Associate Director of Student Advocacy

Position Title:
Associate Director of Student Advocacy

Position Type:
Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Hiring Range:

$69,600-$81,850 commensurate with experience

Pay Frequency:
Annual
POSITION PURPOSE

The Associate Director focuses on two key areas: 1) providing strategic leadership for first-generation college student advocacy services within the LEAD Scholars Program (LEAD) and 2) delivering direct counseling to first-generation students facing mental health, financial, academic, and personal challenges. Additionally, the Associate Director leads efforts to ensure LEAD remains an inclusive and supportive environment tailored to the unique needs of first-generation college students.

This role requires extensive experience in case management, specifically in counseling college students on mental health and wellbeing, financial hardships, and other personal or social challenges that may impede academic success. The Associate Director manages a caseload of students, while providing expert guidance on crisis management involving issues such as mental health and substance use.

The Associate Director supervises two Assistant Directors of Student Advocacy, working together as the primary responders to students facing challenges within LEAD. This role also involves overseeing recruitment efforts, planning LEAD Week, and supporting additional programmatic initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience counseling college students, particularly first-generation and historically underrepresented students, with a deep understanding of the challenges they face.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Well-Being and Advising (30%)

• Lead holistic support initiatives for students in the LEAD Scholars Program, including expert guidance in crisis management involving mental health, substance use, and other personal and academic issues

• Provide direct counseling and advising services for a case-load of LEAD Scholars

• Ensure student advising and support is tailored to student identities-including but not limited to: BIPOC students, undocumented students, transfer students, veterans, foster youth, and other intersecting identities

Staff Supervision and Development (15%)

• Supervise a team of two Assistant Directors of Student Advocacy

• Recruit, select, onboard, train, and evaluate staff members

• Provide direction and leadership

• Develop talent, skills, and abilities of those supervised

• Set clear expectations and mutual goals for two Assistant Directors of Student Advocacy

• Meet regularly with individual Assistant Directors of Student Advocacy to provide consultation on work-related issues including programming, student support, budgeting and professional development

• Lead weekly Advocacy Team meetings

Strategic Leadership (15%)

• Work closely with Director to develop strategies by which LEAD can advance student holistic wellness through programming and assess those efforts in collaboration with other LEAD staff members and of Educational Assessment

• Build a network of support that includes on and off campus resources, ensuring effective advocacy, referral and collaboration with such units as Counseling and Psychological Services, Office of Student Life, Office of Multicultural Learning, Wellness Center, Office of Accessible Education, the Drahmann Center and Financial Aid

• Provide consultation to on-campus units, faculty and staff regarding the needs of first-generation college students to ensure they are effectively supported

• Collaborate with campus and off-campus constituents to develop and implement holistic wellness support for LEAD Scholars

• Oversee wellness programming implemented by Assistant Directors of Student Advocacy

• Provide consultation on LEAD Peer Mentoring Program

• Author reports on LEAD Student Advocacy work for annual reports, impact reports for donors and other needs

• Remain abreast of research, current trends, practices and legal issues pertinent to the needs of first-generation college students

Prospective Student Recruitment (10%)

• Oversee recruitment and matriculation of new LEAD Scholars in collaboration with LEAD team members, Admissions, Drahmann Center, Registrar's Office and other campus partners

• Manage the new student invitation and application process including responding to request for additional information and outreaching to potential LEAD Scholars, in collaboration with the Operations Manager

• Oversee outreach efforts, including email campaigns and phone calls with prospective LEAD Scholars

• Collaborate with LEAD Marketing and Program Coordinator to provide recruitment materials during information sessions, admitted students day, and other prospective students events

• Regularly share updates with the LEAD team on recruitment efforts

• Attend and participate in the New Student Planning Group weekly meetings

• Provide consultation on Level 2 student recruitment with the Assistant Director of Student Advocacy overseeing program

• Track and analyze recruitment data to assess the effectiveness of various strategies and make data-driven decisions

Orientation (10%)

• Lead the planning and implementation of LEAD Week new student intensive orientation with the support of other LEAD staff members. This includes educational and wellness-based workshops, and other activities that increase belonging, as well as scheduling and connecting with other departments to deliver relevant workshops

• Develop the LEAD Week planning timeline and regularly check-in with LEAD staff on the progress of assigned tasks

• Assist with the LEAD Week Student Staff hiring process including checking in with the Assistant Directors of Student Advocacy and the Associate Director of Curricular and Co-Curricular, providing feedback on potential students leaders, and recruitment efforts

• Recruit, hire, and train the LEAD Week Assistants in preparation for LEAD Formation and LEAD Week

• Act as the main point person during LEAD Week including being on-call for the LEAD Week Assistants after hours.

• Troubleshoot any issues related to LEAD Week including scheduling issues, student wellbeing issues, and/or student staff issues

• Solicit feedback from both student staff and professional staff on the delivery of LEAD Week

Training and Outreach (10%)

• Plan and implement training sessions for faculty and staff about the first-generation college student experience and best practices for support.

• Oversee a committee of faculty and staff who provide advocacy and/or support for first-generation college students in their areas.

Team Member and Other Responsibilities (10%)

• Engage regularly in LEAD programming and activities to build connections with students

• Support significant LEAD initiatives such as the National First-generation College Celebration

• Participate in assessment and reporting as appropriate

• Communicate regularly with the Office of Student Life, Residence Life, Cowell Center, and other departments as needed.

• Serve on University-wide committees as a representative of the LEAD Scholars Program as appropriate to areas of responsibility.

• Collaborate with Assistant Director of Marketing and Programming on wellness and LEAD Week-related marketing and promotion

• Provide financial updates to Director on budget areas

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1. Recommend initiatives and implement changes to improve quality and services.

2. Identify and determine causes of problems; develop and present recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices.

3. Maintain contact with students and other constituents, and solicit feedback for improved services.

4. Maximize productivity through use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives.

5. Research and develop resources that create timely and efficient workflow.

6. Prepare progress reports; inform supervisor of project status; and deviation from goals.

7. Ensure completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all operational functions.

8. Prepare and submit reports as requested and required.

9. Develop and implement guidelines to support the functions of the unit.

Provides Work Direction

1. Provides supervision to two Assistant Directors of Student Advocacy

2. Supervision of student assistants

3. Work as a teammate with colleagues in the department.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.

• Requires some physical activity that could include lifting up to 10 lbs, moving tables and chairs, setting up food and other activities related to event implementation.

• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.

• May be required to attend conference and training sessions within Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Typical office environment.

• Mostly an indoor office environment with windows.

• Offices with equipment noise.

• Offices with frequent interruptions.

​POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge

• Substantial knowledge around counseling/advising college students around mental health, academic, emotional, financial, and other personal issues that can impede academic, social, and personal success.

• Deep understanding of crisis case management involving such issues as mental health, substance use, and other personal and academic issues.

• Understanding of Student Development theory and college student experiences especially as it pertains to diverse populations including first-generation college students, low-income students, BIPOC students, students from immigrant backgrounds, undocumented students, transfer students, LGBTQ students and non-traditional aged students.

• Knowledge around wellness coaching techniques, including goal-setting, motivational interviewing, and strategies to support students in their goals.

• Understanding and support of the Jesuit tradition of education and a commitment to the fundamental values of service to others, community, and diversity as well as commitment to and demonstration of skills, knowledge, and awareness to serve the unique needs of the diverse campus community of Santa Clara University.

Skills

• Strong crisis management, counseling, and advising skills centered on college student development.

• Effective, culturally competent, holistic advising.

• Excellent organizational, communication (written and oral), and public relations, including delivering workshops or training, skills essential.

• Strong organizational skills including time management, multitasking, and project completion

• Commitment to customer service, both internal and external to the department.

• Evidence of strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Proficiency in Google Apps for Education, Microsoft Office, and database management.

Abilities

Demonstrated ability to:

1. Cultivate collaborative interpersonal relationships with internal and external constituencies.

2. Independently carry out tasks of varying complexity.

3. Exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.

4. Operate in a highly confidential manner and with minimal supervision and direction.

5. Manage multiple tasks at the same time and complete projects from inception through implementation and assessment.

Education and/or Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree

• Minimum 5-6 years of work in a related counseling field or within a student services department

• Minimum of 2 years of experience counseling college students, specifically historically underrepresented college student populations.

• Experience with and knowledge of mental health, substance abuse and other personal and academic issues and concerns faced by college students.

Preferred

• Master's degree

• Bilingual/fluent in multiple languages.

• Experience with building community and addressing student safety and personal needs.

• Experience with project management, publications, external relations and policy articulation and implementation.

EEO Statement

​Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

COVID-19 Statement

The health and safety of the University community is a top priority. The University strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as the vaccination and boosters are safe, effective tools that significantly minimize the chances of serious illness and hospitalization. Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at http://www.scu.edu/title-ix. Information about Section 504 and the ADA Coordinator can be found athttp://www.scu.edu/title-ixhttps://www.scu.edu/oae/, (408) 554-4109, mailto:[email protected]. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services https://www.scu.edu/campus-safety/clery-act-compliance/ . To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the https://www.scu.edu/phonebook/Department-of-Human-Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at mailto:[email protected].

To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://apptrkr.com/5802203

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