The Director of Civil Rights and Title IX will report to the Provost and will also serve as Senior Advisor to the President, leading the strategic development and oversight of response and compliance efforts for civil rights and Title IX.

The Director and Senior Advisor will lead the development and oversight of response and compliance efforts for civil rights and Title IX, and will serve as the Title IX Coordinator. The role will oversee Denison's Title IX compliance programs and obligations, as well as develop and oversee programs and processes for investigating and responding to claims of discrimination as to all protected classes for students and employees.

Partner with divisions such as Student Life, Academic Affairs, the General Counsel, Human Resources, and Athletics and will develop partner relationships with faculty and staff, governance committees, and student leadership groups and organizations to support Denison's commitments to equal opportunity and anti-discrimination for all qualified people in admission, employment, and participation in university programs and activities.

Oversee and help coordinate educational opportunities for students and employees regarding sexual misconduct and anti-discrimination and anti-harassment.; collaborate with campus and community partners on resources for victims of sexual assault, domestic abuse, and civil rights violations; and in conjunction with campus partners, develop, monitor, and update policies and processes related to Title IX and civil rights. In partnership with other divisions, including University Communications, the Director and Senior Advisor will also help develop and advise about effective postings and communications on Denison's policies and practices, including effective concern reporting pathways.

OPPORTUNITIES:

The Director and Senior Advisor position has been designed to work at the highest level of Denison's efforts on belonging, campus climate, and civil rights. These priorities are also reflected in Denison Forward, the University's vision and strategic action plan to enhance and support belonging and inclusion on our campus. This new position presents multiple opportunities for impact and achievement.

The Director and Senior Advisor is in a position to build a model for an integrated approach to civil rights and Title IX and to enhance the institutional climate and sense of belonging among all campus community members.

This work will be collaborative and supported, and Denison recognizes it cannot be accomplished by one office or one person. The position will report to the Provost and also be an advisor to the President, and will be robustly supported by key partners across multiple divisions, ensuring maximum strategic support and connectedness. The Director and Senior Advisor will have the opportunity to design and implement collaborative partnerships and to harness the talents of staff across the University in support of this work.

Denison seeks to support the person in this position in creating a model for this role that confers a true sense of professional fulfillment and growth; that is sustainable over the long run; and that allows for meaningful balance between strategic and issue-response work. Denison will support the position, strategically and with appropriate resources, in developing a model for covering the elements of civil rights and Title IX work in a manner that helps support the Director's focus on key initiatives. The University is open to external partnerships for elements of the work, and to exploring scaled models for sustainability, including collaboration or shared services with other colleges and universities. There is significant opportunity for the Director and Senior Advisor to create a national model for this position among institutions of higher education.

The candidate must possess an advanced degree (including master's degree, Ph.D., or Juris Doctorate) with a minimum of 7 years of relevant and progressively responsible leadership experience in matters related to higher education and civil rights, including Title IX, Title VII,
VAWA, FERPA, and the ADA.

Desired leadership attributes include:

A visionary leader who proceeds from a place of fairness and empathy: The ideal candidate will be prepared to work effectively with the President, Provost, and other campus leaders and constituencies, and is someone who understands the importance of fairness and empathy in collaborations and communications with all those involved in civil rights and Title IX matters.

Extensive background supporting civil rights and conflict resolution: The ideal candidate will have a track record of successful outcomes building an infrastructure and articulating a vision for the support of civil rights and Title IX programs, policies, compliance, and issue response.

Strategic collaborator and community builder: The ideal candidate will be open to learning and understanding Denison's culture, while also helping shape it moving forward. The ability to be a strategic and critical thinker and an emotionally-intelligent community partner is very important.

Excellent communicator and connector: The ideal candidate will be an engaged, approachable communicator, both one-on-one and with groups, with the ability to communicate effectively across multiple, diverse constituencies, and with confidence and wisdom in what may sometimes be charged situations.

People-centered leader: The ideal candidate will see the education, nurturing, and well- being of the campus community as the highest priority, and will ensure that community members know how to access and use Denison's civil rights and Title IX resources and have confidence in its fairness and responsiveness.

To achieve our mission as a liberal arts college, we continually strive to attract and hire candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences and identities. Denison fosters a campus community that recognizes the value of all persons regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender expression and identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.

For additional information and resources about diversity at Denison, please see our Diversity Guide (https://denison.edu/forms/diversity-guide). Denison University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The final candidate will undergo a background check as a conditional offer of employment.