Diversity Program Executive Director

Executive Director - Guided Pathways

Position Overview:

Application and required materials must be submitted no later than/First Review of materials will begin: August 28, 2023

Salary range for this position is: $98,500/yr. - $136,024/yr. (depending on experience)

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Under the supervision of the President, the Executive Director of Guided Pathways ensures oversight, alignment, and completion of Seattle Central College’s work related to Guided Pathways redesigns and change management. Guided Pathways closes educational equity gaps by providing a transparent, structured educational experience for students so they can take the classes they need to earn the credentials they want. Learn more here: https://seattlecentral.edu/about/guided-pathways and here: https://www.sbctc.edu/colleges-staff/programs-services/student-success-center/gp-technical-assistance-model

Guided Pathways includes: 1. clarifying paths for students, 2. helping students explore and choose a path, 3. monitoring student progress to proactively provide support, and 4. ensuring learning.

Who we are and what we value:

At Seattle Central College, equity, diversity, inclusion, and community are central to the education of our students and daily operations. We aspire to be an actively anti-biased and anti-racist learning institution. The aspiration is ongoing and institution-wide and requires deep personal and collective commitment and accountability. We welcome candidates who will actively collaborate to put our values into action. We encourage all interested individuals meeting the criteria of the described position to apply.

Where you will work:

Seattle Central College, part of a three-college district, Seattle Colleges. Seattle Central is a comprehensive community college offering bachelor’s degrees, associate transfer degrees, professional certificates, career training programs, and continuing education programs to local and international students. Located in Seattle’s dynamic Capitol Hill neighborhood, the College serves over 15,000 full- and part-time students and provides a diverse learning and teaching environment. For students seeking to transfer for baccalaureate or advanced degrees, there are many options, including direct transfer agreements with nearby public and private institutions, direct transfer agreements with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as dual degrees and emphases for associate degrees. For over fifty years, Seattle Central has remained focused on a vision of transforming lives, promoting equity, and enriching the community.

This position is funded each year through the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges as determined by the state legislative budget to implement Guided Pathways framework across our system.

Application Procedures:

• Attach a resume
• Complete and submit all required application materials online
• Attach a cover letter addressing how your background specifically prepares you for the job
• Attach a response to additional application materials question (one page, 750-word maximum): Provide a statement addressing how your own personal experiences have prepared you to support the needs of a racially and culturally diverse student population that spans a broad range of languages, identities, socio-economic levels, and educational experiences.

Notice to Applicants:

Please note that Seattle Colleges is working under hybrid remote and on-site operations, and holding interviews virtually using video conference or teleconference options. As such, if you are selected for interview, please be prepared to hold your interview virtually.

What you will be working on:

• Responsible for tracking Guided Pathways progress and effectiveness, including assessment plans.
• Build strong relationships and trust among diverse constituents to ensure work is effective, efficient, and sustainable.
• Advance a range of Guided Pathways strategies and initiatives connected to legislative priorities, strategic planning, and equity goals.
• Refine Guided Pathways practices using change management techniques with an eye toward improving impact, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure strategic coherence across various departments and projects in partnership with district Guided Pathways colleagues and college leadership.
• Develop short-term and long-term goals for Guided Pathways programming that builds the ability for staff and faculty to engage and implement Guided Pathways.
• Staff and manage various initiatives and projects.
• In collaboration, create and implement tools, processes, practices, and policies informed by equity-minded Guided Pathways principles and approaches.
• Provide leadership and collaborate on professional development that builds the capacity of staff and faculty to incorporate Guided Pathways practices into their respective roles and responsibilities.
• Create, build, and manage cross-functional teams to help carry out Guided Pathways work.
• Communicate through meaningful and organized methods to strengthen Guided Pathways and provide regular updates to a wide set of stakeholders and leaders.
• Center racial equity in project planning, implementation, and management.
• Oversight of budgetary management and forecasting to ensure activities are carried out in alignment with legislative intent and in a responsible manner.
• Ensure thoughtful and effective project management from design, to implementation, to evaluation, and iteration in collaboration with key stakeholders across the campus and district.

What you bring as a candidate: (Any Equivalent Combination of Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education and Experience)

• Demonstrated ability to develop effective relationships with a diverse range of constituents
• Excellent communications skills - must be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing including direct, concise executive communications skills
• Master of Arts Degree and 3 years of work experience with progressive responsibilities, including budget oversight
• Demonstrated understanding of Guided Pathways
• Experience working on racial equity and centering first generation college-aspiring students and students of color in the approach to work
• Experience and passion for using qualitative and quantitative data to make decisions and help people align around shared goals
• Ability to act as a change agent while influencing and challenging the status quo
• Proven ability to develop, facilitate, and champion organizational effectiveness and initiatives through strategic, inclusive, and creative problem solving, project management, and decision-making processes
• Experience in project management and change management
• Strong meeting management ability and effective facilitation skills