Director for Community Advocacy

Search:#1056
Date Posted: 06/22/2022
Type/Department:Administrator in Student Affairs
Search Status:Position Filled
Apply Now:Currently we are not accepting resumes for this position.

Hampshire College

Department:  Office of Community Advocacy - Division of Student Life                 

Job Title: Director for Community Advocacy

Position Type: Full Time

Schedule: 35 Hours a week

Pay Range/ Status: $55,000 - $60,000 / Exempt

Location: Hampshire College Campus in Amherst, MA

Reports to: Associate Senior Director of Community Advocacy

Anticipated Start Date: August 10, 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 mission of student life is to create and support opportunities and experiences that promote a diverse community. Through collaboration, we aim to build a community that guides themselves under principles of active listening; frequent reflection and evaluation, respect for others, even in disagreement; constant intellectual and emotional growth; integrity; justice; and safety for all members of the Hampshire community. As part of the community advocacy team, you will be instrumental in the department achieving its mission and goals, particularly regarding the spiritual needs of our student population!

 

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

The director for community advocacy is a full time, 12-month professional staff member in community advocacy, prevention & education, and safety (C.A.P.E.S.) within the division of student affairs, reporting to the associate senior director of community advocacy. The director oversees the Lebron Wiggins Pran Cultural Center and works collaboratively and proactively with other community advocacy staff to ensure underrepresented students have a voice, space and place where they feel listened to, included and advocated for. Community advocacy staff invest time and effort to demonstrate authenticity and care for all students while paying close attention to the varying needs of students from different cultural backgrounds and identities that may require focused support and considerations.

The director shares in the responsibility for all facets for the department and will oversee the daily operations of The Lebrón-Wiggins Pran Cultural Center. Under the associate senior director’s leadership and strategic guidance, the director will coordinate programs, support, facilitation, advocacy, and programming for S.O.U.R.C.E. (students of underrepresented cultures and ethnicities) groups, first generation students, low-income students, and other historically excluded student populations to provide intersectional programming, leadership development, and educational resources. Centered in both restorative and transformative justice, this will aid in creating a campus culture that is more actively anti-racist, inclusive and equitable.

The director will work closely with students, staff and faculty to encourage engagement with, and continuation of, the rich history of activism, advocacy, and critical thought that is the foundation of the Lebron Wiggins Pran Cultural Center. In coordination with the associate senior director for C.A.P.E.S., the director will make recommendations for policy change that better supports and cares for students from historically excluded populations and develop trainings, workshops, and materials to assist staff in developing the appropriate skills to better support these students.

The director is a student development practitioner who cares deeply about forming strong relationships and engaging in meaningful experiences with students, and is open to new and challenging experiences directed toward professional growth. This position needs to be highly motivated, and culturally competent to demonstrate a commitment to social justice and active citizenship as well as fostering exploration, community engagement, and the development of students. This position needs to be highly visible, maintain strong connections and work successfully with students, faculty, staff, parents and external constituents. The director must have experience in program management and feel comfortable working in an evolving, fast-paced, organizational framework with shifting responsibilities.

Additionally, the director will exhibit strong skills regarding management, facilitation, planning, and advising. Critical thinking, problem solving, strong communication, and organization skills are essential for success. The director will strive to cultivate student learning and development by encouraging exploration as well as providing educational and experiential opportunities. 

The staff member contributes to campus-wide educational initiatives, for instance the ENGAGE Day of Learning, New and Transfer Student Orientation, Community Orientation, and Community Education Day that advances the College’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Participates as a committed member of the student life team in college and divisional committee work, projects, meetings, retreats and overall community development, assists in the coordination and facilitation of academic courses, co-curricular activities and services for students. Availability to work evenings and weekends is required.

 

REQUIRED SKILLS:        

  • Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.
  • Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Strengthens Hampshire College’s climate for diversity, equity & inclusion.
  • Demonstrates skill in understanding of cultural differences.
  • Promotes diversity, equity and inclusion activities.
  • Employs anti-racist practices and principles to accomplish work.
  • Incorporates an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens into regular practice.
  • Ability to serve as an advocate for individuals of all ethnicities, genders, ages and backgrounds.
  • Understands the specific experiences of historically marginalized racial groups in the U.S., particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latinx groups.
  • Ability to flex communication style to multiple cultural environments.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to present to diverse audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities.
  • Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff and community members.
  • Supports and enhances a sense of belonging and success of students from traditionally marginalized populations.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-oppression concepts and issues, especially as they apply to BIPOC and identity based students
  • Teaches using equitable and inclusive pedagogy.
  • Strong knowledge of diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, anti-oppression and social justice.
  • Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color.
  • An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
  • Knowledge of high impact strategies that promote persistence and degree completion, and reduce time to completion, particularly for underrepresented students
  • Understanding of Student Development Theory, knowledge of higher education trends and best practices, administration and governance
  • Ability to function independently and complete projects with limited supervision
  • Excellent interpersonal and team building skills.
  • Ability to analyze data, interpret results and make recommendations. Ability to develop and maintain positive, professional relationships.
  • Highly organized and able to prioritize in a fast-paced, team- oriented environment.
  • Ability to manage ambiguity as well as collaborative decision-making structures
  • Experience presenting to groups
  • Strong supervisory, problem-solving and collaborative skills
  • Ability to pay close attention to detail for budget tracking
  • Familiarity with computer programs: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Information management (Colleague), social media applications, student activities platforms, etc.

 

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Four-year college degree or equivalent
  • Minimum of two years 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 July 7, 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.