About The Family Institute at Northwestern University
Through research, education and clinical services, The Family Institute at Northwestern University is one of the nation’s leading relationship-based behavioral health organizations committed to strengthening and healing children and adolescents, couples, families and individuals. As an independent non-profit organization, The Family Institute (TFI) is governed by a committed Board of Directors and is led by a seasoned team of passionate leaders.
The mission of The Family Institute is to strengthen and heal families from all walks of like through clinical service, education, and research.
For over 50 years, TFI has been deeply committed to strengthening and healing the whole family system by bringing together the right partners to support children, adults, couples and families across the lifespan. As researchers, educators and therapists, the organization works with their clients and partner to see change.
The Family Institute provides counseling and psychotherapy throughout the Chicago metropolitan area helping more than 7,000 people annually through its staff practice of over 100 therapists and counselors. The Family Institute believes that taking care of our behavioral health is integral to our whole health. The Family Institute also runs the Bette D. Harris Child and Family Clinic where close to 2,000 Chicagoans receive counseling and therapy services each year.
In addition to their Clinical Services, the Family Institute has a long-standing affiliation with Northwestern University through The Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies. As a leader in providing the highest standards of behavioral health masters’ level education, TFI teaches and trains over 1,000 students across the country each year and remains a pioneer in on-line education. Its powerful link to one of
the leading academic universities in the world allows TFI to offer unparalleled teaching, training and research.
With an annual budget of $38 million The Family Institute is energized to be at the forefront of growth and evolution within
healthcare, and specifically within behavioral healthcare. The Family Institute continues to take a leadership role in the movement of
evidence-based care enabling analyses that will lead to meaningful findings important to improving care through the field of
behavioral health. The Family Institute embraces change, establishing itself as an outcome-driven organization resulting in higher impact for their clients and students.
About DEI at The Family Institute
Developed over a 6-month collaborative process across every level of the organization, The Family Institute has set a guiding vision for its work around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with the intent that The Family Institute will be a community where:
• Equity is centered in all of its systems, practices and services.
• Differences are deeply valued and wholly embraced.
Internally TFI has created the following shared definitions for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
Additionally, TFI has developed the following Guiding Principles which provide instruction to staff on how to engage with one another in the work of DEI:
The Opportunity
The Family Institute is seeking a Vice President of DEI Initiatives (“VP”) to elevate and empower the diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”)
work of the organization. This leader will create the vision for DEI Initiatives at TFI and will lead the development of the organizations DEI strategy and policies along with overseeing the implementation and assessment of that strategy, in support of the organization’s overall Culture Vision.
Reporting to and partnering with the CEO, this leader will work collaboratively with all staff to establish TFI’s vision and approach to DEI work both internally and externally. In collaboration with TFI leadership, staff, partners, and clients, the VP will ensure that this vision is fully aligned with the mission, strategy, and values of TFI today and well into the future. The CEO believes strongly that DEI initiatives are part of a broader commitment to overall culture change and sees this role as partnering with her to advance an equitable culture that deeply values differences.
The ideal candidate will be an energetic and synergy minded leader who is able to effectively motivate, develop, and empower members of the TFI team to achieve results. The VP will be mission-focused and strategic with experience leading an organization through change, improving policies and processes, and developing a culture of empathy and cultural competency among a group of diverse, talented
individuals.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this leader will have the skills, sensitivity and personal confidence to tap into the power that each member of the team brings to this mission. While it is essential that the VP be capable of refining and expanding current DEI efforts to improve the internal and external culture of TFI, it is also critical that this leader retains commitment to authenticity and vulnerability that drives TFI’s work, including a sense of humor and humility. Ultimately, this role will spearhead a period of transformation that advances inclusion and equity at The Family Institute.
Candidate Profile
The following offers an aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile; we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups.
Advocate of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Vice President will come to The Family Institute with credible experience and proven results in DEI programming, paired with a rich understanding of strategies that support cultural transformation. A resourceful coach and capable facilitator, the VP will have the ability to motivate others to action in support of a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. Equipped with a multi-faceted understanding of the evolving DEI landscape and best practices, the VP will help TFI and its community develop a shared language and tools to promote engagement and shared understanding of DEI issues. Moreover, this leader will be skilled in supporting others as they develop awareness, comfort and confidence to address issues of equity and inclusion. Most importantly, the ideal candidate will be energized by the prospect of building a culture and shaping TFI’s DEI framework and organizational strategy from the ground up.
Adaptive Relationship Builder
The VP will have demonstrated the ability to quickly build trust and credibility across all levels internally and externally. They will be an inclusive leader, allowing for the building of consensus and recognition of teamwork, while knowing when and where to be decisive. The VP will understand the need to learn the history and culture of The Family Institute and appreciate the complexities it faces today before making
recommendations. They will demonstrate foresight in recognizing cultural problem areas and a proactive vision for identifying and implementing solutions around all matters relating to DEI programs and policies at TFI. In service of this goal, the VP will be a confident, transparent and persuasive communicator who can deal effectively with people of different philosophies, backgrounds and cultures.
Change Agent and Achiever
In addition to being responsible for the own projects and initiatives, the VP will be exceptional at partnering with others to drive shared success. An experienced leader with a background in managing significant organizational change, the VP will maintain a thorough, detailed and wide-ranging perspective on the impact of changes on TFI’s community and culture. The VP will have practical experience in communicating change, including those related to historic practices, traditions and long-established systems. Proactive and insightful, the VP will bring a mindset to challenge the status quo. This leader will empower TFI’s community by operating with a high degree of transparency and clarity, in addition to focusing on outcomes. A catalyst for change, growth and cultural transformation, the ideal candidate will inspire others to think entrepreneurially and inject innovative ideas to the work of DEI at an organizational level.
Passion for the Mission
The VP will be energized by the cause of serving the community of clients that TFI serves, and will care deeply about the wellbeing of the staff and the client community. An empathic, confident leader, the VP will embrace the culture of TFI, which is integral to gaining credibility with the staff and community. The successful candidate will have a collaborative spirit and will be a dynamic leader who treats others with respect. The VP will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation. On the most fundamental level, the VP will look for ways to enrich, empower and care for all the communities that make up The Family Institute.