Director, Student Life

The Director of Student Life is responsible for creating and supporting a high-quality student life experience for all students at UHD. The Director of Student Life creates, implements, and facilitates opportunities for co-curricular learning and student leadership development. The Director of Student Life will also promote proactive retention activities and student engagement. The Director of Student Life functions as a student advocate by responding directly to student needs and issues affecting student well-being. The Director of Student Life reports to the Dean of Students.

• Develops and market student initiatives and programming that will promote high-quality student life experiences and holistic well-being
• Implements and facilitates educational and developmental workshops that foster student leadership and professionalism
• Provides oversight to campus-wide signature student events and programs such as Homecoming, Ring Ceremony, Blue Coats, and others as requested by the Dean of Students
• Stays abreast of campus services, programs, resources, and other opportunities to aid in the retention of all students
• Directs students to resources, policies, and procedures to address personal or academic concerns
• Assists with addressing and responding to student complaints
• Serves as back-up student conduct officer for Assistant Dean of Students
• Works with faculty, staff, and administration to address and respond to student concerns and needs
• Builds relationships and partnerships with student service offices across campus
• Assists Assistant Dean of Students with leading orientation programming for Student Affairs
• Oversees social media accounts for Student Affairs
• Assists the Dean of Students with special projects
• Assists and supports programming hosted by departments within Student Affairs
• Performs all other duties assigned by the Dean of Students

• Performs all other duties assigned

Direct Reports:

• Assists with supervising student workers

Delegation of Work:

• N/A

Supervision Given:

• N/A

Required Education:

• Master's degree in Student Affairs Administration, Higher Education, Education, Counseling, Social Work, or related field

Required Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years' experience in Student Affairs, college student personnel, higher education administration, or related field with demonstration of progressive leadership and responsibilities
• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years' experience in programming and event management on a collegiate level
• Minimum of three (3) years' experience with leadership development/training programs

License/Certification:

• None Required

• Experience with college student leadership development
• Experience working and providing intervention to college students lacking basic needs and other barriers to well-being
• Experience with student conduct
• Experience working with an urban/diverse student population
• Experience with managing business social media accounts
• Demonstrated experience with commonly used higher education software and applications (PeopleSoft, CampusGroups, Zoom)

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of trends, issues, and accepted practices relevant to higher education, student affairs, student leadership development, and student well-being

Skills:

• Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook
• Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Strong planning and organizational skills, accompanied by strong attention to detail
• Skilled in analyzing and organizing data sets into reports and presentations

Abilities:

• Ability to deliver excellent written and oral communication in a manner appropriate to the audience
• Ability to work through processes quickly and prioritize responsibilities
• Ability to synthesize detailed, complex information into clear and compelling recommendations for problem
  • solving and decision
  • making

Primary Work Location:

• Primary Work Location: Works in an office environment

Physical Demands:

• Physical Demands: Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements. Position is physically comfortable; individual has discretion about sitting (80%) walking (10%), standing (10%), etc. Occasional lifting, pushing, climbing, and pulling may be required. Work environment involves minimal exposure to physical risks. Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be required.

Commitment to Excellence - UHD

• Demonstrates a commitment to competently perform his/her job duties and responsibilities within established time frames.
• Continuously strives to improve work performance.
• Accepts responsibility for his/her commitments to the university.
• Contributes to the success of the university by consistently providing quality results in the performance of his/her job duties and responsibilities.

Respect and Cooperation

• Treats others with courtesy, respect, and dignity in the workplace.
• Promotes cooperation through open and honest communications and consideration of others ideas, thoughts, and opinions.

Integrity

• Demonstrates high ethical standards of conduct in the performance of his/her job duties and responsibilities.
• Accepts responsibility for his/her actions.
• Respects and complies with department and university policies, procedures, and work rules.

Proficiency

• Possesses required job skills and knowledge.
• Demonstrates the ability to apply those skills and knowledge to competently perform his/her job duties and assignments.

Dependability

• Takes responsibility to accomplish job assignments within reasonable deadlines.
• Willing to accept new projects and/or commitments.
• Does due diligence to complete projects within specified timeframes and/or fulfill commitments.
• Arrives to work on time prepared and ready to contribute.

Flexibility

• Willingly adjusts to changing work assignments or conditions.
• Open to changes in operational procedures, technology, and/or organizational structure.
• Views changes as opportunities for learning and professional development.
• Displays a positive attitude to encourage others.
• Promptly responds to changes in work priorities and/or unexpected circumstances or situations.

Customer Relations Management

• Ensures customer's needs and expectations are addressed within his/her department or section. (Customers can be students, external constituents, employees, or university guests.)
• Mentors and guides department/section staff by sharing knowledge and best practices to appropriately respond to customer's requests.
• Monitors staff interactions with customers for professional conduct, consistent application of university policies and procedures, and follow up of outstanding requests.
• Assumes responsibility for addressing complex or unusual requests.

Computer/Automated System Proficiency

• Proficient in the use of university applications or automated systems to perform job duties.
• Complies with related policies, procedures, and work rules to maintain system security and data integrity.

Building External Relationships

• Demonstrates the ability to build rapport and develop relationships with external constituents.
• Displays a genuine interest in constituents' ideas and concerns, and pursues mutual interests and aspirations between the university and external constituents.
• Builds trust and forms alliances through shared respect and cooperation.

Leadership

• Leads the organizational unit's endeavors to achieve its goals and objectives in support of the university's vision and mission.
• Oversees the organizational unit's operations in accordance with the university's shared values of excellence, student success, inclusiveness, respect, and integrity.
• Fosters a dynamic work environment that encourages teamwork and cooperation.

Focus on Customer Service

• Focuses on customer's needs and expectations. (Customers can be students, external constituents, employees, or university guests.)
• Respectfully ascertains customer's needs and determines appropriate response.
• Promptly responds by providing requested information, takes appropriate action, or refers customer to appropriate individual or department.
• If further actions need to be taken, advises customers of realistic timeframes for a response to their request.
• Follows up with customers on outstanding requests in a timely manner.
• Tactfully explains to customers why their needs and/or expectations cannot be met if the university does not provide the requested information or services.

Student Success Indirect Support

• Contributes to student success by assisting students with anything that supports their student experience, whether directly or indirectly.
• Helps students navigate their way through the different offices, programs, and services at the university and/or connects students with the appropriate party(ies).
• Connects students with services or resources that can help them with career exploration, goal selection, and ongoing academic assistance.
• Helps students build peer support networks.
• Encourages student participation in out-of-class activities.
• Provides encouragement and guidance to foster student success.
• Treats students with respect
• Maintains the learning environment to ensure quality and/or sound pedagogy.