Job Title: Director of Equity and Belonging
Organization: Bishop O'Dowd High School
Location: Oakland, CA
Reports To: President and Principal
Salary: $135,000 - $150,000 DOE

Position Summary: The Director of Equity and Belonging at Bishop O'Dowd High School (BOD) is a dynamic leadership role responsible for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within our school community. In addition to leading DEIB initiatives, this role includes teaching a class to students, managing a team of partners, and liaising with the diocese of Oakland. This position relies on influence rather than positional power to drive change, fostering a just and inclusive environment where all students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders feel a profound sense of belonging and respect. The Director has dual reporting relationships directly to the President and Principal, collaborating closely with them to champion the school's mission of fostering a diverse and inclusive community where all stakeholders share a sense of deep belonging.

Occupational Context: BOD is a Diocesan Catholic school uniquely situated within the diverse, progressive community of Oakland, California. Students, families, and staff at BOD originate from varied backgrounds and resonate with a multitude of identities.  This amalgamation of diversity within the context of a Catholic, college preparatory high school creates strengths and challenges that must be addressed and stewarded through the creation of DEIB infrastructure. The Director is tasked with creating this infrastructure as described in the Key Responsibilities section to enhance the institution’s ability to meet the needs of students, families, and staff while upholding the mission, vision, and values of BOD. 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Team Leadership:

• Collaborate with the school leadership team to develop and implement a 5-year strategic plan for equity and belonging that aligns with the school's mission and values.

• Influence and guide the President and Principal on equity-related matters, advocating for change and progress.

• Build and lead a team of 3–5 internal partners/key influencers to engage and employ the initiatives identified in the 5-year strategic plan.

• Coordinate the efforts of the DEIB team to facilitate and promote DEIB efforts.

• Identify and leverage external contractors to support the team’s work, as appropriate.

• Develop and monitor an annual DEIB budget.
  

Teaching:

• Design and teach a student leadership class focused on equity, inclusion, and social justice.

• Engage students in creating and participating in assemblies and student programming including, but not limited to, class discussions, projects, and activities that promote understanding, empathy, and active participation in promoting equity and belonging.

Education and Community Engagement:

• Develop and deliver educational programs, workshops, and training sessions on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics for faculty, staff, students, and parents.

• Lead by example, inspiring others through knowledge and a commitment to creating a more inclusive environment.

• Collaborate with parents, alumni, the Board of Directors, and community organizations to establish partnerships that support equity and inclusion initiatives.

• Collaborate with school partners to organize events and activities that celebrate diversity and enhance a sense of belonging within the school community.

Student and Faculty Support:

• Offer support and resources to students and faculty for addressing diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion issues.

• Cultivate an inclusive environment that encourages open dialogue and a sense of belonging for all members of the school community.

Data and Assessment:

• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data pertaining to equity and inclusion efforts to assess the impact of initiatives and make data-driven recommendations for improvement.

• Regularly report to school leadership on progress and challenges, using data to support your influence.

Policy and Compliance:

• Ensure that school policies and practices align with principles of equity and inclusion.

• Address instances of discrimination, harassment, or bias using a persuasive and influential approach, while working in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Professional Development:

• Engage in ongoing professional development to stay informed about current issues, research, and best practices in the field of equity and inclusion.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in the social sciences, business, human resources, or a related field. 

• 5 or more years demonstrated experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion work, preferably in a Catholic educational setting.

• Teaching experience and the ability to create engaging and informative curricula.

• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including strong listening skills and empathy. This also includes a track record of being a community-builder across different constituencies and an ability to use and effectively employ technology to promote efficiency, communication, and organization.

• Working knowledge of Catholic Social teaching, Catholic educational principles, and the demonstrated ability to integrate both into equity and inclusion initiatives for High School age students in a manner that resonates with BOD’s mission and charism.

• Familiarity with the Church’s history and approach of ministering to the BIPOC and the LGBTQ communities, including an ability to have conversations about the ministerial and theological implications of this history on a pastoral level with faculty and theological level with the diocese. 

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people, including strong organizational and leadership skills with the ability to implement a detail-oriented vision.

• Familiarity with laws and regulations relevant to equity and inclusion in education.

• Deep grounding in theory, best practices, and current literature regarding equity, anti-racism, and belonging work with the depth of experience both to facilitate critical conversations that support faculty, staff, and student growth. This includes experience coaching and/or leading faculty professional development.

• Ability to utilize data to understand organizational needs, assess institutional strengths and growth areas, and use qualitative and quantitative assessments to create strategies.

• Experience in conflict resolution and ability to manage discomfort and tension that may arise when addressing issues around equity and belonging, including the ability to receive and incorporate feedback. 

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively, flexibly, and thoughtfully in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.

• A leader with high character and impeccable integrity with the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and tact.

• Proven ability to discern and bring the proper resources, like consultants, advisors, or task forces, at certain times and places needed to accomplish school aims.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This job operates in a professional office environment. Over 90% of the time is spent using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and copier and fax machines. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and use both close and distant vision. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to sit, stoop, kneel, lift, and occasionally move up to 20 pounds. This job also requires the ability to safely and comfortably travel around a 20+ acre campus, and the ability to work in a highly active office dealing with a variety of challenges, multiple deadlines, and a diverse array of contacts.

Expected Hours of Work

Work hours typically are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (may include evenings and/or weekends if necessary).

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Satisfactory clearance of TB test assessment, background check (pursuant to a fingerprint scan), eligibility to legally work in the United States (sponsorship of a work visa or work visa extension not available). Reasonable accommodations will be made to support individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions and other duties.

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