Position Summary
In alignment with the university health and wellbeing (UHW) strategic vision, the director of the resource center for persons with disabilities (RCPD) is instrumental in setting the strategic direction, and leading and working collaboratively with a dedicated multidisciplinary team and colleagues. The director is responsible for engaging the campus community in creating, strengthening, and maintaining a culture of access, holistic wellbeing, and belonging that supports students, faculty, and staff with disabilities at Michigan State University.
Reporting to the executive director of health promotion, engagement, accessibility, and accommodations (HPEAA) and working closely with university partners, the director will promote equitable access and an inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff with disabilities. The director must be innovative and offer a demonstrated capacity for effectively supporting programs and services for individuals with a variety of disabilities including physical, intellectual, neurodivergence and chronic health conditions. Practical experience and knowledge of change management are essential for success in this position.
The director must have a complex understanding of the many challenges facing students, faculty, and staff, and be prepared to engage in all aspects of the university to ensure a broad and coordinated strategy to address needs, ensure access and maximize opportunity. The director will guide and support the RCPD leadership team, collect and analyze metrics to forecast trends and assert resource needs, and remain current in industry best practices. The successful candidate will identify, clarify, and resolve complex, highly visible issues with university-wide scope and strategic impact and demonstrate a keen and authentic ability to establish credibility and effective working relationships, particularly with faculty and academic colleges, as well as across the department, other divisions, and the institution.
The director provides guidance and expertise to campus leadership around disability-related issues, oversees comprehensive accommodation support for MSU faculty, staff, and students, and manages a dynamic professional team of more than 20 employees, including four direct reports.
Additional Core Responsibilities:
- Direct efforts of managers; cultivate leadership skills, including those in the leadership pipeline; make hiring decisions; provide coaching and mentoring; manage performance; determine staffing needs; and develop and ensure succession planning within areas of responsibility.
- Provide strategic direction for and manage RCPD, including oversight of programs, budget, facilities, and staff. Develop and evaluate the professional education required for the RCPD staff.
- Serve as a collaborative member of the senior leadership team and provide input on long-range planning, policy development, compliance, and monitoring of the regulatory landscape impacting the RCPD. Collect and analyze metrics to forecast trends and assert resource needs. Keep abreast of best practices.
- Enhance and expand relationships with current donors. Provide excellent stewardship of current funds and explore new opportunities to further the mission of RCPD.
- Manage exceptions to university, program, or unit policies and procedures; determine appropriate responses to settle grievances.
- Lead RCPD’s academic and administrative policy development for programs and operations. Negotiate and influence matters of university-wide impact as a representative of UHW.
- Serve as a consultant to UHW executive leadership. Recommend new internal policies, guidelines, and procedures.
- Manage, interpret, implement, and ensure compliance with legal, financial, university, academic, and administrative policies, as well as external regulations.
- Direct complex, high-visibility process redesign and innovation projects; champion major initiatives; develop and drive implementation of project initiatives including but not limited to areas such as exam accommodation, emotional support animals, and housing assignments.
- Partner with key individuals across the university to determine new and ongoing technology initiatives.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Masters
Minimum Requirements
A master’s degree and seven to ten years of relevant progressive experience in promoting disability access or in a student affairs or student services office with a specific emphasis on disability support services are required. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. An advanced degree and experience in a higher education setting are strongly preferred. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience and knowledge of critical issues related to disability access and support resources; experience leading a large and diverse professional staff team, including hiring, supervision, and professional development; proven ability in leading organizational transformation, with the capacity to effect change in institutional culture and operations; and strong communication, organizational, fiscal, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with key campus and community partners. A demonstrated commitment toward accessibility, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as cultural humility in all aspects of campus life, will be important considerations in the selection of the next director of RCPD.
Desired Qualifications
In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:
- Demonstrates commitment to eliminating barriers, a willingness to advocate on behalf of the students, faculty and staff and the ability to earn their respect and confidence.
- Identifies and addresses institutional areas of challenge and opportunities as well as works creatively with a team to anticipate and provide constructive responses to challenging campus and community issues.
- Manages from an empowerment mindset, providing clear expectations and accountability with a commitment to fostering collegiality, transparency, clarity, and honesty. Available and responsive to students, faculty, MSU administration, and other key stakeholders.
- Leads with compassion, transparency and ethics, values accessibility, and possesses excellent communication skills to articulate vision, direction, and purpose.
- Demonstrates experience developing and leading a campus-wide dialogue on disability access, ableism, and policy development, with experience leading change processes in a complex, decentralized environment.
- Understands technological advances, best practices, and their utilization to further assist students.
- Develops and sustains a positive working environment and team culture.
Required Application Materials
resume and position specific cover letter
Special Instructions
All interested candidates should contact Spelman Johnson at [email protected].
Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email [email protected].
Review of Applications Begins On
09/30/202
