- Job Type: Officer of Administration
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Building: Avery Hall
- Salary Range: $75,000 - $100,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Associate Dean of Admissions and Outreach, the Assistant Dean of Recruitment, Diversity and Inclusion will lead the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation’s (GSAPP) local, domestic, and international outreach and recruitment efforts to ensure a robust applicant pool across GSAPP’s programs, and the enrollment of a highly qualified, diverse student body with broad representation that reflects the University’s commitment to creating a diverse learning environment and contributes to the School’s reputation and leadership. This position will be charged with shaping and implementing the GSAPP’s strategic plan for both the overall enrollment targets, and for addressing needs of historically underrepresented groups in our disciplines by developing pipeline and pathway programs to reach more potential students and by facilitating community engagement and education on matters of representation across the fields of the built environment. The Assistant Dean leads the continued development and implementation of School-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to create an inclusive culture, assessing outcomes and building on best practices internally and externally. They will collaborate with stakeholders across the School and University to assess the need for and recommend training initiatives designed to secure robust application pools and enrollment and sustain awareness and support of equity and inclusion values, as well as maintaining compliance with applicable laws.
Responsibilities
Admissions: 40%
Collaborates with the Associate Dean of Admissions and Outreach and the Admissions and Communications Offices to support the development and implementation of recruitment strategies aligned with the School’s commitment to ensure a robust applicant pool and yield a diverse cohort of students, including historically underrepresented minorities, students of color, and various multiracial, ethnic, and identity groups. Among others, these include strategic outreach to academic and other external partners, participation in external events for prospective and admitted students as a School representative, shaping the development of new programming on occasions such as Open House or Admissions Info Sessions, and supporting the creation of targeted outreach communications in support of the School’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.
Builds and maintains database of academic and peer contacts to support increased applications from schools with diverse student bodies both in the US and internationally and conducts outreach to develop pipeline opportunities and pathway programs to reach more potential students.
Identifies and helps implement relevant recommendations from the Provost Office’s “Guide to Equity-Based Graduate Admissions,” including Implicit Bias Workshops, the development of pipeline programs, and other strategies.
Supports the transition of admitted students to matriculate status and serves as a point of contact addressing the needs of historically underrepresented students throughout their time at the School.
Leadership: 20%
Leads the School in implementing strategic initiatives, including the creation of a culture for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Partners with various GSAPP offices, campus leaders, faculty, students, and staff to ensure School values and strategic goals are met.
Works closely with GSAPP senior leaders and campus partners to advance a School-wide culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion by providing strategic planning and support for the recruitment, retention, and engagement of diverse students, faculty, and staff. Supports student-facing, recruiting, and alumni-relations programming that reinforces and extends this commitment.
Acts as a School-wide ambassador for diversity, equity, and inclusion and will work to engage and inspire members of the internal and external community by raising awareness and illustrating the importance of these principles.
Develops and shares best practice in assessment, including the development of matrices for measuring diversity performance for accountability purposes.
Maintains webpage dedicated to recruitment, outreach, and related DEI initiatives in order to communicate outcomes and profile participants.
Engagement: 20%
Designs, develops, and champions initiatives that build, expand, and support inclusive employee, student, and alumni populations collaboratively throughout GSAPP. Works with community groups and professional organizations interested in common issues and concerns related to equal employment opportunity/affirmative action, ADA, and diversity and inclusion to achieve synergy and interconnectedness throughout GSAPP.
Works with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the GSAPP Alumni Board to develop professional and other networks and programming around common issues and concerns related to diversity and inclusion to achieve synergy and interconnectedness throughout GSAPP and its alumni population.
In collaboration with the Provost Faculty Advancement Office, GSAPP Dean’s Office, GSAPP Human Resources and Program Directors work to expand the diversity of the candidates for faculty and staff positions and student applicants, through outreach and recruitment. This role will consult and partner with GSAPP units to advance efforts across the School to provide a welcoming and affirming environment for all.
Promotes a culture of engagement and belonging by providing leadership in an environment that actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and will possess a deep commitment to these values and demonstrate action and accountability in advancing strategies to support them at all levels of the School.
Assists in the prioritization of diversity and equity initiatives and communicates to the broader community to support and encourage actionable efforts that advance inclusiveness. Provides solutions to shared obstacles, coordinating resources, and sharing expertise in best practices.
Training and Development: 10%
Provides strategic direction for training initiatives on cultural competency, racial diversity, gender differences, disability, sexual harassment, building a climate of equity and inclusion, and other topics designed to increase awareness and support of equity and inclusion values, and maintaining compliance with applicable laws in collaboration with School’s stakeholders.
Develops and implements School initiatives that build and support proactive, diverse, inclusive, and equitable practices. Provides support related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programming. Collaborates with units across the School to leverage diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Administers diversity and inclusion policy and program development and has a consultative role on issues of diversity and inclusion relating to BIPOC contractors and vendors. Works with the Senior Associate Dean of Administration and Faculty Affairs to ensure appropriate integration goals throughout GSAPP. Ensures that any related risks to these goals are identified and addressed.
Consults with the University Title IX partners to ensure that GSAPP has an annual affirmative action plan, appropriate recording-keeping procedures, and is in full compliance with required state and federal guidelines for federal contractors.
Reporting and Assessment: 10%
Establishes and maintains survey and data collection processes, and an internal audit and reporting system to allow for effective measurement of program outcomes. Assesses and monitors program effectiveness and keeps GSAPP senior leadership informed of equal opportunity progress and issues through periodic reports.
Monitors metrics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ensures that ongoing, comprehensive, and research-based planning and assessment occurs. Responsible for timely completion of annual planning and assessment reports. Performs other related duties and special projects as assigned.
Meets metrics set by the Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations for alumni engagement, including career services programming.
Works with the Associate Dean of Admissions and Outreach to ensure continued visibility of diversity programming and initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred in architecture or adjacent fields. Minimum 4-6 years of professional work experience in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion, social justice advocacy and education, student development, student advising, student organization advising, and/or campus-wide programming.
Experience designing and conducting assessment activities.
Excellent analytical and organizational skills; Strong interpersonal and written communication skills; Team player with empathy, respect for others, and a collaborative approach; Ability to respectfully lead and guide others, while also being a good listener who is open to new ideas; Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and working relationships with others.
Understands, is sensitive to, and respects the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disabilities, and sexual orientation of students, faculty, administrators, and staff; fosters collaboration and consensus building.
Excellent knowledge of management information systems and software programs, and comfort in working with academic and alumni databases.
Training, education, and certifications are strongly desired. Experience in higher education, Architecture, or related fields and specifically in a university system or industry, is highly desirable. Five years of progressive experience and demonstrated effectiveness leading diversity and inclusion-related initiatives and programs is required.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications:
Success in facilitating effective partnerships with and between constituencies applying effective techniques to achieve meaningful impact.
Track record of institutional change and skill in developing vision and strategies that inspire others.
Demonstrated experience structuring programs to best serve the School’s educational goals while meeting federal and state legal requirements.
Intermediate understanding of federal and state employment law and University policies and procedures, including but not limited to knowledge of issues related to Title VII and equal employment opportunity, Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' required Affirmative Action Plans.
Demonstrated effectiveness impacting and leading diversity, inclusion, and organizational change initiatives.
Knowledge of and commitment to affirmative action and equal employment opportunity policies, laws, and practices.
Ability to act independently, take initiative, build consensus, and exercise sound judgment.
Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership and develop policy and procedure related to program initiatives.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.