Executive Director of the Davis Center

FHLB Des Moines; Williamstown (MA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Williams College seeks an Executive Director of the Davis Center to join the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The role leads strategic initiatives, oversees professional staff, and builds partnerships to advance inclusion and dialogue across difference on campus.

The successful candidate will collaborate with senior leaders, shape strategy, manage budgets and facilities, and support programs that promote belonging for students, faculty, and staff.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree is required.
• At least 5 years in a directly related field.
• Experience leading professional staff.
• Experience developing and implementing organizational strategy.
• Experience managing budgets and complex operations.
• Experience building collaborative partnerships.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Davis Center.
• Supervise professional staff and foster staff development.
• Manage budget and facilities, overseeing resource allocation.
• Cultivate campus and community partnerships.
• Support educational initiatives that foster dialogue across difference.
• Represent the Office on institutional committees and external partnerships.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Staff Management

Budget Management

Strategic Planning

Partnership Building

Communication Skills

Education

Master’s Degree in related field

Job description

Williams College seeks an Executive Director of the Davis Center to join us as part of the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (OIDEI). OIDEI works to ensure the campus is an inclusive space in which all students, faculty, and staff are welcome and able to thrive. OIDEI works to interrupt and address bias and discrimination, close opportunity gaps, and advance critical conversations and initiatives that promote inclusion and equity on campus and beyond. OIDEI’s work is routinely done in collaboration with academic and administrative units on campus. The Davis Center advances broad campus engagement with complex issues of identity, history, and culture that affect intellectual, creative, and social life, serving as a principal center for student learning, belonging, dialogue, and civic engagement. The Executive Director leads the Davis Center, overseeing professional staff, cultivating campus and community partnerships, and advancing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn across differences, engage with communities beyond campus, and contribute to an inclusive and intellectually vibrant college. As a senior leader within OIDEI, the Executive Director collaborates with the AVP/Director of the Pathways for Inclusive Excellence programs and with other senior leaders to help shape strategy and advance Williams’ mission through collaboration, innovation, and educational leadership. The successful candidate will excel at working in a community that is broadly diverse with regard to race, ethnicity, economic status, gender, disability status, gender expression, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion. The ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals, offices, and departments on campus is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Davis Center
• Supervise professional staff and foster staff development
• Manage budget and facilities, overseeing resource allocation
• Cultivate campus and community partnerships
• Support educational initiatives that foster dialogue across difference
• Represent the Office on institutional committees and external partnerships

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in related field
• At least 5 years of experience in a directly related field
• Experience leading professional staff
• Experience developing and implementing organizational strategy
• Experience managing budgets and complex operations
• Experience building collaborative partnerships
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at a residential Liberal Arts College
• Experience with strategic planning and culture-building initiatives
• Experience assessing educational programs and using data to inform strategy
• Experience facilitating dialogue, conflict engagement, restorative practices

Some evening and weekend hours will be part of this role. Flexible working arrangements consistent with College policy may be possible; however, the expectation is that the individual hired will carry out most of their work in‑person.

This is a full‑time, year‑round appointment, and is eligible for Williams College’s robust benefits package designed to support you in your work and overall health and wellness. Pay for this position ranges from $128,000 to $140,000, commensurate with experience.

Employment at Williams is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant, including the completion of a criminal record check, and education when applicable. Decisions regarding appointments, promotions, and conditions of employment comply with applicable federal or state law prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, or military service. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non‑discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn and thrive. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please feel free to contact us via phone at (413) 597‑2681 or email at [e-mail].

The mission of Williams College, “to provide the highest quality liberal arts education,” is advanced by the rich variety of backgrounds and experiences that faculty, staff, and students bring to the work that we do together. The college is committed to building and sustaining a learning and working environment where members from all backgrounds can learn, live, and thrive. We are deeply committed to our employees, providing tuition assistance, excellent benefits, and a warm and welcoming professional environment. We are looking for candidates who share our values in prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and sustainability.

Located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, Williams offers a rich academic environment in a beautiful setting. The Berkshires—known as a cultural corridor—are a great place to live, work, and play. With natural beauty, rich history, and top‑notch schools, there Berkshires hosts an array of recreational opportunities from world‑class museums to hiking trails. The New York Capital Region, Albany International Airport, and Albany‑Rensselaer Amtrak Train Station are just an hour away, and Boston and New York City are within a three‑hour drive. The college’s vibrant 450‑acre campus is home to approximately 2,000 students who bring vibrancy to picturesque Williamstown. Many people relocate here for their job at Williams but stay for the community connections that they build. We hope you’ll take some time to explore the resources here and get to know more about our community–the one here on campus as well as the broader communities of Williamstown and the Berkshires.