Associate Director, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Department
 

BSD DEI - Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

About the Department
 

Established more than 10 years ago, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) works as an extension of the Dean of the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) & Pritzker School of Medicine, to build a division that affirms an array of different lived life experiences and perspectives to advance innovation and discovery in science. As an academic office, we advocate for and support a culture in which inclusion is appreciated and nurtured as a central priority across the division’s departments and programs. Our work focuses on not just race and ethnicity, but also the ways sexuality, gender, class, religion, and other identities add to our community. We believe that the study of science and the practice of medicine are enhanced when scholars, clinicians, and staff can insert their full perspectives into their work.

Job Summary
 

The Associate Director for DEI in Basic Sciences brings specialized knowledge to delivering programs and services to the BSD community. These diversity initiatives aim to increase innovation and discovery by fostering belonging and broadening pathways into science.

Responsibilities

• Implements institutional strategic priorities to foster an inclusive climate and increase diversity in the University of Chicago Biological Science Division (BSD). 

• Collaborates with the Associate Dean for DEI, Basic Sciences to create a diversity, equity, and inclusion liaison structure within the basic sciences that provides specialized guidance and training to faculty liaisons developing and enacting departmental diversity plans.  

• Develops a culture of reflection and assessment that aims to provide evidence of program effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.  

• Collaborates with the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs on student and trainee recruitment efforts that aim to increase the diversity of PhD students and postdoc scholars. These tasks include co-organizing and participating in basic science recruitment events on and off-campus and engaging national networks, consortia, working groups, and other collaborative entities. 

• Provides active mentorship and culturally responsive support to trainees, such as during the development of student led D&I initiatives, including student-organized recruitment activities and outreach to the community. 

• Creates and formalizes channels to advise and mentor basic science student-led affinity groups to enhance a sense of belonging and foster opportunities to build affirming communities. These groups include the Graduate Recruitment Initiative Team (GRIT) and SACNAS.  

• Works with the graduate and postdoctoral programs, including their faculty leads, to enhance the sense of belonging of all trainees with an emphasis on students and postdocs from underrepresented groups and marginalized identities. 

• Leads inclusive pedagogy efforts across the basic sciences, which includes co-facilitating a quarter-long professional development course for post docs and inclusive mentor and diversity leadership training for faculty.  

• Manages and develops relevant faculty recruitment search efforts in conjunction with basic science leaders.  

• In partnership with the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, plan and implement inclusive professional development programs to help develop underrepresented faculty such as the Warner-Reynolds leadership academy events. 

• In conjunction with the Associate Dean for DEI, Basic Sciences and Assistant Dean for DEI, create programs and opportunities to bring external diverse postdoctoral researchers to campus with the goal of highlighting their research and creating potential applicant pools for faculty searches.  

• Actively seeks out and apply to science-based grant funding opportunities that aimed at increasing diversity of the scientific workforce. These grants aim to increase programming/resources for the basic science community and develop pathways that broaden access to those interested in studying science and/or medicine.  

• Partners with the Associate Dean for DEI, Basic Sciences to create scholarship on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the biological sciences. This includes participating in thought leadership at science conventions, authoring academic articles, and creating other innovative channels to use scholarship to promote diversity in science.   

• Liaison with campus DEI groups and offices external to the BSD such as the Provost’s Office and Center for Identity and Inclusion.

• Function as a resource for BSD STEM pipeline programs led by faculty.

• Staffs administrative committees as assigned. 

• Uses in-depth knowledge and experience to administer the delivery of services to program participants and/or beneficiaries such as communicating with programs sponsors and academic advising for undergraduate students.

• Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers, and staff for committee work or information.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced Degree in related field strongly preferred.

​Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to multi-task on frequent and constantly changing demands.

• Ability to effectively communicate with faculty, graduate students and various administrative offices at all levels in the University.

• Excellent organizational skills.

• Attention to detail.

• Ability to meet deadlines.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to resolves problems.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Working Conditions

• Office Environment.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Administration & Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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