Assistant Director, Multicultural Student Services

Multicultural Student Services (MSS), a unit reporting to the Dean of Students, supports the success and well-being of historically marginalized students while providing educational and engagement opportunities for all students. It is charged with the responsibility of developing and sustaining a welcoming, supportive environment for Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian-American, DACA and undocumented, Hispanic/Latinx, Native/Indigenous, Middle Eastern/North African, and LGBTQ+ students. Much of this support is delivered through our five student centers - the Multicultural Student Center, LGBTQ Center, Latinx Student Center, Interfaith Student Center, and Asian American Student Center. MSS enriches the undergraduate experience with culturally relevant services, such as community-building programs, individual and student organization support, identity-based peer mentoring and leadership development programs, student success and academic support initiatives, and community advocacy. Additionally, MSS engages the broader student body through social justice and intercultural development opportunities.

The Assistant Director for Multicultural Student Services plays a key role in supporting and advancing the office's services and initiatives. This position oversees LGBTQ student support efforts, including the management and strategic direction of the LGBTQ Center. The Assistant Director is primarily responsible for building community, providing resources, and offering support and advocacy for LGBTQ+ students. The Assistant Director also coordinates social justice and intercultural development initiatives to foster an inclusive campus environment. Additionally, the Assistant Director works alongside senior leaders to drive assessment efforts, evaluating the effectiveness of programs and services, and using data to inform improvements and shape future initiatives.

Key Position Responsibilities

LGBTQ Student Experience

• Provide advocacy, frontline support, and referral services for individual students; assist students in problem-solving and respond appropriately to challenges and/or crises.
• Oversee the operations of the LGBTQ Center, including direction of programs and services, and supervision of student staff and volunteers.
• Develop and implement innovative programs, services, events, and support initiatives that expand the engagement of LGBTQ students at the University, ensuring that social and informational opportunities are offered frequently each semester.
• Advise and support LGBTQ student organizations on program development, budget, marketing, and organizational development.
• Develop a personal communication plan for outreach to LGBTQ communities.
• Be a visible and recognizable presence in the LGBTQ Center and other MSS student centers, as well as on grounds by attending events sponsored by cultural organizations.
• Develop, coordinate, and collaborate with student organizations and university partners to plan and implement LGBTQ history month events, awareness weeks, and university-wide events.
• Assist with incident management and support in the wake of student incidents, crises, or other matters pertaining to students' sense of belonging.
• Establish a close working relationship with the LGBTQ Committee and UVA's Queer Alumni Network (QVA).
• Develop and maintain strategic, collaborative partnerships with university departments, programs, and external groups that support LGBTQ identities and bridge multiple identities.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert for LGBTQ student needs, campus climate, and best practices.

Social Justice and Intercultural Development

• Develop and coordinate a comprehensive set of educational development opportunities that are grounded in intercultural competency, including workshops, programs, seminars, series, and training exercises.
• Act as a key campus resource for diversity, inclusion, and social justice education, providing training and workshops. Lead in the development, writing, facilitation, and assessment of original diversity education curricula for tailored workshops and training sessions.

Assessment

• Serve as one of the primary individuals responsible for MSS assessment efforts.
• Develop and implement comprehensive assessment plans to evaluate the effectiveness of MSS programs and services.
• Coordinate the collection of quantitative and qualitative data through surveys, focus groups, interviews, and other assessment tools.
• Analyze assessment data to identify trends, outcomes, and areas for improvement. Prepare detailed reports and presentations for stakeholders.
• Assist in assessing the needs of students and organizations supported by MSS.

General Additional Duties

• Actively support MSS-wide initiatives, including special projects and administrative assignments (e.g., welcome events, graduation planning, special events).
• Represent the Division of Student Affairs on University-wide committees, councils, and task forces focused on promoting diversity.
• Contribute to and support university-wide initiatives, as well as departmental, divisional, and institutional goal setting, committees, and special projects.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in student affairs, counseling, higher education, or other discipline, or a terminal degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive relevant experience.

Candidates must have the following required knowledge areas, skills, and abilities:

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, equity, and belonging.
• Demonstrated experience in advising, counseling, group facilitation, supervision, program development, multicultural education, and social justice concepts.
• Solid understanding of the unique needs and current issues facing LGBTQ students in higher education, as well as broader issues facing LGBTQ communities.
• Understanding of student development, identity development, intersections, and complexity of social identities.
• Strong oral, digital, written, and interpersonal skills; ability to work in a multicultural, social justice-oriented community of individuals and groups with a wide array of backgrounds, identities, life experiences and communication styles.
• Student-centered attitude with ability to supervise and work alongside students in a highly student self -governed environment.
• Strong planning, coordination, and evaluation skills, as well as program and/or workshop facilitation skills.
• Experience with assessment and data-driven decision-making.
• Strong commitment to the Division's core values of academic rigor, honor, student self-governance, public service, diversity and equity, and health and wellness.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to develop mutually beneficial relationships with various University partners (e.g., faculty, staff, school deans).
• Demonstrated mastery of providing outstanding student advising and support, attention to detail, and excelling in a fast-paced work environment with multiple competing priorities.

Details and Application Process

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $55,000.00 to $65,000.00 and is commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is an in person, exempt-level position with UVa benefits. Employees' benefits package highlights include:

• 22 days of paid time off, increasing with service; 13+ paid holidays each year, in addition to paid time off
• Parental and Community Service Leave
• Health plan with options to meet healthcare and financial needs available immediately
• Competitive retirement benefits
• Tuition and professional development benefits after six months
• Employee wellness program featuring activities to earn up to $500/year.

The position is open until filled, but to assure full consideration, applicants are encouraged to submit materials by September 9, 2024. Please apply through the UVA job board; internal applicants search "Find Jobs" in Workday and search for R0064607. Requested application materials include a letter of interest or cover letter; resume or curriculum vitae; and the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three professional references. All applications, nominations, and inquiries will remain confidential. Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the "Resume" box. Applications that do not contain all the required documents will not receive full consideration. The selected candidate will pass a background check. References will be completed via UVA's standardized process SkillSurvey. For information regarding the position or the application process, please contact Michele Jarman, Academic Recruiter.

Located in central Virginia, the University of Virginia is a highly selective public research institution with a major commitment to undergraduate education. The student experience is grounded in the institutional core values of academic rigor, diversity and inclusion, health and wellness, honor, public service, and student self-governance. For more information about the University of Virginia and the Office of the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer visit: http://www.virginia.edu.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.