Secretary of the College & Special Assistant for Strategic Initiatives

Search:	#1042
Date Posted:	06/07/2022
Type/Department:	Administrator in President's Office
Search Status:	Position Filled
Apply Now:	Currently we are not accepting resumes for this position.

Hampshire College

Department:  President’s Office               

Job Title: Secretary of the College & Special Assistant for Strategic Initiatives

Position Type: Full Time

Schedule: 35 Hours a week

Pay Range/ Status: $75,000 - $90,000 / Exempt

Location: Hampshire College Campus in Amherst, MA

Reports to: President of the College

Anticipated Start Date: August 15, 2022

Hampshire College, an independent, innovative liberal arts institution and member of the Five College consortium, is located on a beautiful rural campus in Amherst, Massachusetts. We provide residential undergraduate education to nearly 600 students. Each department at Hampshire College contributes to the collaborative culture of the organization and plays an important role in the success of the College. The President’s Office coordinates work across the entire College, leads effort to engage in educational experimenting, establishes the strategic priorities of the institution, fosters deep connections with external constituencies, and ensures Hampshire meets its mission “to foster a lifelong passion for learning, inquiry, and ethical citizenship that inspires students to contribute to knowledge, justice, and positive change in the world and, by doing so, to transform higher education.” As part of the President’s team, you will be instrumental in the department achieving its mission and goals!

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

The secretary of the College & special assistant for strategic initiatives reports to the President. The special assistant for strategic initiatives develops and manages high-priority projects and initiatives on behalf of the President, and provides support to the activities of the office of the president. The special assistant will have the ability to work independently on projects, from conception to completion, and must be able to work under pressure at times to handle a wide variety of activities and confidential matters with discretion. Regular duties include but are not limited to handling questions, concerns, issues and requests on the President's behalf; coordinating communications and preparing special correspondence; performing research and generating reports; leading special projects; and serving as a liaison to a variety of internal and external constituencies. The special assistant will collaborate closely with the senior vice president for justice, equity, and antiracism on projects and initiatives on which the President plays a central role. As secretary of the college, this position manages regular communications between the administration and the board of trustees, oversees election for alumni and campus trustees, serves as clerk of the College, and ensures that the duties of the secretary of the board of trustees as defined by the College By-Laws are carried out. The secretary of the college & director of strategic initiatives must be passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills required.

• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Excellent project management skills, attention to detail, and collaboration with senior individuals from throughout the College.
• Proven ability to work independent of direct supervision and take initiative without specific instructions.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities, frequent interruptions, and scheduling changes while remaining organized and seeing projects through to completion.
• Ability to understand, communicate, and effectively utilize data and evidence, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Capacity to produce and edit documents for a wide range of audiences, prioritizing clarity and elegance.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Four-year college degree or equivalent
• Minimum of one-year job-related experience

Alternatives to formal education and paid work experience may be considered as equivalent qualifications to include military service/training, volunteering, activism, and other non-traditional programs and experiences related to the position.

BENEFITS:

Hampshire College offers an excellent benefits program for eligible employees such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, generous retirement plan contributions, flexible leave plans, and many other fringe benefits. For information on Hampshire College, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at www.hampshire.edu.

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

Hampshire College is an equal opportunity employer and deeply committed to a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are particularly committed to revealing and combating the social and institutional structures that support racism and white supremacy in all phases of employment and college life. We believe that the educational and employment environment is enhanced when diverse groups of people with diverse ideas come together to work and grow. We encourage applications from women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, sexual minority groups, veterans, and other candidates who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives. Hampshire College is committed to removing barriers to employment faced by equity-seeking groups and encourages (but does not require) members of these groups to self-identify in their application materials. Applicants whose work incorporates a global perspective and a demonstrated commitment to issues of diversity in the work environment are particularly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit your cover letter, resume and names/phone numbers of three professional references via our website at https://jobs.hampshire.edu/

Review of applications will begin on June 27, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. 

Hampshire College is an equal opportunity institution, committed to diversity and inclusion in education and employment.