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Assistant Director of Student Life

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary · South Hamilton, MA · 2 mo ago
On-siteTrainingFull-time

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Student Life holds primary responsibility for fostering and sustaining a safe, healthy, and supportive environment that holistically nurtures students’ intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual growth at the Hamilton campus, serving approximately 250 residential students. This role provides support to the Dean of Students and also oversees the Coordinator of Student Life. The Assistant Director develops, implements, and assesses strategies and programs aligned with the Seminary’s student service philosophy, focusing on areas such as housing and residence life, campus safety, student engagement, events, and community life designed to connect students into the “life together” ethos at this campus.

Key Responsibilities

  • Administration/Leadership

    • Leadership: Responsible for leadership and supervision of the Hamilton Student Life Team (Student Life Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and Student Worker).
    • Management: Manages Hamilton Student Life budget.
    • Policies and Procedures: Is responsible for the implementation and evaluation of policies and regulations of the Seminary as they pertain to residential students and their formation.
    • Oversees the annual updates to the campus housing manual, Out and About Handbook and the Campus Guide to Auto & Public Safety Regulations.

  • Student Care/Development

    • Helps to establish and develop a culture that encourages spiritual and character formation, and where diversity is encouraged.
    • Serves as a role model of these characteristics, the Assistant Director will cultivate an atmosphere where students learn to respect differences, take responsibility for their actions, and exercise leadership.
    • Provides counsel for students on a range of personal, spiritual, disciplinary, and formational matters, and when appropriate, refers students to other suitable persons, professionals or proper agencies as appropriate.
    • Administers all academic extensions for Hamilton students, providing support as needed, along with coordination with the Student Success and Registration Departments.
    • Recruitment, leadership and mentoring of dormitory Residence Life Coordinators.
    • Oversees conduct process for Hamilton students in collaboration with the Dean of Students.
    • Serves as the Seminary’s primary person on call to respond to crises involving students. Serves as a member of the Seminary’s Crisis Management Team. Serves as point of contact and coordinators for contract campus safety services provided by Gordon College Police Department. Leads the Inclement Weather Response Team for making decisions on cancellations and delays.

  • Programming

    • Collaborates with faculty and staff in promoting student success and development through co-curricular events and other student activities.
    • Serves as a co-chair of the Hamilton Commencement Committee; serves on the residential admissions review committee.

  • Compliance

    • Serves as the Title IX Coordinator. Responsible for ADA compliance, including prompt handling of student inquiries, recommended accommodations, and equitable resolution of complaints.

Core Competencies

  • Communication and Interpersonal Effectiveness: It is very important that the Assistant Director be adept in strong empathy skills with an intuitive grasp of how to interpret human behavior. Must be at ease communicating and building rapport in a range of settings, with both individuals and groups.
  • Pastoral Care: Provide effective spiritual support and guidance that contributes to well-being of students, and that addresses concerns in a respectful and sensitive manner.
  • Global and Multi-cultural Understanding: Having a demonstrated skill and effectiveness in leadership and in human relations with a sensitivity to and knowledge of multicultural issues and diverse student population needs are essential.
  • Collaborative Leadership: Demonstrated ability to work collegially and respectfully within a matrixed organization, and across all levels in the organization, from the President, to peers, faculty and staff across campuses and programs.
  • Agreement and commitment to GCTS’s Statement of Faith and The Mission of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Community Life Statement.

Education & Experience

  • A master’s degree is required.
  • 2+ years working in student affairs/higher education or related area is preferred.
  • Prior experience in developing, coordinating, directing student development at the undergraduate or graduate level. A solid understanding of and proactive approach to student development and student life services is required.

Application Process

Please apply through Gordon-Conwell’s Career Center available here: https://www.gordonconwell.edu/employment/. Please include these documents in either Microsoft Word or PDF formats:

  • A cover letter addressed to the Assistant Director of Student Life Search Committee explaining your interest in the position required.
  • A formal CV that includes the names of at least three references required.

No hard copy materials, please. Opportunities to interview will be made available at the search committee’s initiative. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

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