Executive Dir. of the Illinois Center for Ed. Equity

Chicago state university; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Chicago State University seeks an Executive Director for the Illinois Center for Education Equity. The role leads partnerships, research, and initiatives across state education systems to close the equity gap for Black and Latinx students.

The Director reports to External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives with collaboration across the Provost and President offices, guiding strategic policy and program delivery.

Qualifications

• Five+ years at a senior-level administrative role in advocacy, non-profit management, or related fields.
• Knowledge of higher education trends and Black/Latinx student needs.
• Experience with systems-change, policy engagement, and research.

Responsibilities

• Developing and executing comprehensive implementation plans for projects aligned with the Center's mission.
• Secure funding from federal, state, institutional, and private sources to support operations.
• Hire and manage Center staff; currently a Research Manager.
• Develop cross-sector partnerships and advisory structures to advance initiatives.
• Engage CSU departments to align project development with vision and direction.
• Conduct and release research on dynamics affecting Black and Latinx students in Illinois higher education.
• Identify audiences and craft engagement strategies to achieve project goals.
• Build coalitions, communications, and policy plans to enact impactful changes.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Consensus building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Executive Dir. of the Illinois Center for Ed. Equity

Title Executive Dir. of the Illinois Center for Ed. Equity

Working Title

Working Title Executive Dir. of the Illinois Center for Ed. Equity

Chicago State University seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as the Executive Director for the Illinois Center for Education Equity. The Director must be a highly- skilled, experienced, and innovative leader with higher education policy expertise who will serve as the Center’s chief champion and strategist on partnerships, research, and initiatives. The Illinois Center for Education Equity is addressing the state’s crisis in connecting Black and Latinx communities to a college degree through research, policy, and practice driven by diverse stakeholders. The statewide initiative will convene employers, the secondary and postsecondary education systems, faculty, students, legislators, philanthropy, and community-based institutions to collect data and release research that tracks Illinois’ progress with supporting Black and Latinx students and to identify policies and practices that diverse stakeholders must deploy to eliminate the equity gap for Illinois’ students of color.

The Institute for Solutions of Urban Populations is a matrix position jointly housed within CSU’s Provost Office and the Office of External Affairs. The Center Executive Director will report to the Vice President of External Affairs & Strategic Initiatives with coordination with the Offices of the Provost and President.

Job Description

• Developing and executing comprehensive implementation plans for projects and initiatives, in alignment with the mission and priorities of the Center and Institute
• Secure funding that covers the cost of the Center’s operations by optimizing use of available federal, state, institutional, and private resources
• Hire and manage Center staff; Center currently has a Research Manager

Cross-Sector Partnerships

• Develop and manage critical relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including high school and postsecondary agencies and institutions, employers, student success organizations, higher education subject matter experts and policy makers to achieve implementation of projects and initiatives achieve implementation of projects and initiatives.
• Develop and manage an Advisory Committee, and subcommittees as needed, that fosters the Center’s success
• Connecting with CSU departments and units, such as Academic Affairs or External Affairs, to fully understand vision and direction for project development and implementation

Research

• Conducting and releasing research that contributes new understanding of dynamics impacting Black and Latinx students in Illinois’ higher education system and solutions for closing the education attainment divide
• Identifying target audiences and developing tailored engagement strategies to achieve project goals
• Bringing innovation, a fresh perspective, and a willingness to engage beyond traditional approaches in order to advance projects and initiatives
• Developing and integrating coalition building, communication, and policy enactment plans to achieve implementation of projects and initiatives. This includes educating a wide-range of decision-makers on key policies and practices to close the education divide, including legislators, education system leaders (including state agencies, school districts, postsecondary institutions), and employers.

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of five years at a senior-level administrative level in advocacy roles, non-profit management, or related fields
• Knowledgeable of best practices and current trends in higher education, ideally in the needs of Black and/or Latinx students
• Demonstrated leadership in ‘systems-change’ work, whether it is through policy change at an agency or institution or legislative engagement
• Experience with conducting research that advances an understanding of systems’ challenges and potential solutions
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with governing and advisory boards for alignment of strategic priorities
• Proven experience leading, motivating, and managing coalitions of support
• Experience with fundraising and grant management

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Possess strong organizational, communications, and analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a communication style that can drive consensus building with diverse internal and external constituents
• Exceptional research and writing skills, able to produce research briefs and data dashboards that garner attention from diverse stakeholders including decision-makers
• Ability to oversee multiple tasks with keen attention to detail and to work under tight deadlines
• Demonstrated management and administrative experience
• Strong instincts on strategic positioning, with an ability to map out where the Center can uniquely contribute to greater access to a college degree

Additional Applicant Information

Physical Requirement/ Demands

Posting Specific Questions

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