Assistant Director, Development Recruitment and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Lead:
Department: Human Resources
Reports to: AVP, Human Resources with indirect report to the Development Leadership Team
FLSA Status: Exempt
Who we are and what we’re about::
KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization and the official fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas. We partner with donors in providing philanthropic support to build a greater KU.
As an employee of KU Endowment, you’ll witness firsthand the power of our donors’ generosity. You will join a talented and fun group of people who are inspired to help KU through the support of loyal alumni and friends. This support fuels excellence, enabling students and faculty to develop innovative programs and research that distinguish the university. We connect the philanthropic passions of donors with the needs of students, faculty and programs – and everyone benefits.
People are engaged. Purpose is ignited. Lives are changed.
Our commitment to DEIB::
At KU Endowment, we recognize that we best achieve our mission of building a greater University of Kansas by embracing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are committed to cultivating a people-centered environment that is welcoming to the spectrum of differences among us in an atmosphere of respect and fairness. Accordingly, our staff, Board of Trustees, volunteers and donors will work together to create a more representative, equitable and inclusive KU Endowment.
What we are looking for::
The Development Recruitment and DEIB Lead is a unique role that combines talent acquisition responsibilities with a strong focus on promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging at KU Endowment. The position is responsible for leading a proactive strategy to identify, recruit and fill professional fundraising position openings. Cultivates relationships; develops inclusive, innovative, and effective recruitment practices; and manages the talent acquisition process resulting in the attraction and retention of the highest qualified candidates for position openings. Through successful recruitment, advances the fundraising agenda for KU Endowment and promotes our mission and core values. Assists with developing employee retention practices and programs. As DEIB Lead, this position champions KU Endowment’s diversity initiatives.
What’s a typical day look like?:

• Plan, develop, and coordinate effective recruitment strategies to identify and engage qualified professional fundraising candidates.

• Partner with hiring managers to understand their talent needs and collaborate on developing job descriptions and candidate profiles.

• Develop proactive and creative local, regional, and national sourcing strategies to ensure that the search process is effective in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding prospective candidates for position openings.

• Utilize various sourcing methods, including job boards, social media, networking, referrals, to identify diverse candidates.

• Conduct individual meetings and discussions to develop a robust pool of candidates to fill current and future fundraising positions.

• Work in a team environment with appropriate staff and serve as liaison to department leaders for which positions are being recruited. Assist hiring managers with appropriate interview techniques and candidate evaluation tools; help ensure a positive experience for candidates in their interactions with KU Endowment.

• Track metrics on candidate sourcing efforts to help evaluate effectiveness. Prepare and disseminate regular reports on recruitment activity.

• Serve as DEIB operational leader. Drive the planning and implementation of organization wide DEIB strategy. Advise and facilitate DEIB Taskforce. Serve as liaison between DEIB Workgroup and Human Resources.

• Collaborate with HR and leadership to integrate DEIB principles into all aspects of the employee lifecycle.

• Stay current with DEIB best practices, industry trends and legal requirements to continually enhance KU Endowment’s DEIB initiatives.

• Help develop and implement best practices regarding retention policies, practices, and procedures to help enhance employee satisfaction. Initiate employee satisfaction surveys to measure effectiveness.

• Collect and analyze data related to DEIB efforts, including workforce demographics, hiring metrics and employee engagement.

• Assist with general Human Resources department needs as directed or required.

• Position requires travel to meet recruitment activity goals, network with candidates, and to attend professional fundraising conferences.

What’s required to be considered::

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Seven to ten years of experience with recruitment and/or fundraising development.

• Demonstrated success in cultivating, developing, and enhancing professional relationships.

• Experience in or knowledge of higher education fundraising is beneficial.

• Must demonstrate ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations and documents.

• Must have the ability to represent KU Endowment in the utmost professional manner.

• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws, regulations related to talent acquisition and DEIB and Human Resource practices, a plus.

• Experience with and passion for DEIB work preferred.

What separates the best from the rest?:

• Requires excellent problem-solving, written, oral, and inter-personal communication skills.

• Ability to work on a variety of projects simultaneously while utilizing superior organizational skills.

• Familiarity with DEIB metrics and data analysis to drive results.

• Ability to facilitate training sessions and discussions on DEIB topics.

• Demonstrated passion for promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

• Prefer an individual with a working knowledge of the University of Kansas and passion for supporting its mission.

We’ve got you covered::
KU Endowment offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefit package including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) matching program

• Pension plan

• Section 125 flexible benefits

• Generous paid leave including holidays, personal and sick leave

• Volunteer and community engagement opportunities

• Paid Parental Leave

- Life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance

• Legal & ID Theft protection

• Accident and hospital indemnity

• KU tuition reimbursement

• Free parking

Sounds good, right? What’s next?:
Please include your resume and cover letter when applying for the position.
Questions regarding this vacancy may be addressed to:
Emily Garcia
Sr. Human Resources Associate
KU Endowment
PO Box 928
Lawrence, KS 66044-0928
Email: egarcia@kuendowment.org
Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Because of the sensitive nature of KU Endowment business and the importance of our reputation with donors, KU Endowment conducts a comprehensive review of applicants. By submitting your application, you authorize us to conduct reference checks and a review of available public information. Employment is contingent upon background and reference checks that KU Endowment finds acceptable.