Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; School of Law

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Job Description Summary

The Wake Forest University School of Law is seeking qualified candidates for the role of Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

This key leadership role will develop and lead our school-wide strategies regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with a goal of becoming a truly globally minded and inclusive community.

The successful candidate will be responsible for formulating and implementing a shared vision and strategies to enhance programming with impact for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and corporate partners and will serve as a subject matter expert and guide all School of Law programs, offices, and functions to optimize their processes towards goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Job Description

Essential Functions :

Leads efforts to develop, implement, and update the School of Law DEI vision and strategy with an eye toward all forms of diversity, equity, and inclusion;

partners with faculty, staff, campus leaders, student leaders, and external constituents to ensure the DEI plan aligns with the School of Law's strategic plans, as well as those of the University.

• Partners with the Admissions team to develop a plan for attracting and recruiting students from diverse backgrounds to enroll in the School of Law.
• Aids in recruiting and retaining a diverse group of faculty and staff.
• Manages / facilitates formal partnerships with other Universities (e.g., WSSU, UNCG, UNCC, etc.)
• Partners with the Assistant Dean for Students and other law school departments in assessing and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging at the law school.
• Monitors marketplace trends and analysis, and partners with the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) team regarding firm recruitment of internship and full-time employment for diverse populations.
• Cultivates strong relationships with alumni and entities in the legal world to create meaningful and impactful partnerships.

Serves as a member of the School of Law External Relations team.

• Facilitates collaborations within our school (among faculty, staff, students, alumni, board members, and industry partners) and between the Law school and relevant university offices to provide advocacy and support for all groups, including under-represented groups (URG) and those from multicultural backgrounds.
• Partners with the University's Office of Diversity and Inclusion and other units and stakeholders (e.g., Center for Advancement of Teaching, Human Resources) to coordinate and resource DEI initiatives for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and corporate partners.
• Guides departmental teams to implement best practices, policies, and guidelines aligned with DEI goals for recruiting and retaining a diverse representation of students, faculty, and staff.
• Advises administrators, staff, student organizations, faculty committees, and other decisionmakers regarding DEI Impact Assessments, conducted to assess the potential DEI impact of proposed rules and policy decisions.
• Organizes and leads a Law school council of alumni and internal diversity advocates to gain input into DEI initiatives and strategy.
• Curates an impactful professional development strategy for faculty and staff to enhance and foster the development of inclusive pedagogy, scholarship, and student support.
• Establishes and maintains a scorecard to measure key elements of our DEI strategy, and works with the school's leadership team to align program, departmental, and office goals.
• Continuously reviews organizational practices, policies, processes, and structures across all of our programs, centers, and functions to identify needed improvements in light of best practices, policies, and guidelines.
• Organizes events, workshops, training, and related initiatives for faculty, staff, and students to celebrate and enhance understanding of the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion on individuals, organizations, and society.

Other Functions :

Other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities :

• JD or Master's degree plus 5 years' leadership and relevant work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Visionary, evidence-based leadership that looks to the outside for inspiration
• Experience in cultural change management
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work professionally, courteously, and effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community, including students, faculty, staff, and administrators
• Conflict resolution skills ability to deal calmly and effectively with others under sometimes-stressful conditions
• Demonstrated ability to be a self-starter, one who takes initiative and who can work with minimal supervision
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and records in accordance with state and federal laws and professional ethics;

ability to manage and distribute information appropriately

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities :

• PhD in education, social sciences, health and human services, or law-related fields
• Prior leadership experience in an academic environment preferred
• Prior experience working in a law school preferred
• Prior experience building a new program or developing a new position preferred
• Experience managing / directing staff colleagues preferred

Accountabilities :

• Responsible for own work
• Direct management of any relevant staff / student workers
• Management of relevant department budget(s)

Additional Job Description

Time Type Requirement

Full time

Note to Applicant :

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform.

Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his / her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Wa keForest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate.

In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.