Director, Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Job Info

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Description

Director, Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is currently accepting applications for the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity position. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor & Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity & Accessibility, the Director will serve as a subject matter expert often representing the greater Division of Access and Engagement (DAE), and as such will be expected to collaborate with other members of the DAE leadership team. The Director will position the University to attract, develop, and retain competitive, high-quality faculty and exempt staff who can provide meaningful experiences for all stakeholders and ensure the University's continued growth and fulfillment of its land-grant mission. Additionally, the Director will be responsible for contributing to the vision, direction, and operation of the Office of Equal Opportunity & Accessibility (EOA).

The Director is expected to possess the necessary skills and experience to lead the development and implementation of all aspects of a comprehensive, data-informed, innovative, multi-pronged strategic approach to faculty recruiting, onboarding, and retention. This will require the assistance of a faculty fellow and collaboration with Faculty Affairs, the colleges, schools, and departments. The successful candidate should be skilled at building relationships across all levels of an organization.

It is essential the Director be a data-driven thought leader and change agent as it relates to:

·         Developing and maintaining a model Equal Employment Opportunity program.

·         Examining employment policies, procedures and practices to identify and remove barriers particularly as it relates to faculty and exempt staff.

·         Addressing and correcting deficiencies and ensuring discrimination-free employment decision-making.

·         Effectively communicating the legal, economic, and cultural imperative of workplace equality.

·         Making data informed decisions to develop strategy and implement courses of action.

The Director maintains oversight of the EEO portfolio mandated by state and federal law and regulation and uses the University’s Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) to inform decision making pertaining to employment outcomes. The Director should possess skills and abilities to lead EEO discussions in a collaborative manner with faculty, staff, senior-level administrators, academic deans, the Office of General Counsel and faculty/staff advisory committees in order to evaluate efficacy and efficiency and drive innovation. There will be two direct reports to include one Assistant Director and one Faculty Fellow.

The successful candidate will be expected to stay abreast of changes to legally mandated state and federal programs, manage resulting policy and practice changes and maintain compliance as appropriate. Additionally, the incumbent will partner with other campus units as it pertains to issues requiring investigation and resolution, ensure hiring guidelines are compliant through review and approval of applicant pools, search committee procedures and hiring requests.

The Director will serve as the point of contact for any search related matters to provide guidance/recommendation for any action needed and review associated practices (hiring, training, transfer and promotion), making recommendations for corrective action as needed to remain compliant. It is imperative that the Director possess the knowledge required to oversee all aspects of employment as it relates to EEO and AAP, compliance with federal and state laws and guidelines, and UT System policies and procedures. This knowledge will be used to guide and consult with senior administrators, deans, chairs, and directors to ensure the University continues to implement initiatives aimed at building and sustaining a culture that supports access, engagement, diverse faculty, inclusive excellence, recruitment and retention. The Director is expected to provide consultation and support efforts that promote inclusive excellence, collaborate with university stakeholders to assess potential barriers, and develop strategies to recruit and retain a diverse workforce, and partner with Human Resources to develop and implement strategies to integrate effective inclusion practices, creating a more equitable and inclusive work environment.

Continuous improvement and education are key to sustaining excellence and the Director will be responsible for design and delivery of learning experiences, presentations, and workshops. The position will work with EOA staff to develop and conduct training and information sessions related to compliance aspects of EEO and will work with the leadership team to identify and coordinate opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to enhance their knowledge of equal opportunity and accessibility. The Director will oversee ongoing benchmarking to determine best practices and evaluate processes and procedures to ensure continued efficiency and innovation.

Qualifications

Required Experience and Education

·         Master’s Degree

·         Professional experience typically gained in at least seven (7) years of working with equal employment opportunity or related fields with progressively more responsibility and oversight. Credit for relevant graduate work experience and internships will be considered on a 2:1 basis for as many as twenty-four (24) months.

·         Experience managing, directing, and evaluating the work of others.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

·         Knowledge of state and federal laws applicable to equity and diversity and employee relations.

·         Ability to effectively collect, analyze, evaluate, and prepare statistical data.

·         Ability to maintain confidentiality.

·         Ability to work effectively with individuals from all levels of staff, faculty, students, and external stakeholders across a large, complex, institutional structure.

·         Ability to interpret policy and develop programs that enhance an understanding of university goals and objectives.

·         Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

·         Demonstrated excellent and efficient writing, editing, organizational, and presentation skills.

·         Skilled in effectively and comfortably communicating using different mediums to various stakeholders including university administrators and faculty.

·         Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team to achieve results.

Preferred Education and Experience

·         Terminal, Doctorate or JD

·         Experience in higher education preferably as faculty or faculty adjacent.

·         Experience related to recruiting, hiring, evaluating, and retention efforts.

Based in Knoxville, the position offers a competitive salary, relocation assistance and a comprehensive benefit package. For additional information or nominations, please contact Brooke Swart, Senior Executive Recruiter, (bswart@utk.edu). To be assured of full consideration, applications must be received via our Taleo application system. Please include a cover letter, resume and contact information for three (3) professional references with your application. References will not be contacted without explicit permission from the candidate.

Job: Executive/Administrative
Primary Location: US-Tennessee-knoxville
Organization: Office Of Equity & Diversity
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: Sep 6, 2024, 7:15:33 AM

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