The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) is a vibrant community of scholars and teachers committed to having a diverse faculty and student body. The school’s curriculum, research, and community partnerships emphasize social and economic justice, along with an understanding of and respect for social, political, and cultural diversity both nationally and internationally. GSSW provides an intellectual, collegial, and supportive environment that fosters interdisciplinary and international educational opportunities and GSSW engages in collaborative projects locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. GSSW and the University of Denver are committed to enhancing the diversity of faculty and staff.

Equity Labs

Equity Labs is one of five institutes and centers that enhance the mission of GSSW by serving the public good. Equity Labs traditionally offers diversity, equity, and inclusion programming that catalyzes meaningful workplace change through training and application. That goal has been accomplished by supporting organizations - and teams and individuals within them - to make their workplaces equitable for all employees and stakeholders. Methods of engagement include immersive workshop activities and expertly facilitated conversations to shift participants’ perspectives in addition to pre-work and follow-up engagement with additional opportunities to practice, reflect, and deepen learning over time.

Due to increased need and the demand for expertise focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a social justice core, Equity Labs will be expanding their impact by supporting and conducting research, engaging in policy analyses and program evaluation, providing technical assistance, and disseminating data and evidenced-based knowledge. Equity Labs will also be developing and sustaining partnerships with entities that can support and facilitate extending their reach while simultaneously creating and sustaining meaningful and impactful outcomes.

Position Summary

The Associate or Full Professor and Executive Director (ED) of Equity Labs is a tenure-track faculty line with an additional faculty administrative position. The faculty line is a nine-month 100% tenure-track faculty position with the first three years serving in the faculty administrative role of Executive Director for Equity Labs (EQL). The administrative role includes a $15,000 annual salary stipend and 2 course releases to allow for 50% dedication to the EQL role throughout the year, including during the summer months.
If renewal of the administrative role does not occur after the initial term, the faculty role will be maintained at the 9-month base salary with no additional stipend, course releases, or responsibilities related to the Executive Director role, with full time dedication to a standard faculty course load and responsibilities.

As ED the primary role is to be a visibly engaged and connected leader who brings experience, purpose, and intention to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice to the work proffered by Equity Labs. The ED reports to the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) Dean and is responsible for the overall leadership, programming, and financial well-being of the Center. The ED is responsible for identifying opportunities for Equity Lab including potential partnerships, research opportunities, gaps in knowledge and practice that can and should be addressed by Equity Labs, and sustaining relationships. The ED coordinates among new and existing clients, program staff, and facilitators to identify diversity, equity, and inclusion needs and develop impactful solutions.

The ED has expertise in and/or knowledge about how to drive change related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that centers social justice and racial equity. The ED is the primary steward of all Equity Labs enterprises and works with diverse teams of stakeholders to identify and utilize new avenues to develop offerings that meet external audience needs and ensures financial stability for Equity Labs. Responsible for the financial oversight and management of Equity Labs, the Executive Director also works closely with the Dean, GSSW Executive Director of Development, the GSSW Director of Budget and Operations, and an advisory council to meet fundraising and operational goals and targets.

This executive leadership role includes personnel management with the Executive Director overseeing the student interns, doctoral and post-doctoral students, support staff, and all additional staff including those focused on research, evaluation, curriculum, operations, etc. Additionally, the Executive Director collaborates with the GSSW Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Dean to identify and select an advisory council.

Equity Labs is an entity of GSSW; thus, the ED must respect and value inclusive excellence in the broadest sense as well as GSSW’s commitment to being anti-racist as a school, a discipline, and a profession as it strives to create an ever more inclusive and anti-racist culture. An intersectional approach to the work of Equity Labs is expected. The ED must be culturally aware and responsive, emotionally intelligent, results-oriented, able to motivate and lead in accomplishing objectives, and skillful in helping diverse groups reach a working consensus. The individual should demonstrate from previous experience the expertise and ability to lead effective inclusive excellence initiatives. This role also requires a strong aptitude for business development (i.e., working to identify and secure contracts with organizations or groups; seeking and spearheading the submission of federal and foundation research proposals; seeking, creating and sustaining partnerships with appropriate partners, etc.).

Essential Functions

Tenured Associate or Full Professor

• Teach up to five courses per academic year (two course reduction per academic year in the ED role).
• Disseminate research findings in scholarly publications, research reports, policy briefs and other venues to maximize impact.
• Present research at scholarly conferences, to community organizations and partners, and legislative bodies.
• Provide service to the school, university, community, and discipline including work on various committees.
• Engage in service to GSSW that supports students and the ongoing academic enterprise.
• Continue to develop new scholarly and research interests including seeking to maintain a funded research agenda.
• Occasionally supervise additional independent studies or directed research.

Executive Director of Equity Labs

• Lead the strategic planning and management for Equity Labs holistic agenda and operations.
• Collaborative Relationships
  • Work in partnership with the GSSW Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on areas that reflect and promulgate GSSW’s DEI goals and desired outcomes which will benefit the GSSW community.
  • Work in partnership with the DU Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the DU Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in areas of mutual interest.
  • Create and engage in partnerships and relationships external to DU and GSSW that reflect the strategic goals of EQL and will facilitate significant impact.
  • Create, support, and engage in partnerships with other GSSW centers and institutes when appropriate to facilitate the goals of EQL.
  • Provide expertise to entities, internal and external to GSSW, related to research and community engagement efforts.

• Fiscal Management
  • Cultivate new client, donor, and foundation relationships and secure partnership and collaboration agreements consistent with the financial and budgetary goals of GSSW, and the legal guidance provided by DU General Counsel’s office.
  • Lead grant research and writing efforts to secure research funding and philanthropic support.
  • Coordinate with the Director of Budget and Operations to manage budgets and financial operations.
  • Work with the Director of Budget and Operations to develop and maintain systems, internal budget transfers and re-charges, etc.
  • Ensure the budget is balanced by regularly reporting income and expense projects to the Director of Budget and Operations.

• Oversee the hiring of all personnel, including core staff, student employees, and facilitators; the selection of masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral students; the selection of vendors and contractors; and all additional personnel.
• Collaborate with GSSW’s Marketing and Communications team to create, launch, and maintain all marketing and communications plans and media including all print, online, social media content.
• Collaborate with the GSSW Advancement Team to facilitate philanthropic efforts that can support the goals of EQL.
• Direction and Coordination of Research
  • Oversee development and delivery of research agenda.
  • Collaborate with partners to provide research support and technical assistance to facilitate research agenda.
  • Recruit and coordinate a diverse team of research affiliates (faculty, staff, and students) to fulfill Equity Labs research agenda.
  • Provide research reports, documentation, and status updates as indicated by corporate/foundation/NPO sponsorship agreements and funding requirements.
  • Ensure Equity Labs and research affiliates are compliant with university, and external funders, IRB and research protocols.

•  Curricular Oversight and Development
  • Maintain quality control to ensure alignment with GSSW’s vision, mission, and values.
  • Oversee development and delivery.
  • Lead/supervise the creation of new curricula to advance the mission of the organization and as deemed appropriate to meet emerging strategic imperatives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of best practices and application of diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly as they relate to workplaces, organizational change/culture change, and program design.
• Possess expert interpersonal skills and the ability to develop relationships, cultivate leads, convert them, and provide effective, inclusive collaboration that is mindful of the population(s) being served.
• Familiarity with immersive and experiential learning, practice, reflection, and application in the design and delivery of curricula.
• Ability to guide and supervise individuals who provide client workshops, lead learning communities, and/or facilitate peer-support groups and develop resources to support effective application of diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and racial equity concepts.
• Ability to successfully identify research funding and submit fundable proposals via federal, foundation, and private funding sources.
• Ability to engage in research that leads to evidence-based outcomes.
• Ability to guide and support the application of research findings that lead to a continuous improvement cycle of program delivery, evaluation, and improvement to ensure effectiveness across enterprises.
• Able to explain and guide others (in writing and verbally) in the application of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice concepts across industries and communities.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to maintain collaborative and confidential relationships.
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and demonstrated success with budget management.
• The ability to understand the relationships between budgeting and the desired programmatic and institutional outcomes.
• Advanced facilitation and conflict management skills.
• Foster a community with a strong anti-oppression ethos and be compassionate, courageous, empathetic, equity-minded, support a celebration of difference, and have integrity.
• Be willing and able to lead and engage in challenging conversations, interactions, and actions. 
• Commit to learning and seeking research and models to inform your role and lead the Equity Labs staff in their efforts.
• Be comfortable leading Equity Labs at the local, state, national, and international levels.
• Demonstrated commitment, knowledge and ability to effectively engage individuals from broadly diverse communities
• Excellent writing skills for publishing grant applications, internal reports, white papers and peer-reviewed publications.
• Extremely high reasoning ability.
• Ability to present and engage in professional environments.
• Ability to travel to professional meetings.

Required Qualifications

• Candidates must have an earned doctorate in social work or a related social science discipline.
• An MSW is required if the doctorate is not in social work.
• Qualified applicants must demonstrate a strong history of publication, research, and external funding reflective of the rank of Associate or Full Professor, in addition to excellence or potential for excellence in teaching across the MSW and PhD curricula, and evidence of leadership at the school, university, and nationally levels.
• Qualified applicants for tenured positions must meet GSSW’s tenure requirements for the rank of Associate or Full Professor.
• Qualified applicants must demonstrate and understanding and expertise in diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and racial equity knowledge, research, and/or programming.

Preferred Qualifications

• An MSW in addition to doctorate and two or more years post-MSW practice experience.
• Experience with curricular design.
• Experience as an Associate Director or Director of a university-based academic/research center.
• Success obtaining federal and/or foundation funding to support academic/research endeavors and community engagement.

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Ability to sit or stand in front of a classroom for an extended period of time.
3. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule

While the University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) March 11, 2025.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $115,000-$150,000 plus the annual salary stipend of $15,000 for the EDEL position.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. DEIJ statement addressing the themes in this profile and your philosophy and approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.