Chief Equity & Civil Rights Officer

WWU College of Business & Economics; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 192,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Washington University seeks an Executive Director to provide strategic direction and operational oversight for the Office of Equity and the Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance unit. The role leads investigations, ensures compliance with civil rights and EEO laws, and coordinates training and climate assessments for students and staff.

The Executive Director will also serve as Title IX Coordinator, supervise the ADA Coordinator(s), and represent the unit on university committees and

Qualifications

• JD and at least 8 years of progressive university administration experience.
• Administrative experience in higher education.
• Advanced knowledge interpreting civil rights, equal employment opportunity, and Title IX laws.
• Experience leading trauma-informed investigations.
• Knowledge of higher education policies and DEI practices.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across a diverse university community.
• Excellent project and time management skills.
• Flexibility and ability to work in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff.
• Experience with alternative dispute resolutions and mediations.

Responsibilities

• Administer Equal Opportunity policies across employment and education in line with federal and state laws.
• Oversee investigations into discrimination and harassment and sexual misconduct.
• Lead responses to external agency complaints (EEOC, OCR, DOE, state agencies).
• Develop and evaluate practices for equitable recruitment and employment.
• Collaborate with HR and academic units to implement best practices.
• Oversee Title IX/anti-discrimination training for students, staff, and faculty.
• Develop climate assessment tools for stakeholders.

Skills

Civil rights compliance

Higher education administration

Trauma-informed investigations

Policy interpretation

Communication skills

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

8+ years university admin experience

Job description

Western Washington University seeks an Executive Director to provide strategic direction and operational oversight for the Office of Equity and the Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance unit. The role leads investigations, ensures compliance with civil rights and EEO laws, and coordinates training and climate assessments for students and staff.

The Executive Director will also serve as Title IX Coordinator, supervise the ADA Coordinator(s), and represent the unit on university committees and