About iMentor

iMentor builds mentoring relationships that empower students in low-income communities to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their ambitions. Students work with their mentors one-on-one, in-person and online, to develop strong personal relationships, nurture a college aspiration, navigate the college application process, and build critical skills that lead to college success. In New York City, Chicago, and the Bay Area, iMentor partners with public schools to ensure every student in the schools receives a mentor. iMentor also provides its curriculum, technology, and best practices to help nonprofits run effective programs in the iMentor model. Since 1999, iMentor has connected more than 33,000 students with mentors and this year, iMentor is serving 10,000 students across the country. Entering this next five-year strategic plan, iMentor is focusing on growth and improvement, launching widespread impact strategies, financial sustainability, and deepening its diversity & equity work. Building on its track record of success supporting first-generation college students, iMentor is committed to leveraging its resources and stature to not only deepen impact programmatically, but to challenge the structures that fuel inequity and make this work necessary. iMentor has been recognized through funding from many of the leading education funders in the country, including the Ballmer Group, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Robin Hood Foundation, the Bezos Family Foundation, New Profit Inc., and the Kresge Foundation. iMentor is one of the nation’s most innovative and quickly growing college success organizations. As a team, we are collaborative, fun, bring passion and joy to our work, and deeply believe in human potential. iMentor was recently named one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For by The Nonprofit Times. Read more about our work and values at http://www.imentor.org

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We believe that people of all backgrounds deserve equal access to educational opportunities. Recognizing that our country’s history of racism and systemic oppression continues to drive educational disparities for students of color, we give special focus to addressing the economic and racial divides that impact the communities we serve. We are committed to the collective work and intentional investment necessary to consistently move in the direction of educational equity and inclusion.

Position Overview

iMentor is seeking a Director of Equity (DE) to lead the ongoing design and implementation of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work throughout the organization. Reporting to the Chief Talent and Equity Officer (CTEO), the DE will join iMentor’s national team and will be responsible for shaping the DEI vision and strategy as well as researching, defining, and codifying DEI best practices that prepare iMentor staff, students, and mentors to embody and execute on our work through a DEI lens. In partnership with the Talent and the DEI core teams, the DE will assess iMentor’s DEI progress to date and establish a clear understanding of barriers to engaging in transformative DEI work across a high-impact national organization. The DE will ultimately drive iMentor’s exploration of the implications and benefits of becoming an anti-racist, social justice organization. 

 

The ideal candidate will have significant experience leading internal DEI efforts for a non-profit organization or social and/or racial justice enterprise. The candidate will also have exceptional communication skills, strategy development, and process improvement experience with demonstrated skills leading discussions with individuals/groups with differing perspectives around sensitive issues and controversial topics.

Responsibilities

Strategy Development and Execution

·       With the Chief Talent and Equity Officer, co-create annual and long-term DEI strategic goals for the organization, set benchmarks and chart the path to goal year-over-year.

·       Perform a needs assessment of core functions, systems, structures, and policies across national and regional offices.

·       Set clear priorities and measures of success for the next 12 months, revising annually as needed.

·       Align with Executive Leadership team on vision and strategy.

·       Provide coaching, strategic thought partnership, and liaison support to regions, senior leaders, and people managers empowering them to set and achieve team-specific DEI goals.

·       Successfully partner with external DEI consultants as needed 

Culture Building

·       Become one of the strongest champions of DEI, core values, and culture integration at iMentor.

·       Research and share diversity and inclusion related data, efforts, trends and innovations.

·       Own, develop, and manage org-wide DEI program and capacity building efforts inclusive of leadership competencies that help to foster a culture of inclusion.

·       Design, facilitate and/or identify trainings for staff development with a focus on developing managers and create practices the ensure an inclusive, positive experience for all staff.

·       Ensure systems and processes are designed and executed to support DEI initiatives, and to capture and analyze DEI data.

·       Provide thought partnership on diversity and culture surveys, skillfully communicating results to others.

·       Advise and support the Diversity Committee and Equity leader groups

 

Talent Recruitment

·       Support the cultivation of broad and diverse talent pipelines to attract both active and passive candidates coming from underrepresented groups.

·       Collaborate with Talent recruitment team to implement bias in hiring training and ensure that search practices and procedures are equitable and inclusive. 

Qualifications

·       5+ years of relevant work experience, including at least 2 years advancing DEI strategy across a large, multi-layered organization.

·       Deep understanding of the concepts related to diversity, equity, inclusion as well as the contexts and cultures within organizations that impact the implementation and management of effective change efforts.

·       Clear commitment and value alignment to DEI and a demonstrated track record of championing equity and building a culture of equity.

·       Strong project management experience, with demonstrated success setting goals and milestones and managing to the achievement of ambitious goals, as well as leading others to achieve the same success.

·       Ability to consult, advise, communicate and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders and communities across diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

·       Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with expertise in translating data into action and improvements.

·       Open to feedback with evidence of handling sensitive situations with positive outcomes for the organization.

·       Believes in the philosophy of a learning organization.

·       Extremely adaptable, entrepreneurial, and comfortable with ambiguity.

·       Aligned in thought and action with iMentor's values (http://www.imentor.org/values).

·       Views differences between individuals (race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education and lifestyle) as an asset and demonstrates an appreciation of the diversity within iMentor.

·       Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.

·      Our organization works in partnership with district public schools across the country.  In doing so, we must meet all compliance requirements of those districts.

Compensation & Benefits

·       Salary commensurate with experience

·       Up to 100% employer funded comprehensive medical and dental coverage

·       18 days paid annual vacation and 13 paid holidays + most iMentor functions closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day

·       401K match up to 4%

·       Significant opportunities for professional development and growth

How to Apply

Visit www.imentor.org/jobs to submit a resume and detailed cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so it is in candidates’ best interest to apply as soon as possible.  No phone, email, mail, or fax inquiries will receive a response. 

iMentor is an Equal Opportunity Employer