The Chief, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer (“CDEIO”) will be responsible for supporting the ongoing implementation and promotion of DEI related strategy, programs, training, and initiatives for the AVMA. The CDEIO will enhance the understanding and appreciation for DEI and cultural awareness within the veterinary profession while serving as a liaison and resource on DEI matters to AVMA entities, members, and other stakeholders. As a member of the AVMA’s senior leadership team, the CDEIO will lead strategic DEI initiatives and work collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders to support efforts to develop and deploy programs. Consistent with AVMA’s DEI policy, they will increase levels of awareness to ensure DEI is standardized practice and foster programming that reflects and values AVMA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The CDEIO will be a leader who demonstrates cultural awareness and agility, exercises emotional intelligence, builds trust and credibility, and collaborates with a wide variety of stakeholders within a large complex organization and associated communities.

Responsibilities:

• Continues the ongoing enhancement, development, implementation, and management of AVMA’s strategic DEI initiatives and programs for the profession.
• Engages in frequent collaborative interaction with members, state and allied veterinary organizations including the Veterinary Medical Association Executives (“VMAE”), the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (“AAVMC”), the DEI Commission, affinity groups, and other stakeholders to further enhance the DEI goals and objectives of AVMA.
• Tracks, analyzes, and communicates ongoing key DEI metrics and demographic trends, generally and within the veterinary profession, and recommends programs/solutions designed to enhance those metrics within the veterinary profession.
• Increases awareness, commitment, and strategic actions to better attract, develop and retain diverse talent throughout the veterinary profession.
• Facilitates the recruitment of a more diverse veterinary profession through coordinated efforts with AAVMC, Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (“AVTE”), veterinary medical colleges, veterinary technician programs, pre-veterinary organizations, and schools.
• Establishes a positive dialogue within the veterinary profession around the importance of DEI.
• Fosters collaborative interaction with other healthcare professions and outside organizations, and where appropriate, with government agencies, to further enhance the DEI goals and objectives of the AVMA.
• Organizes Continuing Education, training, and workshops internally and externally to promote DEI initiatives.
• Leads learning activities with staff and entities to increase a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Collaborates with meeting planning staff and related entities to ensure DEI continuing education and training opportunities are presented at the AVMA Annual Convention, Veterinary Leadership Conference, and other AVMA meetings, as well as via AVMA Axon.
• Partners with other AVMA staff and external stakeholders to create communications that promote DEI and to ensure DEI is reflected in external communications/promotional activities.
• Collects data and measures the progress of DEI initiatives to ensure effectiveness.
• Builds and leverages strong relationships with key stakeholders within the AVMA and externally.
• Works collaboratively with other staff to monitor legal activity that could affect the DEI initiatives of the organization and the profession where appropriate.
• Serves as a staff consultant to governance entities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of relevant work experience advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion with increasing responsibility and demonstrated leadership experience in working with diverse teams is preferred.
• Must have experience and demonstrated success at creating an overarching DEI strategy and collecting and using data to assess effectiveness.
• Must have outstanding organizational, problem-solving, and program design and implementation skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with and advise and lead internal staff, volunteer leaders, external stakeholders, and entities.
• Previous experience working and affecting change within the healthcare profession preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of influencing individuals and teams to achieve project or team objectives.
• Demonstrated knowledge/experience of the veterinary profession preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience working with diverse populations and constituencies to effect positive change.
• Successful experience in creating, implementing, and evaluating programs to enhance organizational climate externally and internally.
• Familiarity with current national trends in DEI and multiculturalism, particularly in healthcare professions, and awareness of the legal landscape related to DEI implementation in the workplace.
• Experience managing relations with internal and external communities.
• Excellent public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with experience in relationship and coalition building.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and manage highly visible projects in a team environment.
• Self-motivated team player
• Ability to travel on behalf of the Association as needed.

Education: Master’s Degree in related field highly preferred.

Location: While AVMA is headquartered just outside of Chicago, in Schaumburg, IL, AVMA would consider someone based anywhere in the U.S., but they must be willing to travel to HQ as needed.

Travel: Up to 25% to conferences and events.

Compensation: Very competitive base salary with outstanding benefits package.

Contact:

Darren DeGioia

JDG Associates, Ltd.

1700 Research Boulevard

Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 340-2210

darren.degioia@jdgsearch.com