Senior Director - Inclusion, Diversity, and Community Impact

Overview

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. is one of the nation's leading Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT's), in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing quality apartment communities in high barrier-to-entry markets of the United States. These markets are located in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Pacific Northwest and Northern and Southern California regions of the country. We currently own and operate approximately 82,000 apartment homes in the US and employ approximately 3,000 associates.

The Role

AvalonBay is looking for a passionate, motivated, and experienced leader to drive the continued evolution of our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) and philanthropy programs. This role will play a pivotal role in promoting and embedding inclusion and diversity principles across the organization. You will work collaboratively with leadership, associates, and key business partners to develop and execute strategies that drive meaningful change, create an inclusive environment, and ensure our workplace reflects the diversity of our communities, our customers and our associates.

This Person Will

Collaborate with senior leadership to refine and implement a comprehensive I&D and community impact strategy that aligns with the company's values, goals, and industry best practices. This includes:

Leading the I&D Steering Committee, Strategic Philanthropy Committee, as well as the I&D CouncilProviding expertise and critical thinking to internal business partners and executives to promote inclusive behaviors that foster a diverse and engaged workforcePiloting new programs that support continued improvement of both the I&D and community impact programs

Partner with key stakeholders internally to integrate I&D into the fabric of our culture, organization, and governance practices. This includes:

Coordinating, supporting, and monitoring departmental I&D plans which are prepared by Department Leaders alongside departmental I&D championsPartnering with our Learning and Development team to create and deliver I&D training to build awareness and promote inclusive behaviors among employees at all levelsPartnering with HR and others to review, update, and create policies and procedures that support I&D programsPartnering with Talent Acquisition to implement strategies that attract diverse talent, including underrepresented groups, and ensure a fair and inclusive hiring processWorking with Benefits to support the company’s Associate Relief Fund and Vacation Donation ProgramPartnering with the Legal team to navigate the ever-changing legal landscape surrounding I&D

Drive achievement of existing and new I&D and community impact goals and metrics. Including:

Measuring effectiveness of new and existing Programs and identify areas for improvementAssisting with content creation for ESG report and other internal and external communicationsPreparing an annual budget and monitor the status of actual results compared to budget throughout the year.Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly report on the progress of I&D and community impact programs

Provide leadership to key internal groups that drive our programs and programs forward. Including:

Overseeing and supporting the leadership of our 7 Associate Resource Groups (ARGs) providing guidance and resources to facilitate their engagementLeading the I&D Champions who in partnership with department leaders are responsible for assisting with the setting, monitoring and tracking of each group’s I&D goals.Supporting the continued evolution of our well-established strategic philanthropy program and the regional leads that execute our vision Leading annual Spirit of Caring Season and Community Preparedness Month in partnership with Marketing and other internal business partners

Required

Manage the planning, budget, communications, administrative platforms, processes, and national partnerships required to ensure the long-term success of the I&D and giving platforms. Including:

Managing the annual I&D and strategic philanthropy budgetsLeading and providing oversight for software platforms employed to support philanthropic giving, ARG management, and making recommendations to continuous improvement Providing direction and co-leading national philanthropic partnerships with appropriate internal stakeholdersOverseeing annual I&D calendar and associated programmingProviding direction to and work collaboratively with ESG Analyst

Remain current on ESG and I&D trends, research, and legislation to continually refine the company's D&I and community impact strategies.

You Have...

Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred, Master’s preferred.

Minimum 5 years relevant experience leading or supervising inclusion and diversity efforts required with a minimum of 10 years professional experience. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional programs and philanthropy efforts preferred.

Willingness to express a point of view related to both I&D and community impact topics, while connecting them to business priorities to help guide and inform the thinking of othersClear and concise written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills Ability to develop strong relationships and partnerships and lead through influence with internal teams and external partners.Passion for I&D and community giving, with the ability to speak confidently while navigating difficult circumstances and decisions with courage and radical candorAbility to clearly and effectively present ideas in meetings and create and deliver oral presentationsExhibits the ability to think strategically and has creative problem-solving skills. Demonstrated knowledge of I&D and community impact metrics and how to measure progress and successPossesses strong time and project management skills, including the ability to effectively manage and prioritize projects simultaneously.Ability to work independently and a high tolerance for ambiguity and shifting priorities. Exhibits strong business acumen and understanding of the business case for ESG, I&D, and strategic philanthropy Builds relationships, influences, and works collaboratively at all levels of the company as demonstrated by success in current or previous role.Computer skills – Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite required.

This position is based in the Arlington, VA headquarters and will follow corporate hybrid work policies. Periodic travel will be required.

How AvalonBay Supports You

We know that our teams are the beating heart of our success and we’re committed to showing our appreciation.

We Offer

Comprehensive benefits – health, dental & vision, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, tuition reimbursement, an employee stock purchase plan and more!Growth based on achievement and promotion from within.Associate recognition (a company-wide recognition program that celebrates associate efforts and successes in contributing to the overall success of the organization – including destination awards, ‘AvalonBay’s Very Best’ recognition program and others!).A 20% discount on our incredible apartment homes.A culture built on purpose and our core values - A Commitment to Integrity, A Spirit of Caring, and A Focus on Continuous Improvement.

Additional Info

AvalonBay is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment free of discrimination and harassment.  We believe that in order to achieve our purpose of creating a better way to live, we must recruit, develop and retain associates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and create an environment that encourages all voices to be heard, understood and appreciated. With this we know we can do great things.

AvalonBay makes employment decisions without regard to a person’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including characteristics or testing), citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by the law.

AvalonBay will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with requirements under the law.

For California residents, if you elect to apply to AvalonBay you accept the AvalonBay California Personnel Privacy Notice