Organizational Background

For 25 years, the National Council for Research on Women has helped shape the future for women and girls. The Council is a network of 110 member research and policy centers and more than 2,000 top- level researchers providing the information and research needed to foster more equitable futures for women and girls. While women have made progress on many fronts, much remains to be done. The Council’s network’s evidence-based research provides hard data to inform new policy and legislation that can make long-lasting differences in women and girl’s lives. The Council’s research puts women’s needs, perspectives, and solutions on the radar screen and make them part of the public debate.

The Council is undertaking a two-year project designed to address issues of leadership, inclusion, and diversity in the fields of women’s research and studies. Specifically the project will develop strategies to:

a) engage the Council and its network of 110 women’s research centers and affiliated women’s studies programs in a self-reflective analysis of their own diversity, record of inclusiveness, and the future of the field;
b) incorporate more women, especially younger women from historically under-represented populations, (e.g. African-American, Chicana, and native American backgrounds) into all levels within the fields of women’s studies and research, and position them to become leaders within the centers and the field generally; and
c) strengthen the centers as important sites for engaging women from these historically under- represented populations in the field of women’s studies as students, majors, researchers, faculty, and leaders.

Director of Research for Institutional Diversity

The Council seeks a Director of Research for Institutional Diversity to direct and manage this Ford Foundation-funded project -- Expanding Inclusion and Diversity in Women’s Research and Studies Programs and other responsibilities. The Director will report to the President and serve as an active member of the Council’s senior management team. Working closely with the President, the Director will take primary responsibility for developing, managing, and implementing this new and exciting project.

This is a unique opportunity to play a central role in shaping a new project while working within a highly respected organization that is making substantial and significant contributions to the women’s research movement. The ideal candidate will bring the experience and perspectives of under-represented populations to the project and will possess strong intellectual skills, an appreciation for detail, be self- motivated and a team player capable of and committed to contributing to the senior management team’s strategic thinking about the future direction of the Council.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the Advisory Committee and President to shape the scope of the project and develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) to disseminate to Council member centers. Review RFP submissions and manage the selection process of the participating institutions.
• Coordinate communication with all project participants, including the Advisory Committee, campus teams, academic leaders and experts.
• Identify women’s research and studies centers that have been successful in including women from historically under-represented populations and capture successful strategies used to increase diversity and models for diversity assessment and inventories.
• Manage project-related plenaries, presentations and small breakout groups at the National Women’s Studies Association’s Annual Conference and other relevant convenings.
• Coordinate a campaign to recruit new Council member centers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, and Hispanic Serving Institutions.
• Create a pool of experts in women’s studies and research from historically under- represented populations who can be a resource to the entire Council network as consultants, job applicants, and/or collaborators.
• Develop and manage an internship/fellowship program.
• Create a new section of the Council’s website to serve as a resource and dissemination tool for the project.
• Develop and implement a plan to seek funding for broader dissemination of project findings and recommendations.
• Oversee the development of the final products from the project.
• In collaboration with the President, engage the Council Board and staff in an inventory and analysis of the Council’s strategies, its successes and challenges regarding diversity, and work in collaboration with the senior management team to develop a three- year plan with specific goals and benchmarks for greater inclusion of under- represented minorities at all levels and in all program areas of the Council.
• Develop and motivate staff, consultants, volunteers and interns, delegating appropriately and ensuring strong internal communication and coordination. Evaluate performance and enhance opportunities for personal and professional development. Brief the staff, Board of Directors, and membership on program status.
• Serve as an articulate communicator and spokesperson for the Council’s mission; initiate and strengthen relationships with leaders and organizations that share the Council’s mission and purpose.

Ideal Experience and Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring the experience and perspectives of under-represented populations to the project. S/he will have a minimum of two years of experience in a related activity, excellent project management skills and a strategic planning approach to reaching program goals and objectives. While no one person will enumerate all of the qualifications below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• Background in affirmative action, diversity, institutional change, and higher education.
• Successful track record translating vision and ideas into working programs, creating networks and collaborations and building partnerships with people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, personalities and talents.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities. Experience organizing meetings, conferences and other events including managing logistics and coordinating participants’ activities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of and interest in issues related to women’s leadership, higher education, and diversity.
• Successful experience managing, motivating, supervising, evaluating, and hiring staff, volunteers, consultants and interns.
• A Bachelors degree is a must, and preference will be given to candidates with a Ph.D. in a related field.

Personal Characteristics

• Sound judgment, excellent interpersonal and communications skills, a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and the ability to think strategically.
• A strong commitment to the Council’s values, mission, goals, and program; an appreciation of the value of research, and particularly feminist research, to influence public agendas and policy.
• Intelligence and inspiration to anticipate, conceive, express and create opportunities.
• Independence and self-confidence to act decisively and, at the same time, an ability to receive and integrate others’ ideas and suggestions.
• Flexibility and ability to work collaboratively and productively in a dynamic, change-driven office environment.
• Comfort with managing multiple tasks simultaneously and participating in hands-on work.
• Equal parts humor, compassion and the sensibility necessary to address the practicalities and desires of an entrepreneurial non-profit.

To Apply

Applications will be reviewed as received.
Applications, which will not be reviewed without a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), and salary history should be sent to: ncrw-drid@nonprofitprofessionals.com . In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please write your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.