Director of Inclusive Programs and Belonging

Director of Inclusive Programs and Belonging 

Department: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Full-time, 12-month position

Start Date: July 2025

The Director of Inclusive Programs and Belonging oversees strategies and initiatives to foster an environment where each individual at the Academy of Notre Dame is seen, valued, and heard. Through effective communication, decision-making, and interactions with the community, the Director will promote belonging in all aspects of the Academy. The Director will collaborate with all Notre Dame constituencies (students, faculty, staff, families, trustees, and alumnae) to develop and ensure the implementation of plans and practices that support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The Director works collaboratively with the Leadership Team, Education Council, Student Support, and other school committees to direct resources to DEIB efforts, including professional development, curricular and co-curricular programming, student experience, parent and alumnae engagement, student and faculty recruitment and retention, and other programs such as ND Cares, Campus Ministry, and Global Leadership. The Director reports to the Head of School and is a member of the Leadership Team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the school’s primary thought leader, strategic partner, and bridge builder around all areas of equity and community.
• Be an active, visible, and engaged presence within the overall life of the school by supporting an inclusive environment that welcomes and celebrates our students, faculty, staff, families, and alumnae.
• Develop and maintain productive, constructive and cooperative relationships with all constituencies by demonstrating a deep concern and compassion for all people.
• Develop and facilitate awareness and skills to promote a culture of belonging and cross cultural competencies for all Notre Dame constituencies
• Organize and plan DEIB professional development for faculty, staff, and trustees.
• Provide support, training, and supervision to the affinity group advisors and to other diversity related club advisors.
• Work with faculty to develop and implement anti-bias and anti-racist practices in the classroom and throughout the school while developing cultural competencies.
• Serve as a resource and partner to Student Support in supporting and retaining BIPOC students at Notre Dame.
• Organize, lead, and support the DEIB Parent Committee, a group of administrators and parents focused on programs for BIPOC parents.
• Partner with the Division Directors and Director of Finance to review and revise policies and practices that support the recruitment, onboarding, development, and retention of a diverse faculty and staff.
• Serve as the leadership team liaison to the Mission Committee of the Board of Trustees.
• Partner with the Alumni Office to develop our BIPOC alumnae network.
• Enhance the coordination of current cultural, religious, and educational programs to increase awareness of and commitment to DEIB for all Notre Dame constituencies.
• Develop and implement programs in coordination with academic, religious, and co-curricular leaders on community-wide DEIB initiatives. 
• Collaborate with Education Council to assess curricular and co-curricular programming through the lens of DEIB and to support inclusive programming.
• Embrace the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Learning Hallmarks and Catholic Social Teaching guidelines.
• Lead and manage the DEIB department and stakeholders.
• Supervise and support the goals and objectives for a part-time department member.
• Actively participate in local, regional, and national organizations and conferences related to equity and inclusion, including SDLC/POCC.
• Manage DEIB budget for all Notre Dame constituencies and community-wide programs.
• Collaborate with Admissions in expanding the pool of prospective BIPOC students by developing relationships with feeder schools to diversify the Notre Dame student body.
• Collaborate and coordinate with Marketing and Communications on promoting and encouraging participation in and support of the DEIB initiatives.

Qualifications:

The ideal leader will be an accomplished strategist, convener, and community builder with a documented history of success in leading organizational initiatives on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as a track record of successful collaborations with students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumnae.

• A Bachelor’s degree in education or related field required such as DEI practitioner certification or active pursuit of certification as well as ongoing professional development; Master’s degree preferred.
• Proven success in working collaboratively with others.
• High degree of cultural humility and dedication to faith-based girls’ education.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strategic thinker and empathetic problem solver.
• Open-minded and able to meet people where they are in their DEI journey.
• Experience in conflict resolution and ability to manage discomfort and tension that may arise when addressing racial, socio-economic and other disparities.

IndySchool Consultancy has been retained to lead this search for the school.  For more information or to apply, please contact Tim Viands, President, at [email protected]