Assistant Vice-President Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging

Assistant Vice-President Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging

Position Title:

Assistant Vice-President Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging
Department/Unit:
People and Culture

Location:

Posting Number: S170-25
Employee Group: EXAD
Position Type:
Regular, On-Going

Employment Type:

Full Time
Full-time Equivalency (FTE): 1.0
Classification:
Provisional Statement
Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a national and international university with more than 21,000 students and 6,000 faculty and staff. Our community fosters a vibrant, purpose-driven environment that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

Job Summary
The Office of Equity and Inclusion provides leadership, builds capacity, and encourages collaborative action to advance sustainable, systemic, and structural change that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in all dimensions of the mission, culture, and operations of Dalhousie University. The office works with senior leaders to make a collective impact in educating, preventing, and addressing equity issues at all levels of the institution.
In keeping with Dalhousie’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility initiatives, the university invites applications for the position of  Assistant Vice-President (AVP) Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility (EDIA) and Belonging . Reporting directly to the Vice-President, People and Culture (VP) and in collaboration with senior leaders across People and Culture and the institution, the AVP will set the strategic vision for EDIA and translate that strategy into tangible outcomes.

The AVP will ensure the successful implementation and coordination of initiatives and programs, embedding EDIA principles into university policies, practices, and culture. The AVP will work with the Provost and Vice-President Academic and other academic leaders to establish EDIA goals and strategies related to Dalhousie’s academic mission and student experience.
The AVP provides leadership for Dalhousie’s Employment Equity unit and program, the Accessibility, Accommodation and Wellness unit, and fosters education and community engagement across the institution.
As a senior leader, the AVP will foster a culture of belonging by championing equity, inclusion, and psychological safety across the organization. The AVP will shape and implement policies, programs, and structural changes that support an inclusive workplace where individuals feel valued and empowered. This includes driving organization-wide learning initiatives, embedding inclusive practices into business strategy, and modeling inclusive leadership. The AVP will collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify barriers to inclusion, measure progress, and ensure accountability for sustained workplace culture change.

Key Responsibilities
Key priorities for AVP EDIA & Belonging will include:
Translating the strategic vision into actionable initiatives that advance EDIA across the university with clear, measurable goals and metrics to track implementation and impact.
Developing an EDIA strategy, establishing governance structures for EDIA work, and promoting accountability and consistency.
Providing leadership and support for unit staff, fostering a collaborative environment, and developing unit workplans and deliverables.
Building and maintaining relationships with students, staff, faculty, and community partners, particularly from equity-deserving groups.
Fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and collaborative problem-solving by engaging with EDIA committees, caucuses, Associate Deans responsible for EDIA, and advisory groups to ensure alignment of EDIA efforts.
Serving as a primary spokesperson for EDIA matters, developing communication strategies that highlight EDIA successes and challenges, and promoting campus-wide awareness and engagement while maintaining transparency.

Required Qualifications
The ideal…