Job Announcement: Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

UCLA Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) invites inquiries, nominations and applications for the position of vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion (VC-EDI). Overseeing an office with the fundamental mission to “build equity for all” at UCLA, the VC-EDI serves as the senior UCLA administrator responsible for leading and coordinating the university’s efforts to build and nurture an equal learning, working and living environment for all members of the Bruin community. The VC-EDI provides visionary and collaborative institutional leadership, working with the chancellor, executive vice chancellor and provost, vice chancellors, deans, Academic Senate and other campus leadership and stakeholders to advance UCLA’s ideals of equity, diversity and inclusion.

The VC-EDI leads UCLA’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and maintains broad responsibilities across three primary domains:

Faculty Hiring/Retention. The VC-EDI (with staff support) is responsible for training all search committee members of faculty searches; maintains oversight and approval authority at critical stages of the hiring process; stewards resources, including full-time equivalent (FTE) faculty positions; and helps award postdoctoral fellowships and faculty development awards. In addition, the VC-EDI works closely with deans and department chairs to retain faculty from underrepresented groups, to advance faculty diversity and to promote an inclusive climate that allows all faculty to succeed on equal terms.

Antidiscrimination. The VC-EDI supervises two independent and impartial investigation and compliance units: The Title IX Office and the Discrimination Prevention Office. In this capacity, the VC-EDI is heavily involved in the implementation and execution of campus nondiscrimination policies and procedures consistent with state and federal laws and UC-systemwide policies and frameworks. The VC-EDI has ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with federal affirmative action, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination regulations for academic appointees, and collaborates with campus partners to develop and implement the campus’ academic affirmative action plan.

Research and Development. The VC-EDI supervises BruinX, the research and development arm of EDI. Focused on translational work, BruinX leverages data, social science and critical theory to design an equitable hiring process and high-performing learning environments; conducts data analytics to produce dashboards and scorecards for multiple institutional stakeholders; conducts literature reviews, analyses and research experiments to implement evidence-based interventions and best practices; produces and funds a diverse range of campus programming, trainings and projects; and manages multiple groups and advisory boards of campus stakeholders.

In addition to the above areas of focus, the VC-EDI works collaboratively with the vice chancellor for student affairs and the deans of the undergraduate and graduate divisions to promote various EDI-related initiatives for undergraduate and graduate students. A new priority for the next VC-EDI will be to help develop new programming aimed at further diversifying our graduate student and post-doc populations. The VC-EDI also oversees and supports the high-level coordination of campuswide initiatives, strategic planning, community relations, policy development and communications. The VC-EDI plays a central role managing the university’s handling of free speech challenges, and the development of policy, practices and guidance documents that ensure that UCLA maintains an equal learning and working environment while simultaneously protecting academic freedom and every individual’s freedom of expression.

The VC-EDI advises and reports to the chancellor and the executive vice chancellor and provost. The VC-EDI serves on the chancellor’s cabinet and as an ex officio member of the Academic Senate Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The VC-EDI also leads UCLA’s equity advisors (unit-level EDI deans and officers) and works closely with various special advisors to the chancellor (e.g., on immigration policy and Native American and indigenous affairs). The VC-EDI or a designee also oversees the EDI Student Advisory Board, the UCLA Committee on Disability and the UCLA Committee on LGBTQ Affairs. The VC-EDI serves on the Council of UC chief diversity officers as well as other standing and ad hoc UCLA and systemwide committees related to equity, diversity and inclusion.

The ideal candidate will be nationally recognized with strong scholarly visibility in a field that supports at least one of the VC-EDI’s primary responsibilities; substantial administrative experience, preferably at a research university; and demonstrated intellectual and ethical leadership as an innovator, convener, ambassador, collaborator and catalyst in mobilizing institutional and community stakeholders to promote equity, diversity and inclusion. The ideal candidate will possess a record of success in facilitating effective partnerships; experience leading large-scale change projects within a complex organization; an ability to understand, navigate and implement frameworks, policies, laws and regulations; proven success in, or demonstrated aptitude for, external relations and communications often under fraught conditions. The ideal candidate will further demonstrate empathy and real-world experience with the wide range of disciplines, interests and people represented at UCLA and show a deep appreciation for UCLA’s public mission; the ability to implement bold, creative and innovative initiatives; and the vision, charisma, emotional intelligence and humility to command the respect and involvement of UCLA’s diverse constituents and stakeholders. Preference will be given to candidates with academic credentials that merit appointment at the rank of full professor.

Situated on 419 acres, five miles from the Pacific Ocean, UCLA is enriched by the cultural diversity of the dynamic greater Los Angeles area, as well as the geographic advantages of Southern California. One of the world’s preeminent public research universities, UCLA is an international leader in breadth and quality of academic, research, health care, wellness, cultural, continuing education and athletic programs, with more than 4,700 faculty members who teach nearly 46,000 students in the College of Letters and Science and 12 professional schools. UCLA is consistently ranked among the top institutions nationally for research funding, having generated more than $1 billion in research grants and contracts annually in six of the past eight years.

Confidential review of applications, nominations and expressions of interest will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. To be ensured full consideration, please email a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to UCLA’s Korn Ferry consultants John Amer, Louis Montgomery Jr., and Nicole Simmons at UCLAVCEDI@kornferry.com by Monday, February 10, 2020.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy (PDF).