Senior Director, Nursing Diversity and Inclusion

Vanderbilt University Medical Center Executive Search Team is conducting a national search for a Senior Director, Nursing Diversity and Inclusion . This is a senior level executive role that requires significant experience directly related to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in a medical center setting.

The Nursing Diversity & Inclusion Director leads the development and implementation of proactive diversity, inclusion and belonging initiatives in support of VUMC's strategic plan to make diversity intentional. This position is a senior-level management position reporting to the Executive Chief Nursing Officer. The leader champions the importance and value of a diverse and inclusive environment and leads the development of a vision and effective strategy to create a culture for equity, diversity, and inclusion. This leader actively engages people leaders and staff to further behaviors, attitudes, programs and practices that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. The leader will collaborate with stakeholders to assess potential barriers and develop strategies to recruit and retain a diverse workforce, create an engaging culture of belonging, and expand community partnerships to establish a diverse talent pipeline.

Essential Job Functions

The incumbent serves as advisor and resource for management in the areas of diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging for Nursing. The candidate will collaborate with Human Resources to increase candidate and diversity hires, enhance retention and upward mobility. This leader will also work closely with the Office of Diversity Affairs and HR Organizational Development to increase training/education initiatives and staff engagement.

The leader will:

Define and execute strategy in support of our diversity and inclusion philosophy enabling VUMC Nursing to attract, develop and retain top talent.

Plan, guide and advise leaders on areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Collaborate with leaders to create, implement and monitor programs designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of employees.

Lead Nursing in implementing strategic initiatives, including the creation of a culture for equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Partner with internal and external constituencies to ensure programs support the institution's values, leadership principles, and strategic goals.

Provide strategic direction to advance training initiatives on cultural competency, building a climate of equity and inclusion, and other topics designed to increase awareness and support equity and inclusion goals.

Support multicultural programs and events and Employee Resources Groups (ERGs).

Engage leaders in external professional diversity advocacy associations.

Promote VUMC's commitment to a climate of equity, diversity, and inclusion through interaction with the executive staff, people leaders, employees, and the community.

Represent Nursing to external community, organizations, and agencies.

Collaborate with external and internal constituency groups to promote and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Assess and monitor program effectiveness, track metrics and provide progress reports.

Collaborate and engage with D&I leaders and others to identify and support meaningful and relevant programs and practices.

• Knowledge of diversity, inclusion, equity, belonging theories, principles and best practices
• Ability to listen, negotiate and influence across all functional groups
• Ability to develop programs, articulate concepts, create action plans, measure results
• Understanding of Human Resource principles, policies and practices
• Strong emotional intelligence and ability to build trusting relationships
• Demonstrated ability in areas of conflict resolution and mediation methods
• Propensity to influence change, understand and manage ambiguity
• Ability to analyze and make sound recommendations on complex issues, including identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions, and making recommendations in support of goals

Demonstrates the following competencies and principles in the achievement of objectives:

Strategic Thinking : Applies broad strategic direction and in a distributed organization context. Anticipates beyond short-term and thinks critically. Deals effectively with paradox.

Execution and Achieves Results : Focused on results, not just activity. Exceptional skill and demonstrated success in delivering and improving results in a senior leadership role. Strong bias for, and practical experience in, measuring and improving performance metrics.

Managerial Courage : Willing to tackle difficult topics and conventional thinking in a respectful and productive manner; doesn't hold anything back that needs to be said.

Thinks Big/Innovation : Formulates a bold vision, sees around corners, and inspires results. Fosters creative thinking and brings innovation successfully to market. Continually challenges and sets new standards for the status quo.

Inquisitive, analytical thinker: Data-driven thinker who effectively diagnoses root causes and identifies primary drivers of performance outcomes. Obsesses about controllable inputs and defines and prioritizes activities to change them for the positive.

Judgment: Deals effectively with paradox, exhibits good instincts, while being willing to make tough calls, with some degree of adaptability.