Director of Office of Student Success
OPENING DATE: February 12, 2013
EMPLOYMENT PERIOD: Full time, 12 months
START DATE: April 1, 2013 or as soon as possible thereafter
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Position’s Purpose: to provide leadership and vision in providing enrollment counseling, career development and student support services to students and alumni, equipping them to successfully complete their degrees and transition to the workforce
Specific essential responsibilities are as follows:
- Oversee all aspects of career services; learning support services, including the Academic Resource Center, disability services and First Year Seminar; and enrollment counselors who provide undergraduate academic advising and some enrollment (registrar) functions. This includes program planning and development, service delivery, and assessment. The Director will collaborate with the Dean of Student Services and other members of OSS management team in strategic and operational functions with the OSS.
- Supervision of four administrators and one support staff including recruitment, hiring and training and encouraging their continued professional development and coaching for initiative, teamwork, collaboration, and creative/innovative thinking.
- Budget management (currently in excess of $530,000 annually).
- Facilitate continuous improvement and decision-making informed by internal and external data from sound assessment, trends and best and emerging practices.
- Oversee and integrate multiple programs in career development and counseling and advising, career information and education, job search preparation, employment services for graduates, internships/field experience, and grad school admissions guidance, to provide high-quality professional development services to students.
- Collaborate with academic departments to develop partnerships between the university and external communities (corporations, the public sector and not-for-profit entities) to expand the number and type of experiential learning (i.e., internships) and full-time employment opportunities for students.
- Foster relationships and partnerships with academic departments to inform them of job market, career, and industry trends and employer/recruiting expectations; identify career paths and requisite skills for their students, and educate and support students in development and marketing of professional skills and experiences. Ensure productive and continuing goal-directed partnerships with academic deans and directors.
- Work with Alumni Relations to increase alumni involvement in preparing students for their job search, educating them about industries and career paths, expanding internship and career opportunities, and recruiting for their organizations.
- Beginning with the first year student, ensure that students understand the importance of linking academic interests with career preparation through such activities as part-time employment, co-operative work experiences, and internships.
- Connect and interact with employers/recruiters on and off-campus, including but not limited to participation in the OLAPC Jobs and Graduate School Fair.
- Maintain a small counseling load that includes students from all class years.
- Develop and implement a broad range of retention activities and programs that support student success, including data analysis and personal support systems. This will involve working collaboratively with other departments across the university to develop and implement success strategies.
- Develop and manage data collection including Annual Report, annual profile surveys, and other data needed as determined by accreditation boards, ranking bodies, and the needs of other units within GFU. Manage office policies, procedures, and regulations focused on student usage of office services and resources. Research and stay informed in international, national, state and local hiring practices, employment trends and other labor related issues.
- Represent the OSS outside regularly scheduled hours, including local and non-local travel.
- Serve on committees, attend faculty meetings; serve other constituents on a limited basis; and other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
- Proven success in working in a fast paced environment demonstrating an enthusiasm for promoting the academic success and career development of students, as well as experience initiating and maintaining collaborative relationships and alliances with campus stakeholders (such as academic deans, Registrar, University Advancement, and Alumni Relations) to develop new community partnerships for potential internship and job opportunities.
- Strong, forward-thinking, creative, innovative, results-oriented leadership skills.
- Experience with organizational and strategic planning, assessment and data-informed decision-making, responsible stewardship of resources, and pursuit of new sources of support. Ability to establish a vision, goals and metrics for success and ability to design programs, services and initiatives that meet stakeholder needs. Must be self-directed, outcome oriented, and able and willing to work under pressure.
- Management experience that demonstrates successful development and motivation of a team to reach and exceed student-oriented goals as well as budget management, project management, strategic planning, and assessment.
- Strong interpersonal, collaborative, and excellent written and oral communications skills and ability to build effective relationships with students.
- Successful track record of employer outreach; experience in corporate recruiting/business development, company recruiting, corporate relations, or senior human resources preferred.
- Excellent critical thinking and demonstrated ability to execute effectively.
- Comprehensive knowledge of current practices in retention, career development and employment trends; of marketing strategies; of integration of career development, and of recruiting technologies; and of general career-services technology; knowledge of effective student success strategies such as tutoring and teaching strategies, student learning styles, academic advising theory, and student development theory preferred.
- Experience in recruiting and employer relations including current knowledge of comprehensive, state-of-the-art programs and practices in college student and career development, placement, and the relationship of academic preparation to the world of work. This includes work with undecided students, use of self-assessment instruments, career counseling, internships and experiential programs, job search strategies, job market trends, and employer relations and recruitment methods/practices as well as knowledge and experience using technology for delivery of career services and to enhance outreach to and communication with key constituents.
- Proficiency with MS Word and Excel Demonstrated ability to master Internet-based recruiting programs and learn new technologies.
- Evangelical Christian commitment and lifestyle consistent with the university’s mission as described on our website.
- Candidates should value an environment that reflects the diversity of God’s kingdom, engages in global concerns, and connects culturally.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in corporate recruiting/business development, company recruiting, corporate relations, or senior human resources.
- Familiarity with faith-based organizations preferred.
- Experience in initiating and managing campus level and/or community-based initiatives preferred.
- Familiarity with counseling, knowledge of the developmental concerns associated with the undergraduate population preferred.
COMPENSATION: Pay Range H; $46,893 to $58,616, depending on experience
Competitive benefits: Vacation; sick leave; holidays; health, dental, life, disability insurance; retirement plan and tuition remission.
REPORTS TO: Dean of Student Services
TO APPLY: Submit application, resume, and letter of interest to: Office of Human Resources, George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian, No. 6108, Newberg, OR 97132. You may fax application materials to 503 554 2186 or scan and e-mail to hr@georgefox.edu. The University reserves the right to fill the position as circumstances warrant.