Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Job Description
Chadwick School

Palos Verdes Peninsula, California

The mission of Chadwick School is to develop global citizens with keen minds, exemplary character, self-knowledge and the ability to lead.

Located on a beautiful, 45-acre hilltop campus on the scenic Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County, Chadwick School is an independent, K-12, co-educational day school that enrolls over 830 students drawn from more than 45 Southern California communities. A highly educated faculty and staff bring out the best in the talented student body through active learning, challenging academics, one-on-one mentoring, unparalleled global opportunities, nationally distinguished outdoor education and community service programs, outstanding athletic opportunities, and award-winning visual and performing arts.

Founded in 1935 by visionary educator Margaret Lee Chadwick, Chadwick is one of three schools operated by the Roessler-Chadwick Foundation. In 2010, Chadwick International (CI) was formed in Songdo, South Korea, which expanded opportunities for students around the globe to benefit from a world-class Chadwick education. Chadwick Ho Chi Minh City is currently in its final construction and phase planning and will be launching in the Fall of 2028.

The school's Core Competencies and Core Values (respect, responsibility, honesty, fairness, and compassion) are widely shared and fostered daily in classrooms, during co-curricular activities, and through the camaraderie of this close-knit community.

Job Title: Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Division/Department: K-12

Reports To: Head of School

Location: Palos Verdes, CA

Level/Grade: K-12           

Type of position/FLSA: Full-time Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

This full-time position, to begin July 2026, is a senior administrative position. The Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion will be a trusted advisor as a member of Chadwick’s School Leadership Team to enhance the student, faculty and family experience at Chadwick. Beginning on November 15, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a decision is reached.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are integral to Chadwick’s world-class educational experience, as they enhance our students’ knowledge, skills and the empathic orientation required to serve and lead in an interconnected world.

The Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will provide strategic leadership and guidance for the programs and strategies that empower the entire school community to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, as described in the Chadwick School Diversity Statement.

This position is responsible for the following:

TEAM LEADERSHIP:

• Lead Chadwick’s Equity Team throughout the school year as they provide guidance to and support for K-12 programs, initiatives, and services related to diversity, equity, and belonging. The Director will manage and coach the Equity Team and create committees that will address DEI in different areas of campus
• Assist, support, and advise the School Leadership Team in evaluating, advancing, implementing and optimizing programs, policies, practices and procedures in the areas of curriculum, wellness, admission, hiring practices, communications, and other operational areas.
• Serve on the School Leadership Team, advocating for inclusion and belonging as vital components of student, faculty, and staff development by collecting and leveraging data to measure progress, identify needs, and inform strategic decisions.
• Act as a resource to Chadwick’s Curriculum Team to evaluate and diversify K-12 curricular offerings through a DEI lens.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, policies and procedures in all areas of the school in collaboration with the Director of Risk Management and Assistant Head of School.

STUDENT, FACULTY, STAFF, ADMINISTRATION & FAMILY SUPPORT:

• Serve as an accessible, visible and effective resource to students, faculty and staff with regard to student diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging matters.
• Provide direct and indirect counsel and support to students and families within each school division on issues of identity development.
• Advise and support Division Directors in student disciplinary matters and facilitate restorative practice circles, as well as monitoring and maintaining a reporting system of incidents.
• Offer leadership and support to students at national and regional events attended by Chadwick School, such as the Pollyanna Conference and the LGBTQ+ Educators Conference and other diversity events and conferences as needed, including during evenings and weekends.
• Serve as a Middle School or Upper School advisor.
• Teach or co-teach a non-academic, skills-based class (e.g., Wick Skills, Human Growth and Development, or equivalent) for 6th grade and Middle School as well as serving as a resource for teachers when teaching cultural or other DEI-related topics.
• In coordination with the Equity Team’s Divisional DEI Coordinators, they serve as a resource to all families in each division of the school: Village School (K-6, encompassing Lower and Upper Village), Middle School (7-8) and Upper School (9-12) and offer support in navigating school systems and accessing appropriate resources (e.g. language interpretation, orientation & welcome events etc.).
• Empower the Equity Team to gather and act on concerns, questions and feedback about the student, faculty and staff experience at Chadwick.

PROGRAM PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION:

• With support from the Equity Team, create, develop, communicate, and implement a coherent, thoughtfully-aligned schedule of DEI programming (e.g. Guest Speakers, Multicultural Food Fest, Parent Coffees, Community Times and Faculty Professional Development).
• Provide guidance, support, advocacy, and enhancement to Upper School Affinity groups, Middle School, Lower Village and Upper Village Belonging Project, Faculty/Staff Affinity Groups, CPA Affinity Groups, DEI Parent Co-Chairs, and the Student Diversity Council and other groups aimed at furthering diversity and inclusiveness at the school.
• Hold monthly meetings with the DEI Parent Co-Chairs and Parent/Caregiver Affinity Group Leaders.

STRATEGIC PLANNING:

• Develop and/or implement the school’s strategic plan for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and identifying the resources required to do so.
• Support the Board and Head of School in implementing the school’s strategic goals in support of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Update existing programs and introduce new programs to create an inclusive culture amongst students, staff and faculty of all identities, abilities and backgrounds.
• Measure and analyze data about the student, faculty, staff, and family experience and identify areas of progress, targets for improvement and next steps to drive the attainment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging goals and providing transparency.

COMMUNITY GROWTH & EDUCATION:

• Work with students, faculty, staff, parents, and members of the Board of Trustees to increase understanding and application of Cultural Competence (one of six Chadwick School Core Competencies) and to increase understanding and application of inclusive and anti-bias practices.
• Design, lead, and support professional development opportunities for faculty and staff that strengthen inclusive classroom practices, promote equitable pedagogy. 
• Attend DEI-related workshops and events to keep abreast of best practices in the field and to deepen personal knowledge and capacity to lead.

COLLABORATION:

• Provide counsel, as appropriate, in collaborations with our sister schools, Chadwick International and upcoming Chadwick Ho Chi Minh City.
• Attend weekly and monthly meetings with various constituencies requiring DEI input and support on divisional programming, student leadership opportunities, and student needs and concerns (e.g. Division Directors, Assistant Division Directors, Deans of Students, Student Diversity Council, Wellness Team, Curriculum Team, DEI Parent Co-Chairs).
• Work closely with our Communications Team on community outreach and co-developing both proactive and responsive communications throughout the year.
• Facilitate partnerships and attendance by members of the Chadwick community at key diversity and inclusion events and conferences, including the annual Pollyanna Conference and Private School Village.

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION:

• Provide counsel and support to Admissions and Hiring Committees, including participating in student admissions processes and interviewing faculty and staff applicants, to enhance the recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff from marginalized identities.
• Develop and implement innovative strategies and structures to recruit, cultivate, attract, develop, and retain faculty and staff.
• Assist the Director of Human Resources in personnel matters related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

The job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. The incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Master’s Degree or higher preferred
• An action-oriented, self-starter who is solutions-focused and takes initiative
• Experience and training leading anti-bias equity initiatives in education organizations
• Strong leadership skills and success in working with and respecting conflicting needs of multiple stakeholders: students, faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, parents and alumni
• Student-centered
• Global and innovative
• Ability to both model and maintain positive motivation and momentum even in challenging circumstances
• Proven success working flexibly as both an individual contributor and a collaborative team member
• Proven expertise in establishing, implementing and communicating a vision and plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
• Experience in strategic planning, programming, event coordination and execution, and budget management
• Experience in data gathering, analysis and summarizing to share with stakeholders
• A commitment to staying abreast of best practices in inclusive and anti-bias practices
• Previous work in student advising strongly preferred
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication, and presentation skills
• Preference given to candidates who lead and work with diverse age levels and abilities

Compensation: $160,000 to $185,000 salary based on years of experience, credentials and other qualifications.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

There are routine responsibilities associated with this job that require specific physical abilities of the candidate.  To carry out these responsibilities, the candidate must be physically able to:

• Lift and carry up to a maximum of 25 lbs. in a correct manner consistent with the appropriate training provided by the School.
• Occasionally use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, touch and use tools, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, bend, stoop, twist, lift, reach, push, pull, grasp, balance, kneel, crouch, crawl, grasp, talk, hear, and walk during the course of employment.
• Carry out tasks requiring the following vision abilities: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and an ability to adjust focus.
• Use telephone, computer, copier, and other office equipment in the course of a day.

The work environment characteristics described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.  This may include warm, hot or cold temperatures.  The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

CLEARANCES

Required Assessments:  TB           Clearances:  Livescan Background check

Note: The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties and responsibilities that are required of the position.