Senior Manager of Inclusion and Belonging at Reach Out and Read

The Opportunity

Reach Out and Read is a national nonprofit that uses pediatric care to promote early literacy and parent-child bonding. Reaching 4.4 million children annually, half of whom are BIPOC, the organization distributes over 7 million books each year, empowering families with the tools for success. Through daily reading, Reach Out and Read strengthens language skills, social-emotional development, and prepares children for school and beyond.

At a significant moment in the organization's journey, the Senior Manager of Inclusion & Belonging will lead efforts to ensure that Reach Out and Read's model is accessible and effective for all children and families, centering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion throughout every aspect of the organization. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Senior Manager will project manage the development and implementation of key DEI initiatives that align with Reach Out and Read's strategic plan, fostering an inclusive culture that reflects the organization's core values. This role will ensure DEI is embedded in all our programs and operations, driving the organization's mission to equitably strengthen its impact on children, families, and communities.

This position requires strong project management, communication, and leadership skills to support these strategic priorities and ensure long-lasting organizational change as Reach Out and Read enhances its national network.

Your key responsibilities will include:

DEI Project Leadership (60%)

• Project manage the scoping, development, and execution of DEI training resources and initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Project manage the creation, implementation, and management of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to foster employee engagement and belonging.
• Launch, track, and assess DEI education initiatives, ensuring they drive measurable impact, engagement, and continuous improvement. 
• Create processes to evaluate DEI training efforts, gather feedback, and recommend strategies for continuous improvement.
• Stay updated on best practices and use insights to recommend improvements to DEI strategies and initiatives.

Support and Management of Organization-Wide Strategic Initiatives (20%)

• Work with the Chief of Staff to provide project management and tactical support for specific strategic initiatives.
• Assist in coordinating organization-wide strategic planning efforts, ensuring alignment with DEI objectives.
• Support the development of inclusive learning resources for organizational leaders.

Communication and Network Engagement (20%)

• Develop and distribute internal DEI communications, including newsletters, reports, and learning opportunities to engage staff and stakeholders.
• Create and manage an annual cultural calendar that promotes inclusivity and highlights significant cultural celebrations.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to share DEI knowledge and promote engagement in DEI initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience:

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. We'll honor your lived and professional experience as key aspects of your candidacy for the role and prioritize applicants with experience dismantling the structural inequities that disproportionately impact children and families with traditionally marginalized identities.  We are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below: 

• Commitment to increasing equity in opportunity and outcomes for children and to recognizing factors known to significantly impact differential outcomes for children, including race, ethnicity, language, and socio-economic status.
• Minimum of five years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), with a proven track record of developing and leading impactful DEI strategies.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Management, Learning and Organization Development, International/Intercultural Studies, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Deep understanding of structural racism and challenges faced by diverse communities, particularly those with intersecting identities and immigrant backgrounds.
• Familiarity with social justice movements and topics such as racial, LGBTQ, and disability rights.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in strategic planning support and operational management related to DEI initiatives.
• Proficiency in project management and evaluation methods to support DEI work and reporting.

Position Specifications

This is a full-time, exempt position. The Senior Manager of Inclusion and Belonging may work remotely from a home-based office anywhere in the United States. Occasional travel for one to two National meetings per year and occasional team meetings is required.

Compensation and Benefits 

The salary range for this position is $75,000-$80,000 and is commensurate with experience. Reach Out and Read offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with match, paid time off, and more.  

Commitment to Diversity:

Reach Out and Read is committed to building an organization that embraces diversity, pursues equity, and fosters an environment of inclusion. Reach Out and Read sits at the intersection of health and education, uniquely positioned to play a critical role in addressing systemic disparities and inequities in the public health framework. Reach Out and Read strives to be an antiracist organization, using its influence to fight against social injustice by supporting a culture of learning, empowerment, equity, and a deep appreciation for the unique experiences that we each bring to our communities. And, we believe that changing the world begins with holding ourselves and our workplace to that same standard. 

About Reach Out and Read:

Founded in 1989, Reach Out and Read is a national nonprofit organization working to ensure all families have the opportunity to create meaningful everyday moments through shared reading aloud and building relationships. By leveraging pediatric care to champion the positive effects of reading daily and distributing books, Reach Out and Read gives young children a foundation for success and reaches 4.4 million children across the county – half of whom identify as BIPOC and two-thirds of whom come from low-income families. 

Reach Out and Read's tens of thousands of trained pediatric providers use books as a diagnostic tool during regular check-ups, and teach parents how to engage their child with a book to promote positive parent-child interactions during the rapid brain growth between birth and age five. The daily practice of reading aloud with a parent supports children's literacy and math skill development, their social-emotional development, and prepares them for future success in school. Working together with our sites and providers, we leverage our three decades of expertise, build on our literacy foundations, and engage our shared networks as a catalyst for change, focusing on equitably strengthening and deepening our impact on the children, families, and communities we serve.

The Impact:

• Reach Out and Read program sites are located in 6,200 clinics, safety net hospitals, medical systems, and other healthcare settings in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• Reach Out and Read serves 4.4 million children and their families annually.
• More than 7.1 million new, developmentally appropriate books are integrated into well-child visits with families annually.
• 36,000 clinicians currently participate in Reach Out and Read
• Our peer-reviewed body of evidence demonstrates that Reach Out and Read parents are two-and-a-half times more likely to read regularly to their children, and that children experiencing Reach Out and Read show enhanced language development.

To learn more about Reach Out and Read, visit www.reachoutandread.org. 

Reach Out and Read is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Reach Out and Read is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status. Reach Out and Read is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and we are committed to making special accommodations for your interview or work as a member of our team. If specific accommodations are needed, please email HR @ reachoutandread.org and our HR team will work to accommodate your needs.