Forest Hills, New York
Mamaroneck, New York
Waunakee, Wisconsin
Posted: 02-Nov-24
Location: Sheffield, Massachusetts
Type: Full Time
Salary: Based on Experience
Categories:
Preferred Education:
Berkshire School
Dean of Inclusion and Belonging
Department: Senior Administrative Leadership
Reports to: Associate Head of School
Position Summary
Berkshire School strives to create a global community that reflects the world around us and the backgrounds, experiences, identities, genders, perspectives, races, religions, and talents that each member brings to our school. We believe that a diverse and inclusive community supports and respects all cultures, ethnicities, languages, philosophies, political views, and sexual orientations that exist within and beyond our school.
- Diversity & Inclusion Mission Statement, 2019
The Dean of Inclusion and Belonging is a member of Berkshire’s senior leadership team, reporting directly to the Associate Head of School, and is responsible for providing strategic leadership to sustain and strengthen the School’s current diversity and inclusion initiatives and to innovate new practices and programs in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The Dean plays a central role in engaging with students in Berkshire’s classrooms, afternoon programs, advisories, residential spaces, and throughout the community. The Dean is a strategic partner with school leadership and other campus administrators in the design and implementation of student-centered programs and systems that support Berkshire’s most inclusive community and strongest school culture.
The ideal candidate will have an ability to engage, educate, and inspire others; experience in developing inclusion and belonging initiatives in secondary school settings; and demonstrated success in establishing and fostering meaningful relationships with students and adults.
The Dean of Inclusion and Belonging is a full-time, exempt, full-benefits, 12-month administrative senior leadership position. Salary and benefits are competitive and include year-round, school-provided housing. Professional development funding is available to support advanced degree work as well as participation in professional conferences, workshops, and summer study.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Serve as a resource, mentor, advocate, and support to students throughout the community to ensure that they are seen, heard, respected, valued, and empowered.
- Serve as a member of the senior leadership team to identify and assess the needs of the student community and to promote the values of equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- Work with Head of School, Associate Head of School, Dean of Faculty, and Director of Human Resources to support inclusion and belonging training and professional development for all adult employees.
- Lead the Inclusion & Belonging Team of adult school leaders from academics, afternoon programs, student life, residential life, admissions, and advancement.
- Work with the Director of Admission and admissions team to recruit and support a diverse student body at Berkshire. Manage, together with the Director of Financial Aid, an annual discretionary budget to support access to a common experience at Berkshire for students receiving financial aid.
- Work with the Dean of Academics and Department Chairs to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency are central to Berkshire’s pedagogy, classroom practices, curriculum development, and assessment models.
- Work with the Dean of Students, Student Life Office, Student Health Services, and Counseling to ensure that our care of students is inclusive, equitable, and supports healthy identity development and conflict resolution.
- Serve as a resource for students who experience discrimination, marginalization, or bias and ensure appropriate support services are provided.
- Serve as a member of the Hiring Committee and participate in interviews, campus visits, and hiring decisions for all prospective members of the faculty. Assist with identifying and developing new hiring markets, recruitment and retention initiatives, and employment strategies in support of Berkshire’s most talented, diverse, and mission-appropriate employees.
- Participate in the weekly Department Chairs, Form Deans, and Administrative Team meetings.
- Partner with Associate Dean to oversee nine (9) campus affinity groups, including training and support for each group’s student and adult leaders.
- Partner with both the Trustee Committee on Inclusion and Belonging and the full board to provide leadership, perspective, experience, and strategic planning support for the diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives of Berkshire’s 2025 Strategic Plan.
- Partner with Berkshire’s DEI Alumni Council to engage alumni affinity groups and promote alumni mentorship of current students.
- Partner with Associate Dean to oversee nine (9) campus affinity groups, including training and support for each group’s student and adult leaders.
- Develop and oversee ongoing evaluation of the school’s inclusion and belonging initiatives to support future recommendations for integrating these commitments into curriculum, pedagogy, policies, practices, and training.
- Partner and collaborate with local community groups, organizations, and schools.
- Teach one section in an academic department and coach one season/afternoon activity.
Requirements
- Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree; advanced degree preferred.
- Previous experience and familiarity with independent boarding schools is preferred.
Qualifications and Personal Attributes
The strongest candidates are likely to have the following experiences and skills:
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to participate broadly in the life of the school as a teacher, coach/program director, and advisor.
- Demonstrated ability to build, shape, and steward a positive and empowering school culture among both students and adults.
- Demonstrated skill, experience, and sensitivity in working with and within diverse communities and in developing trust and rapport with students.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate with clarity, transparency, timeliness, and empathy to engender trust and confidence throughout our adult community.
- Highly detailed oriented and outcome-based.
- Highest standards of integrity, discretion, and trust.
- Strong interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, mediation and conflict resolution skills, and ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders as part of an effective, collaborative team.
- Creative, organized, self-directed, and capable of effectively coordinating multiple ongoing and one-time tasks simultaneously.
- Knowledge of current best practices and relevant laws regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion work in schools.
- Demonstrated commitment to continued professional development and personal growth in the areas of equity, inclusion, belonging, and school leadership.
Start date: July 14, 2025