Special Assistant to the Vice President for Equity & Inclusion

About Fordham:

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its nine colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability; employee assistance program ( EAP ); tuition remission; and generous time off.

Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Department: Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity

Campus: Rose Hill (RH) - Bronx

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Vice President for Equity & Inclusion (VP), the Special Assistant to the Vice President for Equity & Inclusion serves as a strategic partner and advisor to the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion. This role is designed for an innovative and detail-oriented professional who can advance the university’s equity, inclusion, and opportunity priorities by ensuring effective execution of high-impact initiatives, advancing strategic planning efforts, and supporting institutional accountability measures.

Acting as a bridge between the Vice President, University stakeholders, and external partners, the Special Assistant will provide strategic project management, policy alignment, and operational oversight. The role supports the implementation of university-wide DEI initiatives, oversees strategic reporting processes, and ensures integration of OEIO’s programs, including CSTEP / STEP , HEOP , and Student Support Services, into broader institutional goals.

Essential Functions:

Serves as a key advisor to the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, providing analysis, recommendations, and briefings on equity, access, and inclusion strategies.

Partners with university leaders to align OEIO initiatives with the University Strategic Plan and Mission Priority Examen.

Drafts executive-level communications, reports, and presentations for the Vice President, senior leadership, trustees, and external partners.

Leads and monitors project timelines, deliverables, and outcomes for strategic initiatives within OEIO , ensuring institutional accountability.

Supports policy development and compliance related to federal, state, and institutional regulations, particularly as they pertain to opportunity programs and DEI initiatives.

Coordinates strategic plan reporting, annual DEI Council deliverables, and Board of Trustees’ Mission and Social Justice Committee activities.

Serves as a liaison between OEIO and senior leadership, faculty, staff, students, trustees, and external partners, including government officials and community organizations.

Prepares, tracks, and reconciles annual divisional budgets in collaboration with the Vice President and divisional program directors; monitor financial expenditures and maintain accurate records in accordance with university policies and grantor requirements.

Compiles, organizes, and submits data reports for internal and external stakeholders, including for annual reporting, accreditation, and grant compliance purposes.

Collaborates with the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Implementation to manage the institutional portfolio of the university’s strategic plan, establish performance-tracking structures, and coordinate cross-unit initiatives across administrative and academic sectors.

Assists with the logistics, scheduling, and coordination of divisional events, workshops, and trainings designed to advance equity, inclusion, and belonging across the university community.

Provides administrative support to the Vice President in connection with the University’s Council on Equity, Belonging, and Accessibility, including coordinating meeting schedules, preparing materials, tracking action items, and supporting communication with council members.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in education, public administration, business, or a related field.

Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, nonprofit leadership, project management, or organizational strategy.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced degree in education, leadership, business administration, or a related discipline.

Project Management certification ( PMP , CAPM , or equivalent).

Experience with federally/state-funded opportunity programs ( HEOP , TRIO , CSTEP / STEP ).

Familiarity with Jesuit, Catholic higher education and mission-driven work.

Minimum Salary: $80,400

Maximum Salary: $100,000