Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Northern Michigan University seeks a dynamic individual to become its Chief Diversity and
Inclusion Officer. This position will report directly to the President.
The Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO) will lead the development and implementation
of the University’s diversity and inclusion strategic plan, enabling Northern to achieve its overall
mission. Working collaboratively with the President, President’s Leadership Team, Deans,
Department Heads, faculty, staff, students and other key campus partners, the CDIO will guide
the development, alignment and assessment of strategies that enhance diversity and make
Northern Michigan University an even more inclusive living, learning, and working
environment.
The Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer will manage, oversee, and partner with programs,
activities, and initiatives designed to foster a climate that promotes and respects diversity and
inclusion. The CDIO will define, assess and advocate for diversity at the institution.
Responsibilities include helping to attract and retain a diverse student, faculty, and staff
population; promoting success for all students, especially underrepresented segments of the
population; creating opportunities to engage diverse ideas inside and outside the classroom;
providing programs, services, and training that emphasize the importance of a diverse and
inclusive campus environment; partnering with community groups and organizations to support
diversity and inclusion in the broader community; and leading the celebration of diversity and
inclusion effort successes. The CDIO will chair the President’s Committee on Diversity and
serve on the President’s Leadership Team and President’s Council.
Minimum Qualifications: Master’s degree in a recognized academic discipline; substantive and
progressive experience leading diversity and inclusion work with evidence of increasing
responsibility in a higher educational or corporate setting; and experience working with various
forms of institutional data used for benchmarking and promoting accountability for the diversity
mission.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively,
manage change, resolve conflicts, and build consensus across a variety of constituencies;
demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to contemporary issues of inclusion, social justice,
diversity, access, and equity, including current scholarship and pedagogical approaches;
demonstrated public speaking ability, excellent writing skills, and the ability to advocate for
diversity and inclusion; demonstrated experience in curriculum development efforts that advance
diversity; demonstrated knowledge of the development and management of a budget and the
documents and schedules related to it; demonstrated knowledge of employment policies and
practices in higher education; demonstrated leadership in the creation and delivery of diversity,
inclusion, and intercultural competency training programs; demonstrated ability to work as part
of a high-level administrative team; demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local laws,
regulations, and guidelines related to affirmative action and civil rights enforcement;
demonstrated knowledge of various laws, regulations, and policies related to equity and diversity
in higher education; and demonstrated knowledge of the Standards of Professional Practice for
Chief Diversity Officers as outlined by the National Association of Diversity Officers of Higher
Education.
Additional/Desirables: Terminal degree; higher education experience; strategic planning
experience; community outreach experience; experience with diversity recruitment and retention
efforts at the faculty, staff and student levels; and demonstrated ability to identify and build
connections with local and indigenous populations.
Application Procedure: Applicants should apply directly at https://employme.nmu.edu.
Applicants are required to complete and attach the staff application, and upload a current résumé,
a letter of interest, and names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers for three professional
references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until June 19, 2015.
References will not be contacted without prior approval of candidates. All applications will be
treated as confidential.
NMU is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, including protected veterans and
individuals with disabilities, and is strongly committed to increasing diversity.