"Director, Community Belonging"

Company:

Austin Peay State University

Job Location:

Clarksville, Tennessee

Category:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Services

Type:

Full-Time

Job Description

The Director provides leadership and management of the operating budgets, is responsible for managing student and full-time staff. The Director is responsible for critical support in initiatives and programming that drive students' sense of belonging and student success. The Director will lead initiatives to advance the vision of Student Affairs at Austin Peay State University; the Director will seek continuous and integrated improvements on all such matters and collaborating with campus partners to achieve division goals.

Characteristics of a successful candidate:

• Integrity, kindness, creativity, and decisiveness, along with the capacity to inspire others.
• Motivation to create a caring and safe student experience.
• Ability to serve with agility; important to lead, listen, and serve with a high level of energy.
• A commitment to practicing open communication and inspiring trust.
• Desire to collaborate with colleagues and create a culture that rewards teamwork.
• Demonstrated sincere enjoyment from working with students.

Responsibilities include:

Supervisory leadership

• Provide supervision and leadership to the Office of Community Belonging, providing cultural and educational activities for the Adult, Nontraditional & Transfer Student Center, the Latino Cultural Center, and the Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center.
• Establish and operationalize a unified belonging framework that promotes collaboration across focus areas through joint planning, integrated programming, cross-training, and shared accountability.
• Oversee the hiring, supervision and mentorship, training, and professional development of office team members to achieve division goals.
• Conduct performance reviews on an annual basis; developmentally coach members to success with a strengths-based approach.
• Provide recommendations for staff member merit as determined and available.
• Lead staff meetings with team members within designated scope of supervision.

Community Building and Programming

• Directs initiatives to enhance the social development and success of students.
• Oversee all aspects of educational programs and campus events that foster a welcoming social environment and campus belonging.
• Collaboratively lead signature celebratory programming such as, but not limited to, Transfer Student Week, Culture Fest, Party at the Peay, Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Govs Success Institute's Early Arrival Program and Finals Destress Week.
• Leads an innovative and engaging campus life strategy that boosts student engagement, promotes student success, and creates a safe and caring student experience.
• Lead advising, and foster creation of, student organizations supporting campus belonging.
• Work with leadership to develop and implement policies and procedures that support a community of belonging for students.

Student Success

• Provide administrative oversight of programs and services to enhance the academic success of students with a focus on initiatives related to retention, graduation, and career development.
• Maintain student files in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations.
• Collaborates with campus partners such as admissions and academic affairs to boost the student success of students.
• Promote campus belongingness and engagement through advocacy and education.
• Provide leadership for the delivery of programs, spaces, and engagement with the campus community to boost a sense of belonging and success among students.
• Lead the development and implementation of assessment plans to evaluate program effectiveness, learning outcomes, and student impact.

Department and Division Leadership

• Maintain open communication with the Associate Vice President for Community Belonging & Success to support alignment and problem-solving.
• Provide consultation and training for faculty and staff related to student belonging, engagement, and campus climate.
• Participate in institutional crisis response efforts, including outreach and student support.
• Serve on university committees, advisory boards, and task forces.
• Remain current on national trends, best practices, and emerging issues related to student belonging and engagement.
• Manage the financial resources of the office and centers, authorize expenditures and monitor the departmental budget in accordance with APSU policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with campus partners on development and programming opportunities.
• Identify organizational and cultural changes needed to adapt strategically to changing market and technological demands.
• Serve on the cabinet and council leadership team within the Division of Student Affairs.
• Participate in related professional organizations for continuing development.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Master's degree, and at least 3 years of related experience as a full-time professional; at least 2 years of leading a department as an Assistant/Associate Director/Director or at least 3 years as a coordinator within any of the following areas at a higher education institution: campus life, activities and programming, student belonging and success, underrepresented student populations, or closely aligned field.
• Visionary strategic leader direction, with skills and/or experience advancing a cohesive campus-wide strategy that strengthens student connection, engagement, persistence, and success.
• Knowledge of best practices within student organizations, activities and programming, and leadership development at a university or college; experience with program planning.
• Experience supervising and developing a multidisciplinary team of professional staff, and student employees.
• Ability to lead, develop, and work with a diverse staff.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to administer multiple deadlines and tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and assess data.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

Complementing the required skills and qualifications:

• Master's degree, and at least 6 years of progressive experience as a full-time professional; at least 3 years of leading a department as an Assistant/Associate Director/Director within any of the following areas at a higher education institution: campus life, activities and programming, student belonging and success, underrepresented student populations, or closely aligned field.
• Experience leading campus-wide initiatives or cross-divisional collaborations.
• Demonstrated success advancing retention, persistence, and student success initiatives.
• Experience with leading special initiatives, programs, and strategic planning.
• Experience supervising and managing a diverse team of student and professional staff.
• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.