Associate Dean , Restorative Justice

Description

Associate Dean, Restorative Justice & Inclusive Excellence

Full-time, exempt, 40 hours/week

$120,000-$150,000 annually

On-Campus Role, South Royalton, VT

Reports to: Law and Graduate School Deans

VLGS Benefits and PTO include: 

- Full benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc.). 

- 403b including 4% employer contribution.

- 2 weeks of paid vacation in addition to paid personal and sick days. 

- 11 paid holidays plus two weeks of paid days off for Summer and Winter breaks. 

- Employee Assistance Program.

- VLGS course participation with tuition assistance.

- Flexible schedule potential. 

Vermont Law and Graduate School is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. We grow and learn better together with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students. In recruiting for faculty and staff, we seek unique backgrounds to enrich and challenge our community. 

Position Summary

The Associate Dean for Restorative Justice & Inclusive Excellence provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership that integrates the work of the Center for Justice Reform (CJR) with institution-wide efforts to cultivate a restorative, inclusive, and relationship-centered campus community. This combined role advances a holistic vision for an institution grounded in restorative principles—one that centers connection, accountability, repair, and shared responsibility for community well-being.

This position oversees all curricular, co-curricular, and community-facing programming connected to the Center for Justice Reform including the Master of Arts in Restorative Justice (MARJ), the RJ Graduate Certificate, and restorative justice events and partnerships.

More broadly the position guides institutional efforts to embed restorative practice within Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging strategy, policy, pedagogy, and culture, helping the school cultivate a more equitable, inclusive, and relational learning environment.

This is a senior academic leadership staff role (not faculty) reporting to the Deans of the Law School and the Graduate School.

Key Responsibilities

1. Center for Justice Reform Leadership 

Academic Program Oversight

- Provide vision, oversight, and continuous improvement for the MARJ program and Graduate Certificate. 

- Collaborate with faculty on curriculum development, assessment, and pedagogical innovation grounded in restorative principles. 

- Ensure alignment with institutional accreditation standards and strategic priorities. 

Restorative Justice Events & Outreach

- Lead all CJR events, symposia, trainings, and partnerships with local, national, and international RJ organizations. 

- Promote the CJR as a thought leader and hub for restorative justice scholarship and practice. 

- Support faculty and student research, applied projects, and community-engaged learning. 

Operational Management

- Oversee the CJR budget, staffing, and resource planning. 

- Foster collaborative relationships with internal and external partners to expand the impact of CJR initiatives. 

2. Strategic Leadership for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

- Shape and implement institution-wide DEIB priorities through a restorative lens, emphasizing relationship-centered processes and community-informed decision-making. 

- Co-develop and monitor DEIB metrics, reporting, and accountability structures. 

- Oversee the DEI budget, staffing, and resource planning. 

Restorative Climate Development

- Facilitate restorative conversations, circles, and processes that support community healing, conflict resolution, and inclusion across the institution. 

- Partner with HR, student services, academic affairs, and other units to embed restorative approaches into policies, practices, and professional development. 

- Provide leadership and oversight for campus wide cultural events such as the MLK Day events and the cultural celebration. 

Education & Capacity Building

- Provide training and guidance for faculty, staff, and students to increase cultural competence, reduce bias, and strengthen inclusive teaching and leadership practices. 

- Develop resources and programming that elevate diverse lived experiences and promote equity in both the academic and workplace environment. 

3. Collaborative Leadership Across the Institution

- Serve on institutional committees and working groups related to restorative justice, DEIB, and community well-being. 

- Serve as a member of VLGS’s Senior Leadership team. 

- Advise the Deans on restorative and DEIB matters affecting graduate programs, student experience, and organizational culture. 

- Build bridges between CJR’s academic mission and the institution’s broader equity commitments. 

- Oversee institutional discrimination policy.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in restorative justice, criminology, sociology, law, education, public policy, or related field.

• 7-10 years of leadership experience in higher education, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organizations.

• Demonstrated leadership experience in restorative justice, DEI work, or related institutional change efforts.

• Training and facilitation skills in restorative practices.

• Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship building abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree or J.D.

• Experience developing academic programs or leading complex educational initiatives.

• Experience in higher education administration.

• Demonstrated scholarship or practice in restorative justice and/or equity-centered organizational change.

• Experience supervising staff, managing budgets, and leading cross-functional teams.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Must be able to work legally within the United States without sponsorship.
• Ability to perform all essential functions of the job with or without basic accommodations.

Application Requirements:

Please attach a resume and cover letter for consideration. If you are applying from a third party website (Indeed, etc.) and are unable to attach additional materials to your online application, please apply directly at https://www.vermontlaw.edu/community/about-vls/employment-opportunities.

As part of our commitment to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, candidates who meet the qualifications for this position and who require accommodations to apply should contact Human Resources at jobs@vermontlaw.edu. Vermont Law and Graduate School strives to raise the bar for being an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, place of birth, marital status, disability, veteran's status, HIV status, pregnancy, genetic information, health insurance status, and crime victim status.

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