Stanford Law School is seeking applications for an Executive Director, Community & Belonging.In this role, you will report to and work under the general direction of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs to develop, implement, and administer the vision, strategy, and goals of Community & Belonging as they relate to our student body. These goals are primarily to strengthen community and cultivate a campus climate where all law students feel that they belong and can achieve their full potential.
In promoting these goals you will play a key role in the Office of Student Affairs in supporting the diverse and inclusive environment at the law school.You will work closely with student leaders of affinity groups and other student organizations to promote community and belonging.You will counsel students on inter-student dynamics, within and across such groups.Together with the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and law school faculty, you will design and manage student programs and workshops that promote respectful and inclusive discourse, as well as address bias and enhance cross-cultural competency.This programming will align with Stanford University’s core values and commitment to IDEAL and with ABA law school accreditation requirements to prepare students for legal practice.You must become familiar with university and department policies and procedures and requirements established by state bar associations or the American Bar Association.
Core Duties
●Design, develop and manage Community and Belonging programs that support our diverse student body by conducting outreach activities to varied stakeholders within the law school, assigning resources and making improvement recommendations for policies and programs affecting students in the law school, and building out in-house facilitation and mediation programs for students.
●Advise, counsel, coach and mentor law students and student organization leaders on issues of inclusion, equity, and belonging. Use advanced professional knowledge to act as ombudsperson to students and student organizations in need of conflict resolution or assistance working through intergroup dynamics.
●Create pan affinity support groups that meet regularly to discuss recurring issues for their groups and concerns at the law school; meet with students who are dealing with conflicts between themselves and other students as well as intergroup conflict and offer to work as mediator to reach common ground; help Associate Director of Student Affairs support affinity groups as they engage in their community programming.
●Advise law school administration, committees and faculty on the needs of the diverse student body and ways to foster a sense of community, inclusion and belonging at the law school. Contribute to and inform on strategic program/entity planning and related funding for the law school’s initiatives regarding community, inclusion, and belonging.
●Identify, recommend, and implement opportunities for new student programming, including programming satisfying ABA Standard 303(c) requirements. Connect with peers at other law schools, as well as main campus partners, to exchange experiences with various types of programming; recommend new programming to be implemented at the law school based on these findings.
●Source, collect, analyze and report on information concerning the community experience at the law school and the sense of belonging for the student population; formulate, pilot and evaluate alternative solutions and/or recommendations to achieve the goals of community and belonging at SLS.
●Understand requirements of ABA Standard 303(c) regarding education on issues of bias and cross-cultural competencies, develop related programming to ensure compliance with that standard. Create and implement 1L and Advanced Degree programs designed to support and build community for new students throughout their first year and beyond; engage, train, and supervise student leaders to facilitate this program.
Minimum Requirements
Education & Experience:
Advanced degree required in addition to three years of relevant experience or combination of education, training, and relevant experience in the student services space.Law Degree and experience in a higher education setting are strongly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
●Ability to develop community and inclusion programs for graduate students.
●Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in community engagement and belonging and graduate student support and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and build connections.
●Commitment to supporting and building out inclusion, equity and belonging in a diverse community at SLS.
●Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to review and analyze complex information and mediate student concerns.
●Ability to establish credibility and effective working relationships across a complex, diverse, and hierarchical institution.
●Excellent judgment and discretion
●Advanced computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite.
WORK STANDARDS:
Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues, students, and external organizations.
Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University’s Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
*The expected pay range for this position is $95,000 to $139,000 per annum.
Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.
*Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
*Note: The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
*Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.
*Stanford Law School seeks to hire the best talent and to promote a safe and secure environment for all members of the university community and its property. To that end, new staff hires must successfully pass a background check prior to starting work at Stanford University.
