Chief Diversity Officer (Apply Via Search Firm)

Job Summary

*All applicants must apply via WittKieffer’s candidate portal .*

San José State University (SJSU) seeks a strategic and action-oriented leader who is collaborative, innovative, and committed to inclusive excellence to serve as its next Chief Diversity Officer (CDO).

Founded in 1857, San José State University (SJSU) is the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast. Located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, San José State is the fifth largest of the 23 campuses of the California State University (CSU) system and the largest four-year university system in the United States. It is one of the most diverse universities in the U.S., with over 85% of its population self-reporting as students of color and 42% identifying as first-generation college students. It is also a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). As one of the 200 top research universities in the nation, San José State has robust NSF and NIH-funded research programs and one of the highest levels of research funding in the CSU system. San José State also offers rigorous coursework to more than 36,000 undergraduate and graduate students in nine colleges.

San José State is well positioned to become a pre-eminent urban public university welcoming its 31st president and internationally recognized Latina leader and scholar, Cynthia Teniente-Matson to campus in January 2023. With strong enrollments and a renewed commitment to excellence in teaching and research, the campus is poised to grow and innovate, strengthening its connection to the surrounding San José and Silicon Valley community and further fulfilling its social justice mission of access and equity. A new strategic plan— Transformation 2030 —was released in the spring of 2019, laying the groundwork for the next ten years of unparalleled growth.

SJSU seeks a transformative strategic and innovative leader to join in partnership with the President and Cabinet in helping the institution realize the full measure of its promise and possibility of the educational benefits of a racially diverse and inclusive student body that is unique to this institution. The successful candidate will have held or served in prior senior/executive diversity officer roles and have a documented history of effectively developing and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in a matrixed organization coupled with in-depth knowledge of theory and practice. Additional qualifications include experience advancing efforts through successful strategies and initiatives and using data and research to inform strategic analysis, assessment and measurement of effective policies in the service of planning and executing programs. SJSU seeks candidates whose personal and professional experiences reflect a commitment to and knowledge of students, staff, and faculty and the higher education landscape writ large.

The CDO participates in all aspects of institutional planning in support of San José State University mission and goals, including meeting the needs of a diverse student, faculty, and staff population in creating a learning and working environment where all can succeed. The CDO oversees the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) and serves as lead and tri-chair of the Campus Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (CCDEI).

Key Responsibilities

• Identify annual expected outcomes and coordinate appropriate evaluation of these efforts by developing measurable indicators of performance.
• Lead a sustainable process to implement and continuously assess and adapt the university’s goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Provide executive-level leadership, and oversight of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the areas of programming, personnel, facilities, community building, health & safety, assessment, and fiscal resource management.
• Engage in and support diversity-related scholarship and incorporate that knowledge into University practices and programming.
• Develop annual priorities for the campus by planning collaboratively with each Division and Auxiliary to support and develop a campus culture of inclusiveness
• Support the University’s efforts to improve access and college readiness of qualified, historically underrepresented students to the University; enhancing the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and staff.
• Advise the President and the President’s Cabinet on all matters related to an integrated approach building an equity-minded across the institution.
• Identify, seek and secure grant funding, corporate partnerships, and other opportunities to leverage campus resources and further propel diversity initiative efforts.
• Ensure that all programs and services in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion comply with relevant state and federal laws, California State University regulations, and University policies.
• Implement and coordinate training for faculty, staff, administrators, and students related to diversity and inclusive excellence.
• Work with the Vice President for Institutional Affairs/Chief of Staff to balance campus needs and budget constraints to define the required staff needed by the office and manage the hiring processes for those positions; in consultation with appropriate campus constituents, identify and integrate into the office existing campus programs and departments.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to identify and implement diversity, inclusion and inter- cultural competencies, educational awareness and high impact programs
• Knowledge of the impact of various laws, regulations, and policies related to equity and diversity in higher education on strategic planning, programming and implementation
• Advanced skills in working with diverse populations including race, ancestry, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, and physical abilities
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to facilitate difficult dialogues, effectively listen to all points of view, build consensus on initiatives and issues, and inform others of policies and plans
• Ability to develop institutional practices consistent with federal, state and higher education law
• In-depth, contemporary knowledge on issues of access, inclusion, diversity, equity, and multiculturalism in a large complex organizational setting
• Advanced skills in utilizing data-driven strategies at the institutional, divisional and unit levels to evaluate and assess programs and services, focusing on improvement
• Ability to develop initiatives to foster a more diverse and inclusive campus community
• Ability to initiate effective programs and facilitate change in a higher education setting; and demonstrated ability to be proactive in areas of diversity and inclusion
• Ability to manage within a complex organization
• Ability to develop and manage programmatic budget and resources
• Ability to mentor staff and advance a culture of service in collaboration with all University and System constituencies

Required Qualifications

• A graduate or professional degree
• Minimum seven years of leadership experience working with a complex organization on strategic efforts to advance equity and inclusion, including management level and supervisory experience

Preferred Qualifications

• A doctorate or equivalent terminal degree
• Experience within a collective bargaining environment

Compensation

Classification: Administrator IV

Anticipated Hiring Range: $16,667/month - $18,334/month CSU Salary Range: $9,167/month - $29,425/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary .

Application Procedure

Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received no later than July 27, 2023.

Candidates should provide, as two separate documents, a resume and a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the Leadership Profile. Professional references and other documents are not requested at this time.

Application materials should be submitted to WittKieffer’s candidate portal .

Nominations And Inquiries Can Be Directed To

Charlene L. Aguilar, Ed.M. and Jevon Walton

[email protected]

Contact Information

WittKieffer [email protected]

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to [email protected] .

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third-party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at [email protected] .

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf . The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at [email protected] .

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University (SJSU) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, or protected veteran status consistent with applicable federal and state laws. This policy applies to all SJSU students, faculty and staff programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus).