading your documents, please contact NeoGov Technical Support at 1-855-524-5627 for assistance.

Preliminary screening of complete applications will begin August 10, 2023, and continue until the position is closed. A limited number of applicants who meet the needs of the position and the college will be interviewed.

Reasonable Accommodation:
Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the application and employment process will be accommodated to the extent reasonably possible. Requests should be made to the human resources office by calling 509-682-6440. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state’s free telecommunication access service.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process.

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses:

• To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Wenatchi Hall 2322M, (509) 682-6445,
• To request disability accommodations: Student Access Manager, Wenatchi Hall 2133, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: Dial 711,

This recruitment announcement may not reflect the entire job description and can be changed and or modified at any time.

Wenatchee Valley College provides a robust benefit package. The benefits, programs, and services offered are a sizable amount of an employee’s overall compensation and an important factor in encouraging a healthy work-life balance.

Our package includes health, vision, prescription drug, and dental insurance for the employee and dependents. Employees are also covered by basic life insurance, AD&D, and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts. Visit Washington Health Care Authority’s Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB) Program at www.pebb.hca.wa.gov.

We will help you prepare for life after your career by offering an excellent retirement plan, which includes employer contributions. In addition, employees have the option to participate in two tax-deferred retirement investment programs.

See our benefits page for more info –

01

Do you have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have five years of higher education leadership, climate, culture, change management, or human resources and at least three years at the executive level?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have a strong theoretical and practical knowledge of DEI (e.g. implicit bias, intersectionality) and applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations (e.g. Americans with Disabilities Act, Civil Rights Act, Equal Employment Opportunity Act)?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have experience working with and on behalf of underrepresented and marginalized groups?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have experience successfully facilitating professional development/training?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and presentation skills to engage key stakeholders in on and off campus initiatives?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have a demonstrated cultural sensitivity and awareness with the ability to work with the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, abled, and ethnic backgrounds of members of the College community?

• Yes
• No

08

Have you demonstrated support in leadership and the development of a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive culture and team?

• Yes
• No

09

Do you have the ability to assess, mitigate, and provide solution-oriented approaches to conflict management and behaviors that are not conducive to developing a collaborative culture of excellence?

• Yes
• No

Required Question