Executive Director of Equity & Strategy Search

Arapahoe Community College is a comprehensive community college serving the southern portion of the greater Denver metro area in three locations: campuses in Littleton and Castle Rock and a shared location in Lone Tree with Douglas County School District. It is a public, open-access institution, guided by its mission to provide innovative and responsive educational and economic opportunities in an accessible, inclusive environment that promotes success for students, employees, and the communities it serves. The college serves approximately 10,000 students and employs more than 900 faculty, instructors, administrators and staff.

Arapahoe Community College serves three unique communities and counties in the South Metro Denver Area. The City of Littleton, in Arapahoe County, offers spectacular panoramic views of the Colorado Rockies. Littleton embodies a strong sense of community through its historic downtown, volunteerism, entrepreneurial spirit, and numerous community events. Littleton’s vibrant art community is supported by ACC’s Colorado Gallery of the Arts and makes it the perfect location for ACC’s Art and Design Center with Fine Art, Design and Technology programs.

Thirty miles south of downtown Denver is Douglas County and the ACC Sturm Collaboration Campus. The county has been ranked as one of the friendliest, happiest, and healthiest in the nation with some of the lowest jobless rates. Castle Rock offers a small-town atmosphere, spectacular mountain scenery, and historic downtown shopping district.

The college’s shared location in Lone Tree with Douglas County School District represents a true partnership much in the model of the college’s Sturm Collaboration Campus. At both Sturm Collaboration Campus and DCSD Legacy Campus, high school students start college classes in ACC's Concurrent Enrollment Program, earn an ACC associate degree or certificate or join with one of our community industry partners in an apprenticeship program.

Title: Executive Director of Equity & Strategy
Posting No.: 904
Posting Dates:  August 18, 2023 until filled with a full consideration date of September 17, 2023   

At ACC, every employee is focused and responsible for student success. We promote a culture of inclusivity and innovation through individualized support, passionate employees, and a welcoming environment. Hands on experiences and personalized attention make learning come alive at ACC enabling our diverse community of students and staff to develop the knowledge and skills they need to reach their academic and career goals. Since 1965, ACC has supported a culture of achievement and has been the place of choice for people who want to Move Mountains.

ACC seeks applicants who understand and have first-hand experience working with diverse populations, which may include but are not limited to, historically marginalized populations such as people of color, LGBTQ+ community members, veterans, first generation graduates, and people with disabilities.

Job Summary

The Executive Director of Equity and Strategy serves as the senior equity officer and is responsible for leading innovative organizational development initiatives to realize the College’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB+) strategy. This position is responsible for strategic leadership overseeing the planning, facilitation, and evaluation process to cultivate a culture of equity and inclusion throughout the organization. The Executive Director uses institutional, community, and scholarship data, climate surveys, and other relevant measures of effectiveness to collaboratively identify strategies to narrow equity gaps and advance student success strategic initiatives.

The Executive Director will lead the design of the college’s DEIB+ strategy of embedding equity as it relates to students, staff, and faculty. As part of the President’s leadership team, this role provides strategic support and serves as an advisor, consultant, and leader. The Executive Director will be a leading partner in the review, assessment, realignment, improvement, reporting, and benchmarking of the college’s strategic plan regarding DEIB+, focusing on a continuous review and improvement of DEIB+ initiatives, an inclusive and respectful culture, and closing the gaps in our DEIB+ efforts.

A successful candidate is a bridge builder with a strong DEIB+ background, at ease with the following:

Change Management & Leadership: Understands the need for change and helps plan effective change. Takes responsibility for leading, directing, and managing DEIB+ organizational change.

Collaboration: Works cooperatively with stakeholders to accomplish DEIB+ initiatives to build and maintain mutually beneficial partnerships, leverage information, and achieve results.

Data Analytics: Analyzes DEIB+ related data and metrics, paying particular attention to what the data shows about the college's performance and student impact. 

ACC Equity Statement 

We welcome and value the identities and experiences of our students, staff, faculty, and surrounding communities. We seek to engage and support historically marginalized groups whom higher education has traditionally failed to serve. We work to foster an equitable and inclusive learning and work environment that supports our students and employees through professional development, programming, reflection, and transformational change of ACC practices, procedures, services, and teaching. We collectively commit to holding ourselves accountable to our equity goals through assessing these efforts with multiple strategies that include voices of those impacted by this work.

Required Qualifications

• Earned master’s degree from an institution OR a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution AND two years’ relevant experience.
• Four years’ progressively responsible experience operationalizing and embedding DEIB+ practices/framework in a large, multifaceted, organizational setting.
• Significant experience in DEIB+, OD and/or HR including leadership as an executive, manager, director, appointing authority or related role.
• Experience with organizational and systemic change, budget oversight, working collaboratively, managing change, resolving conflicts, strategic planning, recommending new ideas and solutions, building consensus, and promoting a culture of belonging.
• Strong communicator who can effectively and positively assist the President and colleagues in conveying the importance of DEIB+ and facilitating a sense of belonging for all as integral to the college’s ability to improve the economic and social mobility of ACC’s students and the communities the college serves. 
• Strong understanding of industry DEI best practices, experience implementing initiatives that drive sustainable change, and the ability to work well with individuals from a diverse set of backgrounds.
• Demonstrated commitment working and serving diverse communities including, but not limited to, students from underserved and/or underrepresented backgrounds, adult learners, students of color, Veterans, and first-generation learners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven ability to thrive in a progressive, forward-thinking, energetic, and highly collaborative work environment engaging other areas of the College to implement and actualize initiative outcomes.
• Understanding and proven ability to develop, coach, and engage faculty and staff in DEIB+ best practices and strategies with a focus on improving student outcomes.

Physical & Cognitive Demands

The following are some of the physical and cognitive demands commonly associated with this position.

• Occasionally moves, positions, and transports standard office supplies and equipment weighing up to 10 lbs. 
• This is largely a sedentary role. This position operates in an office environment and constantly uses a computer, and routinely uses standard office equipment including phones, copiers, etc. 
• The person in this position constantly communicates with internal and external constituents and students. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. 
• Cognitive demands include comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, synthesizing, negotiating, communicating, instructing, and interpersonal skills. 
• May be required to work out of any ACC campus location. Regular after-hours or weekend work required. Some occasional local, regional, and/or national travel may be required.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement  

Arapahoe Community College provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process and/or during the course of employment, please contact Angela Johnson, Director of Human Resources, at 303.797.5715 or Angela [dot] Johnson [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (Angela[dot]Johnson[at]arapahoe[dot]edu).

Advertised Salary Range  

The salary range for this position is $105,487 to $118,145 commensurate with education and experience. AP 3-45 provides information regarding salary placement and adjustments. This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt position. This position has been exempted from the State Classified System.

To Apply 

All applicants must submit:

1.     Resume

2.     Detailed letter of interest (cover letter) addressing the job announcement. Please include any experiences you may have embedding equity and inclusion in your work, see below.

At ACC we seek to hire candidates that demonstrate a commitment to and experience with embedding equity and inclusion into their professional role. Please address this specifically in your cover letter explaining what diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) means to you and how you may have incorporated DEI into your current or previous professional responsibilities. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Candidates who are selected to interview will be asked to submit a completed application form and the names and contact information for three professional references. Candidates will be evaluated based on their qualifications as related to the duties and responsibilities of the position. 

If you have questions regarding this position, please contact us at ACCAskHR [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (ACCAskHR[at]arapahoe[dot]edu)

Benefits

At ACC, we value and uphold a commitment to a workplace that focuses on employees. Our mission is to provide innovative and responsive educational and economic opportunities in an accessible, inclusive environment that promotes success for students, employees, and the communities we serve. In addition to rewarding and meaningful work, we offer a comprehensive selection of benefits to support our employees, including:

• Strong, flexible retirement benefits including Colorado PERA’s Defined Benefit Plan or Defined Contribution Plan. ACC contributes 20.95% of your salary on your behalf. Supplemental retirement plans including 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans are also available. 
• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and flexible savings benefits.
• Employee assistance services such as counseling, professional coaching, financial planning, and more, are available to you and members of your household at no cost through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP)
• Generous paid time off benefits including up to 15 hours of annual leave and 10 hours sick leave per month, 10 paid holidays per year, and up to 18 hours for academic and volunteer activities.
• Tuition assistance for employees and their eligible dependents at any community college within the Colorado Community College System or CCCOnline.
• State employees are eligible to participate in BenefitHub which offers discounts for retailers and services and other benefits resources.
• Employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Additional information about this program can be found on the Colorado Division of Human Resources website.
• New hires for full-time positions may be eligible for a relocation assistance benefit if relocating at least 100 miles to work at ACC. Information about this can be found in AP 3-160.

Notice to all Applicants

• Final candidate will be subject to successful completion of a background check, and, if applicable, a motor vehicle record review.
• Former employees of the Colorado Community College System, or one of its 13 colleges, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information in their application material.
• Final candidate is required to submit official transcripts to Human Resources within thirty (30) days of hire.
• Direct deposit of payroll is a condition of employment.
• Arapahoe Community College participates in E-Verify.
• Arapahoe Community College is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.
• All ACC employees, except student employees, contribute to Colorado PERA at a fixed percentage of their earnings and do not contribute to Social Security.
• Finalist must be willing to make Colorado their primary workplace.

CCCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Colorado Community College System believes when all human qualities are regarded with dignity and respect and when everyone has access to the individualized support they need, all will have the opportunity to thrive. In all aspects of the employment process, decisions are made based on merit, competence, performance, and business need without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, military status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our Accommodations and Non-Discrimination policies, plus other helpful information, can be found publicly at arapahoe.edu/legal.

For information regarding Arapahoe Community College Security, including Clery Act / Crime Statistics for the campuses and surrounding area, please see the Arapahoe Community College Annual Security Report. For a hard copy report, please contact the ACC Campus Police Department at 303.797.5800, Campus [dot] Police [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (Campus[dot]Police[at]arapahoe[dot]edu), or Room M2600 at 5900 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, Colorado 80120.

Job Title: Executive Director of Equity & Strategy
Division/Dept.: Office of Inclusive Excellence
Reports To:  President 
Date Revised: August 2023
Position Classification: Director 3
Position No.: 126455 

This position has been exempted from the State Classified System. This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt position.

Arapahoe Community College is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees and students.

Primary Purpose

The Executive Director (ED) for Equity & Strategy serves as the senior equity officer for the college and is responsible for leading strategic and innovative organizational development initiatives that align with the college’s DEIB+ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) strategy, using an equity-minded framework. The Executive Director works collaboratively with campus leaders as a thought-partner to cultivate a culture of equity and inclusion throughout the organization including how to provide and facilitate equitable and inclusive learning and work environments where all students and employees can be successful. 

The Executive Director will be a leading partner in the review, assessment, realignment, improvement, reporting, and benchmarking of the college’s strategic plan with regard to DEIB+ in partnership with the College’s senior staff, Human Resources, and other campus partners focusing on the following:

• Change Management
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging: continuous review and improvement of DEIB+ initiatives reinforcing an inclusive culture and respectful culture, helping us close the gaps in our DEIB+ efforts.

This position will be responsible for leading the design and enhancement of the college’s DEIB+ strategy of embedding equity as it relates to students, staff, and faculty across all campuses. As part of the President’s leadership team, this role serves as an inspirational and caring leader who is highly motivational, engaging and strategically results-oriented, striving for organizational effectiveness, collaboratively building effective work processes, and a high-quality customer-focus orientation. The position provides strategic support and serves as an advisor, consultant, and leader with a vision aligned towards advancing DEIB+ and facilitating a strong sense of belonging for all within and throughout the college’s units (instruction, students affairs, workforce, human resources, fiscal/admin services). The ED will be a leading partner in the development, implementation, assessment, and reporting of the college’s strategic plan with regards to DEIB+ in partnership with the college’s senior staff and key campus partners. This position also engages with the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and other community colleges in forwarding System initiatives.   

Essential Functions

Leadership, Collaboration & Strategic Organizational Management 40%

• In collaboration with the President and Cabinet, provides strategic leadership to the college regarding equity-minded practices, ensuring a detailed understanding of the college’s DEIB+ strategic direction and goals, and identifying and implementing necessary and important organizational development initiatives. 
• Serves as a member of the college’s executive leadership, contributing as a thought leader in how ACC can make a difference where the need is greatest and leads and drives transformational and equitable impact for the communities the college serves.
• Collaborates with campus leaders to ensure a detailed understanding of college strategy and organizational development.
• Provides leadership, collaborating with units regarding care centered DEIB+ training and professional development with a focus on improved outcomes for students. 
• Identifies and implements organizational development activities through college-wide continuous learning, training, programs, and improvements specific to DEIB+.
• Serves and represents ACC on CCCS and other educational (higher education and K-12) and community committees/task forces. Builds interactive partnerships with ACC’s local communities to elevate the visibility and value of DEIB+ education. 

Culture & Climate: Embedding Equity – 40%

• Works closely with college Leadership Team members, Directors, and Department Heads to cultivate a welcoming and inclusive culture to expand knowledge and awareness of pertinent national, state, local and educational resources, movements, research, trends, data and issues regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Engages and partners with senior leadership to enhance, develop, and embed DEIB+ strategies and goals into all facets of the college to cultivate a welcoming and inclusive culture. Collaborates as a thought-partner to facilitate the development and implementation of programming, education research, and assessment strategies. 
• Promotes the campus culture survey process and disseminates results; identifies trends and develops consistent communication and feedback mechanisms to ensure that senior leadership and college partners can discuss and address equity issues impacting faculty and staff.
• In collaboration with leadership, identifies and improves college DEIB+ performance metrics. Evaluates performance using institutional, community, and scholarship data to narrow equity gaps to advance DEIB+ strategic initiatives in support of student success.
• Works collaboratively to identify opportunities where care centered DEIB+ strategies can cultivate a welcoming and inclusive working environment for employees and narrow equity gaps to facilitate a greater sense of belonging.
• Coordinates ongoing and periodic assessments of DEIB+ that uses a range of data-gathering approaches to improve college culture and eliminate equity gaps for students and employees. 

Program Administration & Evaluation – 20%

• Leads the employee driven DEIB+ related groups such as the Inclusive Excellence Council to facilitate greater inclusion of care centered DEIB+ practices and seek ways to implement and embed equity and inclusion into goals and measures for success. 
• Works closely with Instruction, Student Affairs, Fiscal/Administrative Services, and Human Resources to help identify and eliminate equity gaps and facilitate a greater sense of belonging. 
• Responsible for the College Equity Plan and/or other DEIB+-related websites to keep the community appraised of the College’s progress toward building a welcoming and inclusive culture that supports students and employees.   
• Works in collaboration with multiple departments for providing professional development & training for employees.
• Program budget oversight and administration.
• Responsible for hiring, training, supervising, developing, and evaluating office staff. 

Other Functions

• Additional duties as requested or assigned.  

Working Relationships

• Works directly with the College President, Leadership Team, Directors and Department Heads, faculty, staff, student leaders, CCCS and other educational (higher education and K-12), and community committees/task forces.  

Required Qualifications

• Earned master’s degree from an institution OR a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution AND two years’ relevant experience.
• Four years’ progressively responsible experience operationalizing and embedding DEIB+ practices/framework in a large, multifaceted, organizational setting.
• Significant experience in DEIB+, OD and/or HR including leadership as an executive, manager, director, appointing authority or related role.
• Experience with organizational and systemic change, budget oversight, working collaboratively, managing change, resolving conflicts, strategic planning, recommending new ideas and solutions, building consensus, and promoting a culture of belonging.
• Strong communicator who can effectively and positively assist the President and colleagues in conveying the importance of DEIB+ and facilitating a sense of belonging for all as integral to the college’s ability to improve the economic and social mobility of ACC’s students and the communities the college serves. 
• Strong understanding of industry DEI best practices, experience implementing initiatives that drive sustainable change, and the ability to work well with individuals from a diverse set of backgrounds.
• Demonstrated commitment working and serving diverse communities including, but not limited to, students from underserved and/or underrepresented backgrounds, adult learners, students of color, Veterans, and first-generation learners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven ability to thrive in a progressive, forward-thinking, energetic, and highly collaborative work environment engaging other areas of the College to implement and actualize initiative outcomes.
• Understanding and proven ability to develop, coach, and engage faculty and staff in DEIB+ best practices and strategies with a focus on improving student outcomes.

Work Environment

Work is generally performed in a standard office and classroom environment.   

Physical and Cognitive Demands

The following are some of the physical and cognitive demands commonly associated with this position.

• Occasionally moves, positions, and transports standard office supplies and equipment weighing up to 10 lbs. 
• This is largely a sedentary role. This position operates in an office environment and constantly uses a computer, and routinely uses standard office equipment including phones, copiers, etc. 
• The person in this position constantly communicates with internal and external constituents and students. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. 
• Cognitive demands include comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, synthesizing, negotiating, communicating, instructing, and interpersonal skills. 
• May be required to work out of any ACC campus location. Regular after-hours or weekend work required. Some occasional local, regional, and/or national travel may be required.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Arapahoe Community College provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process and/or during the course of employment contact Angela Johnson, Director of Human Resources, at 303.797.5715 or angela [dot] johnson [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (angela[dot]johnson[at]arapahoe[dot]edu).

Equity Statement

We welcome and value the identities and experiences of our students, staff, faculty, and surrounding communities. We seek to engage and support historically marginalized groups whom higher education has traditionally failed to serve. We work to foster an equitable and inclusive learning and work environment that supports our students and employees through professional development, programming, reflection, and transformational change of ACC practices, procedures, services, and teaching. We collectively commit to holding ourselves accountable to our equity goals through assessing these efforts with multiple strategies that include voices of those 

• August 18 - September 17 - Application is open
• Sunday, September 17 - Target date for receipt of applications
• Monday, September 18 - Sunday, October 1 - Search committee will review applications independently to identify semi-finalists
• Monday, October 2 - Search committee will meet to discuss and select semi-finalists. 
• October 6 - 12 - Search Committee will conduct interviews
• Friday, October 27 - Finalists will come to ACC for public forums and interviews
• November - President will announce new ED for Equity & Strategy
• January - ED for Equity & Strategy preferred start timeframe