Obtaining a Career as a Diversity Manager

The world has become a global village. People all over the world have started taking jobs globally for a better career and better opportunities. A workplace that has a diverse workforce would also result in difficult managing abilities. Here diversity applies to people from different ethnic groups and races, but also people from different age groups and generations. Men and women work together as colleagues in the same company, such a situation is also termed as business diversity. This heterogeneous kind of work force surely needs efficient management, although this falls under jurisdiction of the HR or the Human Resource Management. But considering the amount of work this task has, there is a separate department that caters to the needs and problems and grievances of the diverse workforce. According to the Supreme Court, the US employees are prohibited from considering race, religion, gender or ethnicity as a factor for hiring employees.

Job Responsibilities

• A diversity manager needs to design educational, cultural, and social programs in order to improve the quality of the educational and social experiences of adolescent and teenage students in general and women and under represented minority students in particular.
• Diversity Management comes under the jurisdiction of Human Resource Management (HR), hence the work of a Diversity Manager and a HR manager are closely related.
• They develop programs and Diversity action Plans for the organization which would enable equal opportunity in the workplace there by creating a healthy work environment.
• They update the HR department on employment and equality laws in a workplace.
• They work with the HR manager and maintain records of the employees and their grievances if any.
• They are responsible for maintaining Workplace Respect and a healthy working environment where all the employees are satisfied. This can be achieved by collaborating with the HR and ensuring that the workers don't feel alienated, but feel as a family.
• They also assist in programs such as “take your child to work today,” networking groups among the employees. All this helps in building good interpersonal relation among the employers and employees.
• They are responsible for making sure that there is no discrimination in the work place on grounds of race, colour, age, nationality, gender etc.

Requirements



Academic and Skill sets

• In order to be a diversity manager one needs to have a graduate degree in Human Resource. Graduates from any other field can also choose to become managers provided they have few years of experience in the field of human resource.
• Verified ability to team up and work productively with numerous components thereby delivering and improving the programs and schemes.
• A few years of experience in diversity related programs is an advantage.
• Knowledge of MS office and ability to work on spreadsheet is essential.
• Knowledge of some data software like MS Access is an added advantage.
• Excellent oral and writing skill is a must
• Should have the ability to implement and develop diversity principles.
• Should have a good knowledge of employment and compliance laws.
• Multitasking is advantageous and should be self motivated.

Training and Prior Experience

Proper training can help the aspiring diversity managers gain an understanding of the various issues and dynamics of difference. Thereon with continued work experience the candidates are expected to gain a string understanding of the scope and responsibilities of this job developing proper commitment. Often employers need candidates to have a confirmed history of achievement working both autonomously and with a team.

Employment Outlook

Career Prospects (globally)

According to a survey conducted in 2004, there were 820,000 people employed in US in Diversity and HR related sector. This sector is fast growing and a research suggests there will be abundant jobs available in this field by 2014. As the workforce is becoming worldwide and diverse in this global market there is a growing demand for these jobs in corporate sectors be it banks, multinational companies, universities, hotels, hospitals etc.

Salaries

The pay scale in this field varies on the grounds of experience, the standard of the employing company and the individual's skills and qualification. The average salary of a Diversity Manager is around $63,000 annually. This figure can go up to $120,000 depending on the Manager's expertise and work experience.

A diversity manager can rise up the career ladder, and become consultant and do Ph.D. and contribute to research or teaching. This is an immensely potent field with a lot of opportunities for growth.