Director - Student Affairs (Internal only)Job no: 502275
Position type: Staff Full Time
Benefit Status: Benefited-Union
Campus: UMass Lowell
Department: Student Affairs
Salary: Salary commensurate with experience and grade/range
Applications Open: Aug 09 2019
Applications Close: Aug 22 2019

General Summary of Position:

This being an internal opportunity, only current UML Employees, irrespective of Bargaining units are eligible to apply for this position.

Initiates, plans, and facilitates a campus wide leadership program that fosters student success and engagement through providing leadership and collaborative partnerships with faculty, staff, and community partners. The program development will focus on the area of student leadership, skill development, learning outcomes, and assessment, providing an overarching framework for students to engage with. Serve as primary advisor to Omicron Delta Kappa and Tau Sigma National Honor Societies. Coordinates initiatives for a comprehensive Women’s Leadership Program for students.

Work in conjunction with the Deans and Directors of Student Affairs to provide a high level of communication and information flow within the Division of Student Affairs in a timely and efficient manner. In addition, this position communicates directly with the Chancellor’s staff to facilitate the Vice Chancellor and Dean’s response to all requests from the Chancellor and members of the Executive Cabinet which includes the production of briefings for special events attended by the Chancellor and members of the Executive Cabinet. Responsibility for the daily administrative support of the Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students including scheduling of appointments, correspondences, and interfacing with faculty, staff, students and families in assigned tasks related to problem resolution.

Prepare and coordinate meetings of the Executive Team for Student Affairs, Strategic Infusion Team Steering Committee, by preparing agendas, distributing materials to members and assisting as needed, with communication to team members. Coordinates event planning meetings and preparation for the Chancellor’s and University Medal process. Works with the Chancellor’s Medal Committee to organize, notify, track and prepare award recipients. Coordinates disbursements of Endowment Funds overseen by the Dean of Student Affairs Coordinates all division scholarships working collaboratively with Financial Aid. Ensure smooth day to day operations and administrative functionality of the Division of Student Affairs and University Events by maintaining a proactive role in all efforts to improve the organization’s process for programs, projects and events.

Works directly with the Provost’s Office and other administrative office to plan and organize the university commencement ceremonies. Provides logistical support for services and operational needs over pre- commencement, commencement and convocation. Coordinates and oversees planning for the platform party, staffs the University Commencement email account. Coordinates all aspects of the Student Speaker Selection Committee for Commencement.

Assume leadership of special projects. Scope, plan and execute often quick-turnaround projects with little outside assistance. Oversee transfer of projects to other stakeholders as appropriate. Provides administrative leadership on division initiatives.

Assemble and analyze (potentially confidential) information for purposes of preparing various reports, agendas, department budgets, personnel items and statistical reports and compiling historical data to track growth.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Master’s degree required
• 5 to 7 years’ experience
• Previous experience working within a Student Affairs Division
• Will consider candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and at least 7-10 years of related experience
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing large scale leadership development with student populations
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team and with individuals and groups of various identities, cultures, and backgrounds
• Demonstrated background to function at an executive support level within a complex higher education institution with demonstrated progressive experience in providing administrative and analytical support, including experience in coordinating special events, appointments, meetings, briefings, and committees
• Demonstrated strong research and analytical skills to evaluate issues and develop solutions to address complex and sensitive problems/issues. Demonstrated skill in determining needs and requirements to create a conceptual design for issue/problem analysis; skill in observing and evaluating the outcomes of a problem to identify key issues; skill in formulating logical and objective conclusions and recommendations. The incumbent must have the ability to anticipate and identify critical issues, perform research and data collection, obtain advice and input from campus resources as necessary, and formulate solutions prior to consultation with the Student Affairs Executive Team
• Superior communication skills to effectively and professionally communicate using tact and diplomacy with internal and external campus community; skill in expressing ideas clearly and convincingly; skill in identifying the correct issues to be communicated, the appropriate audience, the method of communication, and the timing of the communication

Additional Considerations:

• Demonstrated written and verbal communication, organizational, interpersonal, and collaboration skills as well as the ability to handle a wide variety of details and coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to translate observations, findings, and recommendations from analytical studies into concise and logical written reports
• Demonstrated skill in creating and editing documents in word processing applications using advanced features and creating spreadsheets and reports using Word, Excel, Power Point, R25live or other software applications
• Thorough knowledge and experience in an academic environment, including an understanding of policies, practices, constituencies, and major issues in higher education
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive, confidential information, issues, and requests generated by high-level executives, donors, or government officials using excellent interpersonal skills and political astuteness

Special Instructions to Applicants:

This being an internal opportunity, only current UML Employees, irrespective of Bargaining units are eligible to apply for this position.

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process.