Roles for DEI

At SCORE, we believe that anyone can start and thrive with the right support. We also recognize that road to success is harder for some than others. It is SCORE’s responsibility and privilege to help businesses of all demographics. Now, more than ever, we recognize our renewed commitment to support underrepresented entrepreneurs as we believe we become stronger when we support small business for everyone.

It is the responsibility of all of us at SCORE to live out our Diversity Matters value. However, there are a few vital roles who keep Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the forefront of our work. These key positions include the Ambassadors who work with leadership to define and communicate initiatives across the organization. The next role is the Chapter Champions who provide assessment, education, and guidance to drive DEI initiatives locally for their chapters. Finally, these roles work closely with the senior leadership positions to ensure a commitment to the organizational DEI goals. Ambassadors and Chapter Champions are critical to ensuring that SCORE is a key small business resource for all our clients.

Specific responsibilities associated with the Ambassador and Chapter Champion roles can be found in the descriptions below.

DEI Ambassador

DEI Ambassador Candidate Interview Tool

DEI Ambassador Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Other Characteristics (KSAO) Table

(Primary advisor and resource partner for Regional leadership)

Leadership & Accountability

• Ensure collaboration among all participants in SCORE DEI roles
• Work with DEI committees to improve and advance SCORE DEI initiatives in order to meet goals and objectives

DEI Education and Development

• Promote awareness and engagement in DEI roles (work with RVPs, DDs, Chairs to recruit and retain Chapter Champions)
• Development of Chapter Champions

• Onboard and train Champions (including proficiencies like gathering and analyzing assessment data)
• Provide guidance and relevant education resources to Champions to best engage and support Chapter volunteers

Collaboration & Support

• Collaborate with Chapter Champions to develop and execute plans, review progress
• Address and resolve issues with support from others
• Maintain communication with RVPs, DDs, ADDs and report progress and successes
• Work with chapter leadership and RVPs, DDs, ADDs to identify succession candidates for Ambassador and Champion roles

Chapter Champion

(Primary advisor and resource partner for Chapter leadership *If practical, you may serve on the Chapter Executive Committee)

Assessments

• Assist with conducting Chapter DEI Assessment
• Assist with developing and executing Chapter action plans in alignment with SCORE DEI objectives

Culture Champion and DEI education

• Keep DEI at the forefront of our work to best serve the needs of all small business clients
• Promote awareness and engagement in SCORE DEI education materials to further volunteer growth and development
  • Facilitate Thought Starters and DEI education module follow-up conversations to create space for inclusion (e.g., promote varied perspectives, positive discourse, help Chapter mitigate pitfalls from “group think” and concentration risk

Collaboration & Reporting

• Work closely with your Ambassador, DD and RVP to report progress
• Collaborate with others to share successes

RVPs, DDs and Chapter Chairs

(Leaders and resource partners at the regional, district, and chapter level)

Leadership & Engagement

• Show commitment to SCORE’s Culture of Inclusion and DEI related efforts
• Actively engage in the work to promote DEI competencies

Alignment

• Ensure action plans, strategies, and structures include and align SCORE culture & DEI efforts with overarching organizational goals
• Annual review of Chapter Champion succession candidates (bench review)

Collaboration

• RVPs, DDs, ADDs work with chapter leadership and Ambassadors to support DEI efforts and identify succession candidates for Ambassador and Champion roles
• Chairs work with Regional Ambassadors & Chapter Champions to support local efforts