Job Abstract

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

LEAD Associate Director for Student Advocacy

The Associate Director’s primary focus is to advocate for students participating in the LEAD Scholars Program which supports first-generation college students at Santa Clara University. The Associate Director is the primary contact person within the LEAD Scholars Program to address and coordinate efforts to support the welfare of participants and ensure that first-generation college students’ needs are being met by faculty, staff and campus entities. The Associate Director provides direct holistic support and services to LEAD Scholars. This person also provides outreach and consultation to faculty and staff regarding first-generation college student needs and helps to ensure that first-generation college students’ concerns are addressed in campus services, programs, policies, and protocols.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Student Welfare and Student Advising 

• Provide leadership in coordinating support for students in the LEAD Scholars Program

• Develop and uphold student welfare policies and practices in the LEAD Scholars Program that align with those of the university

• Develop and maintain a proactive outreach system to identify, monitor and track student welfare issues

•  Provide holistic advising and support for students by addressing mental health, family relationships, and academic and financial concerns among others. - specifically transfer students

• Provide tailored support and advising to special populations among LEAD Scholars including BIPOC students, undocumented students, transfer students, veterans, foster youth, and other intersecting identities. 

• Manage and distribute LEAD emergency and scholarship (academic year, summer school, and study abroad) funding to help address students’ financial concerns

• 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. 

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

2. Recruitment and Orientation

• Collaborate with Admissions on recruitment of new LEAD Scholars

• Managing the 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 communication with prospective LEAD Scholars

•  Lead the coordination of LEAD Week, new student intensive orientation, with the support of other LEAD staff members

• Develop the LEAD Week schedule and connect with other departments to deliver presentations and workshops

• Assist with the LEAD Week Student Staff hiring process

• Recruit and hire the LEAD Week Assistants

• Regularly check in with LEAD Staff on components of LEAD Week they support

3. Program Coordination

• Oversee  wellness-related programming for the LEAD Scholars Program

• Collaborate with campus and off-campus partners to develop and implement holistic wellness programming 

• Develop passive wellness-related programming via social media, email and other communication in collaboration with LEAD Marketing and Program Coordinator 

• Partner with campus partners to develop campus-wide programming that addresses the needs of first-generation college students and other diverse communities 

• Provide consultation on LEAD Peer Mentoring Program

4. Training and Outreach

• 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.

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5. Student Supervision

• Hire, train and supervise student employees for wellness-related support

• Determine student employment needs, set schedule and manage personnel issues

• Monitor changing needs and distribute projects and assignments accordingly

• Handle student employee related issues and inquiries and refer appropriately 

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6. Professional Staff Supervision

• Hire and train Assistant Director of Student Advocacy

• Supervise the Assistant Director of Student Advocacy

• Meet regularly and provide consistent feedback

• Provide consultation on work-related issues including programming, student support and budgeting

• Delegate tasks related to student advocacy work

7. Team Member and Other Responsibilities

•  Engage regularly in LEAD programming and activities to build connections with students
• Support significant LEAD initiatives such as  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  Marketing and Program Coordinator 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

• Provides supervision to the Assistant Director of Student Advocacy

• Supervision of student assistants

• work as a teammate with colleagues in the department.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred. This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.

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 indoor office environment with windows.

• Offices with equipment noise.

• Offices with frequent interruptions.

Knowledge 

1. 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 off the diverse campus community of Santa Clara University.

2. 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.

Skills

 1.      Effective, culturally competent, holistic advising

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

3.      Strong organizational skills including time management, multitasking, and project completion

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

5.      Evidence of strong analytical and problem-solving skills

6.      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

1. Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, higher education administration, college student services, education or related field.

2. 5-6 years of work in a related counseling field or within a student services department.

2. Minimum of 3 to 5 years of progressively responsible work in an academic setting.

3. Minimum of 2 years of experience engaging in student advocacy and support, specifically with diverse student populations.

Preferred

1. Master’s degree in social work, counseling, higher education administration, college student services, education or related field.

2. Experience and knowledge of mental health issues and concerns

?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/

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.

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 www.scu.edu/title-ix. Information about Section 504 and the ADA Coordinator can be found at https://www.scu.edu/oae/, (408) 554-4109, oae@scu.edu. 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  website . 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 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 iahluwalia@scu.edu.