"Assistant Director, Student Connection"

Job Summary:

The Student Center for Community & Connections seeks an Assistant Director of Student Connections to join their fun, motivated, mission-driven, and service-oriented team! The Assistant Director of Student Connection works directly with students to develop, lead, and manage initiatives promoting: the celebration of cultural identities and expressions through Heritage Month programming; diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (Thriving Together) skill building through trainings and workshops; and empowering our students to lead across difference through peer education. The person in this position will develop and facilitate training and capacity building opportunities towards enhancing cultural humility and intercultural competence, provide mentorship and advising for cultural and identity-based organization in partnership with the Center for Campus Involvement, and support individual identity and leadership development within the student body. The Assistant Director will collaborate with campus and community partners to identify and implement a range of programs and educational offerings that positively impact the holistic development of our students.

The Assistant Director will ensure that there are vibrant cultural offerings by working with students, faculty, and staff to develop a thriving peer educator program that equips students with facilitation and programming skills to lead cultural awareness celebrations, and dialogue with their peers that will enhance the global citizenship skills and cultural competency. The Assistant Director will also provide supervision over student leaders who develop programming that cut across the identities of race, class, gender identity and/or expression, and sexual orientation as well as other intersecting identities. To that extent, the person in this position must have a broad understanding of diversity, operate with an equity lens, and still meet people with very little exposure to diversity where they are.

The Assistant Director will report to the Director of the Student Center for Community & Connections and be a part of a team aimed at ensuring that students are supported, successful and equipped with the skills needed in the 21st century to be effective global citizens. The Assistant Director will also partner with other faculty and staff across campus to ensure that students can find belonging on campus beyond the student center.

Primary Responsibilities

• Student Leadership & Intercultural Engagement
  • Support the Director of the Student Center for Community & Connections, in developing policies, protocols, and programs that enhance cultural appreciation and a sense of belonging
  • Develop and implement a peer education program in which students have the capacity to lead intercultural conversations and assist with trainings
  • Lead the planning and execution of intercultural programs and heritage month celebrations in partnership with students, staff and faculty
  • Mentor and support cultural and identity-based student organizations through MOSAIC Collective
  • Engage with the appointed SGA Community & Connections Senator
  • Make appropriate referrals for students to campus partners for assistance and support when needed
  • Supervise student workers and Peer Educators to fulfill the missions of both the Student Center for Community & Connections and the Peer Educator program
• Intercultural Education & Campus Engagement
  • Serve as a supportive campus resource and connector for BIPOC, First Generation college students and LGBTQIA+ students, helping them navigate the collegiate landscape, and foster engagement
  • Provide diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging training and education to different student groups, including but not limited to Resident Assistants, Peer Mentors, Athletics, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Wellness Ambassadors, incoming first-year students, and other group and individuals
  • Collaborate with Center for Involvement, Center for Leadership and Community Engagement, Resident Life and Explorations, Center for Career and Life Planning, Religious and Spiritual Life and others to ensure that students are receiving well-rounded training and educational experiences to effectively lead on campus and in the greater society
• Assessment, Operations, & Institutional Engagement
  • Assesses programs, initiatives, and training to improve offerings and evaluate learning
  • Manage a programming and training budget within the Student Center for Community & Connections
  • Serve on various campus committees
  • In consultation with the Director of the Student Center for Community & Connections, other duties as assigned to support the Student Center for Community & Connections, and the Thriving Together initiatives of the college

Minimum Qualifications & Education:

• A minimum of three years of work experience directly related to the essential functions of the position
• Demonstrated advocacy and leadership related to BIPOC, First Generation, LGBTQIA+ communities, and other intersectional identities
• Demonstrated experience in providing mentoring, advising and/or programmatic support to a diverse array of BIPOC, first generation to college, and LGBTQIA+ students

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in student affairs, higher education, counseling, or another related field
• Bilingual communication skills are preferred. At a minimum the ability to understand and makes oneself understood to all Spanish speaking individuals

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge and demonstrated understanding and practice of social justice, belonging, and intercultural development
• Understanding of student development theory, identity development, and best practices and theory related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, along with the ability to translate theory into practice
• Ability to productively engage across student affairs and academic units, departments, and divisions, including building connections with relevant academic centers, programs, initiatives, courses, faculty, and staff
• Evidence of success in promoting and advancing organizational diversity initiatives and goals
• Strong Conflict Resolution skills, bias intervention and mitigation strategies
• Strong facilitation and presentation skill

Work Environment:

• Campus-based, front-facing customer service position, and the ability for flexible hybrid scheduling
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and visual strain working on a computer
• May require traveling for offsite meetings
• Work requires visual strain and the use of a computer
• Fast-paced team environment requiring an ability to multitask
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends

Instructions to Applicants:

To apply, please submit an application and upload the following materials:

1. Resume
2. Cover letter
3. Please provide the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references in your application