Community Engagment and Belonging Program Director

Position Overview

The Community Engagement and Belonging Program Director serves as a catalyst for creating an environment where all members of the SCC feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. Within the complex and multi-faceted environment of the SCC, this role will design, lead, and execute institutional culture change through actively engaging the community, developing initiatives that promote inclusion, and cultivating a profound sense of belonging. In this regard, the department is seeking an adept relationship builder, who will develop close working relationships with the departmental leadership, the Assistant Deans in the SoE and SCC, the VPR’s Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Institute Community Equity Office.
 
Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, this role will serve as a subject matter expert and internal consultant for college units. It will work closely with the ICEO to ensure that the College’s efforts align with MIT’s overall Strategic Action Plan for Belonging, Achievement, and Composition (SAPBAC). With input and participation from the SCC’s faculty, students and staff, the Community Engagement and Belonging Program Director will recommend policy, identify resources needed, and play a lead role in implementing actions resulting from policies adopted within the College. Importantly, the incumbent will be both a thought leader and a hands-on doer. This person will be a key strategic partner in ensuring that the SCC’s continues to build resources towards advancing an inclusive culture and supporting MIT’s values through the execution of high quality programs informed by best practices.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Vision and Leadership:

• Works with SCC faculty and leadership to create, manage and implement a comprehensive strategic vision for outreach, community engagement and belonging, aligning with the College’s and Institute’s broader goals.
• Acts as both a thought leader and an executor to ensure that programs are informed by best practices to support the achievement of desired outcomes to support diversity
• Identify emerging trends and challenges in diversity, equity, and inclusion and develop proactive strategies to address them.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement within a complex organization by designing the assessment and evaluation of existing programs and initiatives and proposing innovative solutions based on both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Implements and ensures compliance with MIT’s policies and/or external regulations and guidelines
• Identify and assist in the submission of proposals in collaboration with faculty, resource development and VPR as necessary to to support grant writing and fundraising initiatives through articulating the societal impacts of their work.

2. Community Engagement and Belonging:

• In consultation and partnership with SCC faculty, staff and students, develop and implement a comprehensive community engagement strategy that brings together diverse groups across campus and the broader community.
• Use data-driven approaches to identify areas of tension or division within the college community and develop targeted interventions.
• Build coalitions and partnerships with student organizations, SCC units, and other stakeholders to amplify diverse voices and perspectives.
• Develop and implement strategies to address issues of marginalization, exclusion, and systemic barriers that hinder a sense of belonging.  
• Promote inclusive practices and facilitate conversations that raise awareness, challenge biases, and encourage allyship across the university community.

3. Inclusive Programming and Training:

• Serve as a resource and content expert for faculty, staff and students on ensuring that SCC policies and practices align with best practices for equitable participation, inclusive cultures and a learning environment that promotes success for all participants.
• Design and facilitate interactive workshops, trainings, and educational programs that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competence and dialogue across difference.
• Develop and deliver training programs on topics such as unconscious bias, cultural competency, inclusive leadership, and creating a culture of belonging in partnership with institute stakeholders.

4. Assessment and Evaluation:

• Develop and implement assessment tools to evaluate the effectiveness of SCC initiatives and programs with the support of the Office of Institutional Research.
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative data to identify areas for improvement and inform strategic planning and decision-making as it pertains to the policies of the College
• Establish metrics and benchmarks to measure progress toward creating an inclusive and welcoming College climate in alignment with the Strategic Plan for Belonging, Achievement and Composition. Assess and advance achievement of the College’s goals and communicate key data elements in persuasive ways to motivate change.
• Assess and enhance the campus climate to ensure an environment where all individuals feel respected, supported, and able to bring their authentic selves.

5. Provide outreach and support for SCC Postdoctoral Programs:

• Assist faculty with coordinating community building among the cohort of postdoctoral scholars
• Design and execute outreach programs that connect with postdocs from diverse backgrounds, including workshops, seminars, and networking events. Partner with departments, labs, and centers to create inclusive opportunities and support systems for postdocs.
• Implement channels for postdocs to provide feedback on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts, ensuring their voices are heard in decision making processes.
• Lead awareness campaigns that highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion within the postdoctoral community.
• Facilitate networking events that connect postdocs with one another, as well as with industry professionals, to build a diverse professional community.
• Engage postdoc alumni to share their experiences and contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives, creating a support network for current postdocs.
• Create and disseminate resources that provide postdocs with information about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives and support services.

6. Recruitment and Outreach:

• Work with SCC units to attract, retain and support the success of a diverse community. This might include attendance at key national conferences (eg. Society of Women Engineers, TAPIA, Grace Hopper, National Society of Black Engineers etc)
• Collaborate with the Office of Graduate Education to support targeted recruitment efforts at key partner institutions

Supervision Received

Minimal.
 
The position reports to the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Diversity and Inclusion, Higher Education Administration, Organizational Development or a relevant discipline.  Masters Preferred.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging roles, preferably in higher education or a similar complex organization.
• Demonstrated expertise in community engagement, inclusive programming, and creating a culture of belonging.
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships and partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate difficult conversations and create safe spaces for dialogue.
• Knowledge of theories, principles, and best practices related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in higher education.
• Familiarity with relevant laws, regulations, and policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.- Ability to think strategically and innovatively to address complex issues and implement sustainable change.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation abilities.
• Proficiency in using technology and data management tools for reporting, tracking, and analyzing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion-related metrics.

_{* To comply with regulations by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the principal duties in job descriptions must be essential to the job. To identify essential functions, focus on the purpose and the result of the duties rather than the manner in which they are performed. The following definition applies: a job function is essential if removal of that function would fundamentally change the job.}