STEM Equity and Inclusion Manager

Blue Flaire is excited to assist our client in seeking a dynamic STEM leader to join our team as the Head of STEM Equity and Inclusion for our client that has an office in College Park, MD. This position is 95% remote.  The Head of STEM Equity and Inclusion will develop and advance high impact physics programs designed to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in STEM and physics education.  This leader will engage key stakeholders to define and advance diversity priorities, and will work synergistically with other program areas and departments. 

A Typical Week May Look Like This:

• Leads a portfolio of DEI initiatives in the Programs department
• Develops and advances high impact diversity programs that embody the organization’s priorities, in consultation with the department director and key stakeholders.
• Maintains deep knowledge of peer-reviewed literature, reports and other publications on DEI in STEM education to inform program development.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of diversity programs using best practices and makes changes informed by evaluation results.
• Writes proposals to fund diversity programs and helps identify potential funding sources.
• Leads a team of staff, consultants and collaborators to implement diversity programs and assumes primary responsibility for the success of these initiatives.
• Engages key stakeholders to help define and advance diversity priorities
• Serves as a liaison to the Committee on Minorities (COM) and engages members in actively shaping their agenda to advance the mission of COM.
• Serves as a liaison to the Forum on Diversity and Inclusion (FDI) and other organizational units interested in diversity as time permits, and seeks to engage executive committees in working collaboratively toward common goals.
• Builds and maintains relationships with DEI leaders in the physics community and other organizations to understand trends, challenges, best practices, and opportunities.
• Works synergistically with other program areas and departments
• Collaborates with other APS program areas, leveraging expertise of other heads and program leaders, to advance shared priorities.
• Serves as a resource to other departments seeking to improve their external operations with respect to DEI, as time permits.
• Other duties as assigned

Education: PhD (preferred) or MS in higher education, social sciences or a related field with a concentration on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion is required. STEM degree preferred.

Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Minimum of 10 years of experience leading diversity programs in STEM education or equivalent is required. Experience with proposal writing and project management is required. Supervisory experience is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

General: Needs to possess a deep knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in STEM education, including effective practices and peer-reviewed literature for leading organizational change in higher education. Strong, polished interpersonal, written and oral communication skills are necessary. Must have the ability to handle several complex projects simultaneously, possess excellent organizational skills, and meet deadlines. Must be able to proactively identify and respond to needs, and exercise judgment. Computer skills and high level of proficiency in standard office software are essential. Customer service orientation desired, including ability to resolve conflicts constructively. Ability to empathize and understand perspectives from people with widely varying backgrounds. Needs to demonstrate willingness and ability to work as a team player. Must be able to travel several times per year.

Leadership and Management: Must be able to manage up, manage down, and manage across effectively. Must demonstrate a collaborative style to engage committee members and membership units in advancing DEI objectives, and partner effectively with staff in synergistic areas. Needs to build and maintain good relationships with key stakeholders in the DEI community. Needs to be able to gather strategic input and use results of strategic analyses to identify new directions and refine existing programs, in consultation with the department director and key organizational leaders. Must understand and employ principles of project management and program evaluation. Competence in managing grants, proposal writing and budgetary management practices is required.

Supervisory Skills: Must be able to set expectations, monitor and assess performance, and establish accountability. Needs to understand and apply basic supervisory principles involved in allocating resources, delegating work, motivating people and resolving conflicts. Needs to be sensitive to the reactions of others and offer appropriate responses, so they feel their perspectives are heard and taken into account.

Relationships:

Internal: Works closely with the Director of Programs, other program heads and DEI programs staff to develop and implement programs. Partners with Membership, International Affairs, and other synergistic areas on DEI initiatives. Works with service departments as needed to support implementation of activities.

External: Engages with and supports physicists in academia, national labs and industry regarding DEI activities.

What we love about our client: 

1. This position is mostly remote position (about 95%) with some in-person collaboration (College Park, MD or Long Island, NY), meetings and training as needed.  Most weeks, the leader will be able to perform their responsibilities remotely.
2. Their team performs in a Hybrid role with some work performed in an office environment and some work performed remotely. 
3. Flexible work hours to accommodate the time differences for meetings and events as requested. Position may require some business travel to specific scientific meetings or other organizational events.
4. Their culture has a strong work-life balance where most of the time, their full-time teams work up to 40 hours in a workweek.
5. They believe, promote and engage diversity, inclusion and equity throughout their organization. Flexible schedules and ability to work remotely

Benefits and Perks:

• 8% employer-paid retirement contribution
• Investment advisement services: 100% employer paid
• Medical benefits: PPO or HDHP option
• Employer contribution to FSA or HSA account, eligibility based on medical plan enrollment
• Dental benefits:  individual coverage 100% employer paid
• Vision benefits: individual and dependent coverage 100% employer paid
• Basic Life & Accident insurance: employee coverage 100% employer paid
• Supplemental Life & Accident insurance, including spouse & dependent child(ren) coverage
• Disability insurance:  employee coverage 100% employer paid
• Healthcare, Commuter & Dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Vacation: 15 days annually
• Generous holiday leave: 14 paid days of significance; includes one week closure at the end of December
• Personal leave: 4 days annually
• Volunteer leave: 1 day annually
• Sick leave: 10 days annually
• 10 weeks employer-paid family leave
• College tuition reimbursement plan
• Job related seminar & continuing education
• Training and professional development; access to LinkedIn Learning on-demand courses
• Employee Assistance Program
• Mindfulness Meditation: live and on-demand classes