Director- Belonging, Development Leadership

Director‑Employee Belonging, Development, & Leadership

Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state‑founded four‑year institutions of higher education in Washington.

EWU’s 300‑acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane and across the state. EWU provides accessible pathways to career success for students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

EWU has been recognized as a 2024‑25 College of Distinction and was named one of Money magazine’s Best Colleges in America 2024.

EWU acknowledges the land of the Spokane Tribe and other tribes and is committed to honoring Native American communities.

We are seeking a strategic leader dedicated to cultivating a thriving culture of continuous improvement and learning. The Director of Employee Belonging, Development, and Leadership will oversee leadership development, employee training, onboarding, engagement, and satisfaction.

Guidance includes ensuring fair, transparent recruitment, promoting workplace policies that align with EWU values, and advancing an inclusive environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to grow.

• Strategic Leadership & Vision – Serve as a senior advisor to university leadership on staff development, organizational development, and employee engagement. Lead university‑wide strategies, align them with leadership development, retention, and strategic planning initiatives. Champion EWU values across policies and programs.
• Organizational & Leadership Development – Design and implement leadership development frameworks at all levels. Partner with campus leaders to identify, develop, and deliver professional development programs. Support managers and supervisors in cultivating a culture of learning and accountability.
• Employee Engagement & Satisfaction – Lead initiatives focused on increasing employee satisfaction, morale, and sense of belonging. Oversee climate surveys and engagement data, develop responsive action plans, and promote recognition strategies.
• Policy & Practice Alignment – Review and recommend policies to ensure alignment with EWU values. Facilitate policy development supporting an inclusive and transparent work environment and establish metrics for monitoring progress.
• Data, Assessment & Reporting – Track and report progress on training, leadership, and engagement initiatives. Use data to inform strategy and drive accountability.

• Bachelor’s degree in higher education, organizational leadership, human resources, social justice, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive responsibility in employee, leadership, and/or organizational development.
• Experience designing and implementing leadership development or employee engagement strategies.
• Proven ability to lead change, build consensus, and work collaboratively across stakeholder groups.
• Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to apply a responsive and flexible approach supportive of the needs of all employees.

• Master’s degree in higher education, organizational leadership, human resources, social justice, or a related field.
• Experience in a higher education setting or a similarly complex, decentralized environment.
• Familiarity with labor relations and shared governance models.
• Data literacy related to employee engagement and climate assessment tools.
• Training or certification in organizational development, facilitation, or inclusive leadership.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Salary: $99,034 (minimum) to $117,650, commensurate with education, experience, and skills.

Benefits include health, disability, and retirement insurance; generous vacation and sick leave; 12 paid holidays; tuition waiver for employees and eligible family members; discounted sports tickets; campus workout facilities;…