Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Equity – Title IX and ADA
New Mexico State University (NMSU) is seeking a visionary and strategic leader with a proven commitment to academic excellence and shared decision making to serve as its next Executive Director of the office of Institutional Equity – Title IX and ADA.
The Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) leads the university office charged with and ADA compliance (re: Title IX), safeguarding civil rights, fostering an accessible, and inclusive environment for NMSU students, faculty, staff, and community members, and building an awareness of these matters through compliance-related education, training, and communication.
Primary responsibilities include providing oversight for NMSU’s compliance with Title VII, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504. Reporting administratively to the Chief Audit Officer, and functionally to the Regent’s Audit and Risk Committee, the Executive Director serves as a leading voice on institutional equity matters and works collaboratively with key university partners.
Required Qualifications:
Master’s Degree in a related field.
Five (5) years of professional experience in one or more areas of expertise required of this position.
Equivalency – Bachelor’s degree in a related field and seven (7) years of professional experience in one or more areas of expertise (equal opportunity services, compliance, legal sector, civil rights or similar field).
Preferred Qualifications:
A juris doctorate (JD) degree.
Certified in restorative justice techniques.
Professional experience within a higher education setting.
Experience practicing employment law.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of equity-related law and compliance obligations under Title VII, Title IX, and the
Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504.
Knowledge of due process, investigative procedures, trauma informed investigations, and credibility assessment.
Knowledge of effective and inclusive hiring practices.
Knowledge of the populations the NMSU serves.
Strong critical thinking skills.
Fair and impartial.
Diverse in thought. Creative and visionary.
Accountable and holds others accountable.
Skill in investigative techniques, analysis of evidence, and report writing.
Policy and procedure formulation.
Informative and engaging presentation style.
Exceptional interpersonal and listening skills.
Comfort with conflict and skill in reaching agreements.
Expertise in group process and collaborative decision making.
Collaboration, teamwork, and responsiveness.
Ability to lead and manage with patience and compassion.
Ability to effectively communicate complex and sensitive information verbally and in written form.The ability to communicate and go “toe-to-toe” with attorneys when necessary.
Ability to review, evaluate, and critique policies and practices for adherence to civil rights laws and NMSU policies.
Ability to create and sustain an inclusive, high-performing work group, bringing kay players to the table to focus on common goals and objectives.
Ability to balance the politics of an OIE office.
Ability to create a better understanding of and true identity for what OIE truly is within NMSU.
New Mexico State University is deeply committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity in our employment and learning environments. The mission of the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) is to support this commitment by promoting an inclusive, equitable, diverse and supportive environment for the NMSU System community, with the goal of creating an environment where employees and students can excel regardless of their age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation, or protected veteran status, consistent with NMSU policy and state and federal laws.
New Mexico State University enrolls approximately 14,000 students from across the U.S. and 89 foreign countries. NMSU is a Land Grant, NASA Space-Grant University, and home to the very first Honors College in the state of New Mexico. As a proud Hispanic and Minority-Serving Institution, NMSU serves a multi-cultural population of students and community members across the state with three community colleges, four campuses, cooperative extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, and 12 agriculture research and science centers. NMSU is situated in a prime area to recruit, retain, and serve Latinx students from the borderlands’ region; as well as Native students as New Mexico is home to 23 Native American tribes, pueblos, and nations. NMSU proudly supports and serves military and veteran students, students with disabilities, and students who identify as LGBTQIA+. NMSU, a diverse, dynamic working environment, seeks employees who are creative and flexible in developing and evaluating new ideas and ways to evolve NMSU into the future.
The university is committed to sustainability through improving and maintaining the quality of human life while preserving the integrity, stability, and beauty of the ecological system for the future.
NMSU’s main campus is located in sunny Las Cruces, New Mexico. There you will find thriving businesses, strong agriculture production, and numerous other industries. With an average of 330 days of sunshine each year, the weather forecast for golf, hiking, and other outdoor activities is bright. A wide range of art, cultural and culinary experiences also exist—including museums, shopping malls, breweries, and vineyards. Las Cruces is approximately 45 miles north of El Paso and 225 miles south of Albuquerque. It is the economic and geographic center of the Mesilla Valley, the agricultural region on the floodplain of the Rio Grande which extends from Hatch to the west side of El Paso, Texas.
The Search Committee invites letters of interest and nominations to be submitted directly to the search firm, Anthem Executive. Correspondence should be submitted to Michael Ballew or Florene Stawowy at:
NMSUExecDirOIE@AnthemExecutive.com
Inquiries should include: a curriculum vitae, a detailed letter of interest describing relevant experience and interest in the position, and a list of five professional references with full contact information (title, organization/institution, email address, phone number). No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate.
Letters of interest and nominations should be submitted by as soon as possible, to assure consideration. Expressing interest is the first step in receiving consideration and does not make one an applicant for the position.
A background check (including criminal records check and identity, degree, and workplace verification) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered this position.
New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, NMSU does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation or protected veteran status in its program or activities, including
employment, admissions, and educational programs. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Institutional Equity, P.O. Box 30001, E. 1130 University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88003; 575.646.3635; 575.646.7802 (TTY) equity@nmsu.edu.
NMSU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate form or to request an accommodation, please contact the Office of Institutional Equity, O’Loughlin House, 1130 E. University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88003; 575.646.3635; 575.646.7802 (TTY) equity@nmsu.edu. One-week advance notice is appreciated.