Health and Wellbeing Advocate

Search:	#1288
Date Posted:	07/24/2024
Type/Department:	Staff in Campus Safety and Wellbeing
Search Status:	Searching for Candidates - Accepting Applications
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Hampshire College

Department: Campus Safety & Wellbeing - Division: Justice, Equity, and Antiracism (JEA)

Job Title: Health and Wellbeing Advocate (HWA)

Position Type: Full Time

Schedule: 40 Hours a week

Pay Range/ Status: $25.00 Hour / Non-Exempt

Location: Hampshire College Campus in Amherst, MA

Reports to: Assistant Director of Campus Safety and Wellbeing - Dispatch and Shift Management

Anticipated Start Date: Immediately

 

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 900 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 campus safety and wellbeing department supports the Hampshire community in achieving its mission of being a challenging, but compassionate place to learn and grow by ensuring the safety of its community members. Primarily centered in both restorative and transformative justice, this will aid in creating a campus culture that is more actively anti-racist, inclusive and equitable. As part of the campus safety team, you will be instrumental in the department achieving its mission and goals!

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the assistant director of campus safety and wellbeing - dispatch and shift management and working in partnership with the campus safety assistant (CSA) the health and wellbeing advocate (HWA), is responsible for supporting the day to day operations of the College on their assigned shift in accordance with college and department policies and protocols. The health and wellness advocate maintains a presence on college properties 24-hours a day, seven days a week, during the academic semester and during college breaks or curtailed operations.

The primary responsibility of the HWA is to support the Hampshire community in creating an intellectually vibrant, compassionate environment that is actively anti-racist, welcoming and safe to all members. The HWA provides routine services and resources to the students, faculty, staff, and visitors, including but not limited to behavioral health responses, access management, after-hours property checks and appropriate services, routine campus/building rounds, first responder calls, fire/security alarm response, monitoring access system, dispatching, certified shuttles, accessibility,general transportation, and supporting other departments in their operations.

Based on a Community Response Model, the HWA responds to behavioral health needs such as but not limited to disturbances, noise complaints, trespassing incidents, interpersonal low risk conflicts and other quality-of-life concerns. Responses to behavioral health needs are normally responded to with a campus safety assistant or another on-call staff. During these responses, the advocate’s primary focus is ensuring the campus members are safe and secure. The advocate leads in assessing the situation, intervening and providing the necessary support and resources to all involved in the incidents, which include but not limited to providing mediation, consultation, and identifying gaps to respond effectively to campus members’ behavioral health experiences. Using population-health and environmental data, theory, and evidence-informed strategies, the responding team build relationships with, engage, and work collaboratively with diverse groups of stakeholders to assist all campus community members in achieving protocols, systems, and environments that create measurable improvements for the community, particularly in the realm of physical and mental health crisis response, intervention and triage.

This position serves as part of a 24-hour-per-day rotation in partnership with the administrator on call, the campus safety and wellbeing on call, the residence life on call, and a counselor on call. The HWA is cross-trained to execute and respond to all routine safety and security protocols and is expected to support colleagues accordingly or at all times.

The HWA is a student development practitioner and a student-centered staff member who cares deeply about forming strong relationships and engaging in meaningful experiences with students, open to new and challenging experiences directed towards professional growth. This position thrives by being highly visible, maintaining strong connections, participating in student activities, and working successfully with students, faculty, staff, parents and external constituents. The HWA has experience in wellness, safety and security initiatives, prevention and education program management and feels comfortable working in an evolving, fast-paced, organizational framework with shifting responsibilities.

The advocate will work in close partnership with department colleagues, particularly the student success and retention, residence life, student engagement, health and counseling services, prevention and education, community advocacy, and other campus partners. The HWA will also work collaboratively with justice, equity, and antiracism (JEA) departments, and other campus constituents to build a community that will be open and honest with one another and act with integrity and civility at all times, treating one another with respect, care and kindness as we work through conflicts and seek justice and understanding within and beyond the campus community. Centered in both restorative and transformative justice, this will aid in creating a campus culture that is more actively anti-racist, inclusive and equitable.

As members of the division of justice, equity, and antiracism (JEA), the HWA contributes to campus-wide educational initiatives and divisional-wide projects, including but not limited to Move-In and New and Transfer Student Orientation, HampHalloween, Collective Power Conference, Commencement, and other programs that advances the College’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and a vibrant, welcoming and safe community.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills working in a diverse campus or community environment.
• The ability to apply a compassionate, empathetic and professional approach to enforcement of college policies and procedures in a campus community.
• Be a symbol of calm, sympathy and authority in crisis, chaotic and emergency situations.
• Demonstrate a high level of mental agility and common sense to read situations, adjust conversations, expectations and attitudes as needed.
• Effective negotiation skills including the following practices but not limited to active listening, remaining calm, expressing empathy, treating individual with respect and remaining non-judgmental.

• Directly related educational background and relevant work experience
• Demonstrated success in higher education program management and leadership, particularly regarding campus safety operations.
• 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
• Demonstrates skill in understanding of cultural differences
• Employs anti-racist practices and principles to accomplish work
• Ability to serve as an advocate for individuals of all ethnicities, genders, ages and backgrounds
• Ability to flex communication style to multiple cultural environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, 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.
• 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
• Ability to analyze data, interpret results and make recommendations.
• 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

• Advocates will be required to fill in on shifts as needed, and may be required to work overtime, holidays and emergencies. Health and Wellbeing Advocates are considered essential personnel.
• Employment is dependent on successful completion of the following:

• a pre-employment physical and background check
• Certification in CPD/first responder or ability to obtain certification in Massachusetts within six months of hire; EMT certification desirable.
• A valid driver’s license and successfully meet the requirements of Hampshire College driver credentialing policy.
• completion of OSHA (Occupational Safety Health Administration) SHA certification
• Fire Safety Extinguisher Training

• Familiarity with computer programs: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Information management (Colleague), social media applications, student activities platforms, etc.
• Advocates are CPR/AED certified and trained to a first responder level in Basic Life Support (BLS).

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Two-year college degree or equivalent preferably in Public Health, Organizational Leadership Urban Education and Policy Studies, Social Work, Gender Studies, Transformative Justice and Restorative Practices, or Education
• One year of job-related experience
• Experience in Community Response Model for campus safety and wellbeing

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 4 Year College Degree
• Masters: Higher Education Administration; Social Work

BENEFITS:

Hampshire College offers an excellent benefits program for eligible employees such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plan, 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 immediately and will continue until the position is filled. 

 

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