Chief Belonging Officer at Jackson College in Jackson, Michigan

Job Description:

Description

SUMMARY

The Chief Belonging Officer (CBO) is a senior leadership role that reports directly to the College President and serves as a key member of the President's Leadership Council. The CBO provides strategic leadership to cultivate an environment where every student, faculty member, and employee feels a strong sense of belonging. The CBO will facilitate initiatives designed to enhance community engagement with local organizations, ethnic affinity groups, and other internal and external stakeholders. Additionally, this role ensures that the College's curriculum and operations promote equity and are free from bias, working closely with the Human Resources and Academics departments to advance these objectives.

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Belonging Officer will:

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  Lead Belonging Initiatives: Develop and implement strategies that create a welcoming college environment where all individuals feel a sense of belonging and support across campus and throughout the College service area.


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  Curriculum Support: Partner with the Academic Deans and the Chief Academic Officer to review course materials, ensuring that the College's curriculum is free from racial, ethnic, and cultural bias. Offer guidance on integrating diverse perspectives into the curriculum.


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  Community Engagement: Establish and maintain relationships with ethnic and cultural college affinity groups, community organizations, and civic leaders to foster connections between the College and the broader community. Serve as the College's representative at community events to promote its commitment to belonging.


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  Support for Academics: Collaborate with faculty and academic leaders to integrate belonging practices within instructional programs, ensuring that all students are supported and represented in course content and teaching methods.


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  Support for Student Services: Collaborate with student services staff and student services leaders to integrate belonging practices within student support services, advising, residency, and recruitment, ensuring that all student identities are recruited and supported during their academic journey at Jackson College.


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  Collaboration with Human Resources: Work with the Human Resources Office to implement recruitment, retention, and professional development practices that reflect a multicultural awareness and promote a workplace where all identities are respected and included.


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  Advise Senior Leadership: Serve as a strategic advisor to the President and the President's Leadership Council on issues related to belonging and community engagement, helping to shape the College's overall Strategic Agenda and goals.


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  Organize Training and Events: Lead the planning and facilitation of events, workshops, and training programs that promote a culture of belonging across the College. Focus on issues such as unconscious bias, cultural competency, and fostering belonging environments.


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  Assessment and Reporting: Create and implement metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of belonging and engagement initiatives. Regularly report findings to the College President and senior leadership, offering recommendations for continuous improvement.


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  Conflict Resolution: Act as a resource to the Chief Student Services Officer for resolving concerns related to identity, ensuring a safe and belonging environment for all members of the campus community.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• The CBO will supervise the Affinity Liaisons. Responsibilities include oversight, training, and ensuring that activities align with the College's belonging goals.


• The CBO will serve as the Chairperson of the Inclusive Excellence Committee, providing a structure and supervision and goal setting that aligns with the College's belonging goals.

CONTACTS AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS


Internal:

• Engage with faculty, staff, and senior leadership to promote belonging initiatives throughout the campus. Ensure alignment of these initiatives with the College's overall goals.

External:
Build and nurture partnerships with community organizations, ethnic advocacy groups, and civic leaders to promote belonging and ensure that Jackson College remains connected to its surrounding community.Minimum Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS


Education and Experience

• A Master's degree in a related field such as Public Administration, Education, Higher Education, Educational Leadership, Sociology, Cultural Studies, Human Resources, or directly related field, is required.


• At least five years of experience leading belonging or inclusion initiatives within higher education or a similarly complex organization, including curriculum and teaching practices that integrate belonging practices with instructional programs. Proven success in engaging with community groups and building partnerships is required.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external stakeholders.


• Strong experience in curriculum development and the ability to guide academic leaders in eliminating bias and promoting inclusive practices.


• Experience in designing and delivering professional development programs that reflect cultural sensitivity and support a sense of belonging.

Work Environment

This position operates in a standard office environment, with frequent participation in campus events and community activities. Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities.


"This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required and shall not be construed as declaring the specific duties and responsibilities. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his or her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty."

Supplemental Information

Jackson College only accepts on-line applications though this system. For assistance with this, please call 517-796-8468.

Please use your legal first and last names on your application. If you are hired you will have the opportunity to identify and utilize your preferred name.

The Jackson College Nepotism policy prohibits hiring of a relative or someone with a familial relationship to work in the same instructional department, office or administrative unit of the College including spouse, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent or sibling of the employee or spouse, aunt, uncle, niece/nephew, grandparent, grandchild, and members of the same household including domestic partner.

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess (even if you are repeating it from your resume or cover letter). For instance, do not say, "See Resume or C/V." Your resume, cover letter that includes your salary requirements and an unofficial transcript for the degree required must be attached to your application. Applications will be rejected if incomplete. When you apply for the position, you will get to the document upload area where you will be given an opportunity to attach your documents such as your resume/vita, transcripts, etc. Instructions will also be found there.

The College reserves the right to request proof of degree or certification at a later date, if these documents are required as part of the qualifications for the position.

Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background as part of the employment process.

If selected you will be required to complete the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Employment Eligibility Verification form I-9 and provide documentation verifying identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Jackson College is NOT able to support Visa applications for employment at the college. Applicants must already be eligible to work in the United States to be considered.

Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and interview process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.

A copy of Jackson College's Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report is available on the JC Campus Safety & Security website. The security report contains crime statistics for the previous three years for all of our campus locations and the annual fire safety report, which contains statistics for any reported fires in campus housing units and fire safety systems in these buildings. Additionally, the report contains policies, available resources and information concerning personal safety, fire safety and reporting procedures for both crimes and fires.

Applicants have rights under Federal employment laws. Jackson College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively supports workforce diversity.

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