Role Description – Assistant Director (Culture and Inclusion)

We have been on a journey of reflection on our culture and how we take our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) further. Our EDI Vision 2025 is taking us on the next step of this journey and guiding our development; we are now reviewing this with our new Vice Chancellor and University 2030 strategy thinking. Our vision needs to support a positive inclusive culture recognising that this is at the heart of everything we do; students, colleagues, alumni, partners and members of the wider community. In order to bring this vision to life we need to develop and deliver a new strategy for embedding Inclusion in our ways of working and culture of the University.

The role will work with students, staff and community partners to support the development and implementation of this vision. Truly embedding inclusion into everything we do will be a long and challenging process however one we see as being central to the kind of compassionate and inclusive university we wish to be. A particular focus in the first few years of the strategy period will therefore be building an inclusive culture and ways of working across all of our University’s activities. We have recently established new and more effective Inclusion governance structures and have a number of initiatives underway to promote and embed EDI across the University working towards an overall culture that we can all be proud of. The role will have overall responsibility in the experiential space across EDI, Widening Participation and Education ensuring effective delivery and bringing strategic coherence to this area of activity in line with our EDI Vision to 2025 and University strategy 2030.

Collaborative working across many teams will be a key feature of the role. In particular, this person will work with colleagues in the University Executive Board (UEB), be part of the Professional Services Leadership team (PSLT), senior leaders in colleges, institutes and professional services departments. They will also work with student representatives (through The Students’ Guild (Exeter) and The Students’ Union (Cornwall Campuses) and the new Role of Associate Academic Dean for Students (Racial Equality and Inclusion)to support the delivery of individual and university education goals will be crucial. Alongside this, they will be an integral part of the HR function (member of HR SMT) and lead the EDI Team, to ensure that the aspirations in our strategy in relation to people, culture and inclusion are effectively reflected and embedded within our values, policies, procedures and work practices.

The role will be expected to draw upon relevant and specialist experiences and expertise from previous roles, and bring examples of best national and international practice from the higher education sector and beyond, in order to position the University of Exeter as an exemplar institution in this regard. This person will also ensure that EDI issues and considerations are raised and taken into account in high-level strategic decisions and discussions.

The post holder will deputise for the Director of Human Resources and the Deputy Registrar and Chief College Operations Officer (UEB lead for EDI) on relevant areas of responsibility as required.

Main Duties and Accountabilities:

As part of the Human Resources Senior Management Team (HR SMT), this role will support the development and delivery of our People Strategy, policies and procedures in line with the University’s Strategic Plan and University Values. Responsible for anticipating corporate EDI issues and opportunities and, working with a wider EDI and university inclusivity groups, proactively resolving problems as they arise. It is a key role in ensuring the achievement of the University’s strategic goals through effective people management practices.
Working with student representatives (through The Students’ Guild (Exeter) and The Students’ Union (Cornwall Campuses) as well as the new role of Associate Academic Dean for Students (Racial Equality and Inclusion) to support the delivery of individual and university education goals will be crucial.
Bringing together other professionals from teams such as Widening Participation, Academic Development, Education and Student Support and the Centre for Social Mobility will also be vitally important. The post holder will have strong working relationships with our student equality groups and staff equality groups and networks.
This role is responsible for collaboratively designing and delivering the University’s EDI Vision and Strategy, and ensuring that its community has the necessary skills, support and knowledge to deliver the University’s Strategy.
Ensuring that the key principles of equity, fairness and inclusion are embedded in our approaches to the recruitment, development, retention and reward of our staff and student community. For example, the post-holder will work with our Associate Academic Dean for Students (Racial Equality and Inclusion), Director of Widening Participation and the Students’ Unions to deliver on student experience initiatives that will help reduce the awarding gap.
To ensure that EDI matters, our culture and differential impacts upon the work and study environment and wellbeing of our staff and student community are raised and taken into consideration in decision-making by UEB and other senior teams.
To work with members of UEB and senior leaders across the University to ensure that resources in relation to people, culture and inclusion (including professional training and development, EDI enrichment activities and other staff and student support initiatives) are allocated in a manner which maximises impact on the our Culture and Inclusion agenda.
To build and maintain strong working relationships with relevant external bodies and agencies in order to anticipate and respond to challenges and changes in the wider environment, ensuring that the University is an exemplar institution in this area.
To network with similar positions within the higher education sector and beyond to help benchmark our policies, culture and practices with the best.
To lead, manage and motivate a team who focus on developing and embedding inclusion, wellbeing and culture improvement across the organisation, working collaboratively with the wider HR function and experts from across the University, including the Success for All agenda to support the delivery of this multi-faceted agenda.
To provide reports regularly to University Inclusion Group, Senate and to Council as required offering action focused progress against an agreed plan of activity.
To take an evidence-based/ data-focused approach. This would include reporting on key metrics to enable the university to get insights on our culture and effective evaluation for initiatives.
To act as the University ‘Senior EDI Adviser’ to whom UEB and others (including Students Guild and Union) can turn to for expert advice.

General

As a leader, to ensure that you adopt working practices which embody and role model the University’s Values.
Through collaborative working across HR, contribute to an inclusive culture as a means of driving improvement by ensuring clear objectives, feedback and the improvement of staff and student experience through behaviours aligned with the University’s values.
Through collaborative working with Student leaders and representatives, ensure all aspects of student experience (student support, academic support etc.) enhance feelings of belonging for students.
The post holder will work as an integral part of the HRSMT to ensure we deliver a positive culture of matrix management, providing a joined up and accessible service
Identify, develop and foster external partnerships and networks collaboratively as necessary, to aide progression and delivery of the University’s strategic objectives and contribute to the University’s civic role in the city and region.
Ensure that compliance with legal requirements is embedded in policy and practice, and can be demonstrated for relevant areas of responsibility.
Ensuring the effective procurement and management of 3^rd party provider/partnering arrangements as relevant to the functions managed.

This job description summarises the main duties and accountabilities of the post and is not comprehensive: the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties of similar level and responsibility.