"Associate Director, First Generation/Limited Income (FGLI) Student Support"

Position Summary:

The Associate Director of FGLI Student Support provides leadership for First Generation/Limited Income (FGLI) programs and services within the Office of Student Success Initiatives and the Division of Student Life and Undergraduate Education. This role is responsible for planning, executing, and assessing all components of Rice's undergraduate pre-orientation program, Owl Access, for FGLI first-year students and their families, while also providing leadership through advising and training for FGLI peer leaders and Student Director(s).

The Associate Director will develop innovative, year-round programming focused on the academic, professional, and interpersonal needs of this student population. Additionally, this role provides proactive advising support to a cohort of FGLI students, advising them on topics related to persistence at Rice, tracking academic progress, and developing interventions to support continued success as needed.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate has a minimum of three years of experience leading the organization, execution, and assessment of undergraduate orientation programs and activities that support the successful transition and integration of FGLI undergraduate students and families into the broader campus community. Candidates should have experience working closely with data, including survey design and data analysis, and should understand how to demonstrate that programmatic goals and student outcomes have been achieved. Direct advising of students, both one-on-one and in a group format, is essential.

The Associate Director of FGLI Student Support should be an innovative, student-centered professional deeply invested in the retention, persistence, and success of first generation/limited income students at Rice. Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to collaborate with various stakeholders, are critical for success in this position.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person on campus between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Occasional weekend and evening work is required. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range:

$65,000-$75,000 annually, contingent upon qualifications and experience
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.*

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree
  + In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
• 3+ years of related professional experience in a four-year college or university setting, with some previous experience working in orientation or event planning specific to FGLI undergraduate students in a post-secondary academic environment
  + In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis

Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of relevant theories, including student development, learning, and identity development, and experience applying those frameworks professionally
• Adept at problem-solving, with experience supporting and advising students in personal and/or academic crisis situations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong rapport-building abilities, and experience collaborating with faculty, staff, students, families, and administrators
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects with competing deadlines
• Demonstrated understanding of the experiences of students in transition, the strategies necessary to facilitate their success, and the development of key interventions to support this population
• Proven track record of successfully supporting diverse student populations, including but not limited to first generation college students, limited-income students, and underrepresented student populations
• Strong coaching and instructional skills, organizational abilities, attention to detail, and the ability to quickly assess the effectiveness of an intervention
• Skilled in problem-solving, creating contingency plans, and managing issues as needed to ensure successful program implementation and execution

Preferences:

• Master's degree (preferably in college student personnel, counseling, student affairs, or a related field)
• Experience planning and executing large-scale, campus-wide programming, including budget management, student leader selection and supervision, and program assessment
• Experience with assessment, including but not limited to survey design and data analysis
• Experience developing and supporting FGLI student success and undergraduate retention initiatives
• Experience working in orientation or event planning specific to undergraduate students
• Experience employing holistic, proactive, or intrusive advising strategies
• Experience providing academic support, leadership development, and program development
• Experience working at a highly selective college or university
• Demonstrated success working in a fast-paced, results-oriented, collaborative environment
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft and Google Suite, EAB Navigate, Qualtrics, or other assessment platforms

Essential Functions:

• Under the supervision of the Executive Director of Student Success Initiatives and the Associate Dean of Undergraduates, the Associate Director is responsible for managing a comprehensive pre-orientation program and all other FGLI programs (e.g., FGLI Fridays, FGLI Ambassadors, FGLI Network Supporter Training) to develop programming for the first year and beyond
• Manage various administrative and operational tasks, including but not limited to budget management, spreadsheet creation and maintenance, and financial reconciliation
• Communicate and collaborate with residential college Magisters and college coordinators to create strong and consistent communication channels
• Supervise FGLI student staff and lead the recruitment, selection, and leadership development of FGLI Student Directors, FGLI Orientation Advisors, and FGLI Ambassadors, providing support as they plan pre-orientation programming and year-round, campus-wide FGLI events
• Identify and advise students needing additional support and provide sustained, individualized, holistic, and developmentally appropriate coaching to support academic, social, leadership, and interpersonal development
• Assist in monitoring student academic performance and persistence toward graduation, prepare reports, and maintain student files as needed
• Analyze student data for trends in academic performance, course enrollment, or other factors that may affect student success
• Maintain awareness of best practices in proactive and holistic advising, student success coaching, and developments in the higher education and student affairs landscape, integrating these practices into advising and program development
• Develop and lead student success interventions, workshops, and programs designed to facilitate the transition to college
• Develop and lead training programs to educate student leaders, faculty, and staff about the populations supported by the office and effective strategies to support student transition

Additional Functions:

• Manage and reconcile a $250,000 budget
• Provide oversight of FGLI web, social media, and marketing efforts, and update communication materials and forms as needed
• Participate in department and division assessment efforts

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.