Director, Student Support Services - 137516

Under the general direction of the Associate Director of OASIS, administer and manage program activities, staff, and budget for a comprehensive, campus-wide $361,992 a year federal Student Support Services Program (SSSP) designed to increase the retention and graduate school admission rates of at least 206 UCSD first-generation, low-income, and/or students with disabilities. Designs, develops, and implements program recruiting and retention activities. Serves as a senior member of the OASIS Leadership Team. Acts in the place of the Associate Director as assigned. Prepares reports for OASIS and SRS Leadership and the U.S. Department of Education. Recruits, selects, trains, supervises, and evaluates professional and student staff. Establishes and maintains liaison with other campus departments and off-campus agencies as appropriate.
Designs, develops, and implements retention activities based on the identified needs of program participants. Conducts activities to improve the campus climate for the target population. Consults with UCSD faculty and staff in the development of retention strategies for first generation, low income, and students with disabilities. Assists in the development and implementation of OASIS Learning Communities.

• Demonstrated competencies and advanced knowledge in theories of multicultural counseling, learning, identity development, human and career development. Broad occupational knowledge with an understanding of student development theory; knowledge of student service principles and practices, including ethical standards; knowledge of decision-making and goal setting process and strategies, knowledge of educational needs of underrepresented students.

• Advanced knowledge of research methodologies and research designs.

• Knowledge and experience in working with historically underrepresented ethnic minority communities, first generation college students. Knowledge base in student development among TRIO students sufficient to conceptualize and implement effective services for incoming freshmen with relatively low levels of academic preparation. Exceptional ability to design and implement academic support services for students.

• Knowledge in the methodologies used to enhance student achievement, such as collaborative teaching / learning models, strategies for effective counseling and peer mentoring, small group facilitation and training, coaching, mentoring and advocacy. Knowledge of national trends as they relate to TRIO programs, including fluctuations in funding levels and federal regulations; knowledge of trends in education which impact underrepresented students; strong interpersonal skills.

• Knowledge of and experience in conflict management and intervention strategies. Highly developed advising skills, including listening/attending, paraphrasing/clarifying, reflecting, sensitivity, challenging/confronting, and interpreting verbal and non-verbal behavior. Ability to assess student needs and provide useful responses and advice within brief time frames. General understanding of federal and state financial aid regulations and procedures. Ability to make effective presentations to large and small groups.

• Extensive experience in multicultural competencies, and personal and academic crisis intervention; working with students to assist in clarification of ethics and values.

• Advanced experience in group dynamics, facilitation, and training; comprehensive assessment of academic preparation and personal competencies. Demonstrated experience in counseling and group facilitation with college students. Ability to perform professional work in providing individual and/or group assistance to undergraduate students with learning difficulties. Proven ability to plan, organize, and coordinate in-service activities.

• Experience in establishing and implementing short and long term program goals and objectives; demonstrated effectiveness in mediation and conflict resolution. Demonstrated ability to select curriculum and classroom materials in consultation with OASIS Management Team as appropriate, for the full range of academic support services and programs, including reading, study skills, writing, ESL, math, and science. Experience in grant writing. Ability to develop and administer procedures for a variety of record keeping functions including service use, budgets, and future needs projections. Skills include knowledge of research design, report writing, and use of budget data provided in computer form. Ability to identify research problems and develop research proposals.

• Knowledge of academic curricula; strong knowledge of the organizational climate, structure / organizations, and culture. Awareness of other campus student services; demonstrated skill at solving complex problems; ability to write clearly, concisely and persuasively; familiarity with campus and community resources; knowledge of program evaluation and assessment techniques.

• Demonstrated experience in planning, developing, and administering evaluative instruments for measuring program effectiveness.

• Advanced experience in planning, developing, and administering enrichment programs / projects, academic and personal development seminars, courses, and workshops. Ability to establish professional policies, procedures, and standards for a federal TRIO Program; ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of departments and individuals within the University Community; skills and background in developing, directing and administering a federal TRIO program.

• Knowledge and experience in managing funds designated for special programs.

• Knowledge and experience in researching, compiling and analyzing data, and generating reports; extensive experience in developing evaluative instruments specific to programs / projects goals and objectives.

• Organizational ability with an emphasis on efficient utilization of time, staff, budget, and other resources; ability to identify appropriate target population.

• Demonstrated supervisory skills: Demonstrated experience and skill to routinely monitor the production and quality of work being produced by staff and set performance standards, observe behavior, provide objective feedback, counsel, and implement corrective action as needed to mediate disputes or otherwise help resolve conflicts, and provide effective leadership/coaching/mentoring.- Demonstrated experience and skill to assess staff capabilities and workloads and redistribute when necessary.- Demonstrated experience and skill to teach/train staff in all aspects of job duties/responsibilities.

• Demonstrated ability to train other staff members in advising and academic support techniques. Demonstrated ability overseeing, maintaining and projecting annual budget for a federal TRIO program. Demonstrated ability to assess and interpret students' academic needs and make appropriate recommendations. Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative, working relationships with student organizations, college staff, academic departments, and other campus entities to ensure effective services for incoming freshmen with relatively low levels of academic preparation.

• Ability to coordinate a team of SSSP staff in the planning, organization, delegating and monitoring of work activities; ability to coordinate a variety of services into a comprehensive and unified range of services for disadvantaged students; ability to maintain accurate records and to analyze data to determine program effectiveness.

• Demonstrated skill at working in a team setting fostering cooperation and support from other staff members; proven ability to assist with the management of a complex organization. Preferred knowledge of OASIS and Student Affairs goals and objectives.

• Ability to give concise, accurate presentation within limited time frame. Ability to function collaboratively in small group setting in which leadership responsibilities shift. Ability to recognize marketing opportunities and to understand and unitize sound public relations/marketing techniques and strategies.

• Masters' degree in Counseling, Educational Psychology, Educational Administration, Student Affairs or related field (Ph.D. strongly preferred).

• Offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

• This position is designated as a mandated reporter of known or suspected child abuse or neglect under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA).

• Evening and weekend work may be required based on operational needs and special projects.

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