Assistant Director of Social Work Internships

Metropolitan State University of Denver•Denver, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Social Work Internships is a key member of the Office of Social Work Internships (OSWI) leadership team within the Department of Social Work. Reporting to the Director of Social Work Internships and collaborating with the Associate Director, this role is crucial for maintaining the high quality of internship education for both Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students. A primary responsibility is quality assurance, ensuring that internship experiences meet accreditation standards and that students develop the required skills. Given that internships are the signature pedagogy in social work education, the support provided by this position significantly impacts student retention, completion rates, and post-graduation success. The role involves managing the Internship Support Process, which addresses needs and conflicts at both the student and agency levels. Strong conflict resolution skills are essential for this position. Additionally, the Assistant Director manages the coordination and documentation of internship support services, including data management used for training and mentoring Faculty Internship Liaisons (FILs) and agency supervisors. This role also collaborates with the Director and Associate Director to advance the strategic development of internship sites and the student internship search process, ensuring alignment with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation standards and MSU Denver's strategic goals. The position requires a commitment to collaborative teamwork, excellence in internship education, strong organizational and multi-tasking abilities, and creativity in enhancing OSWI's initiatives. The successful candidate must be sensitive to the educational needs of a diverse urban population and have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds, demonstrating a commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented groups.

Requirements

Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited institution
Experience with and sensitivity to the needs of a diverse urban population
Relevant post-MSW administrative experience
Experience building collaborative partnerships with community agencies relevant to social work
Supervisory experience (with student interns or other professionals)

Nice To Haves

Two (2) or more years working in a higher education setting
Five (5) or more years of supervisory experience or student internship supervision (Faculty Internship Liaison, Social Work Supervisor, etc.)
Two (2) or more years of experience or training in mediation, restorative practice and/or conflict resolution
Two (2) or more years of experience in program development or administration
Demonstrated experience developing and delivering presentations and trainings
Experience conducting program evaluation
High attention to detail
Previous experience using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
Demonstrated use of web-based databases to meet program needs

Responsibilities

Manage the Internship Support Process, including mentoring faculty, ensuring consistent and equitable implementation, facilitating conflict resolution and termination proceedings, and escalating concerns as needed.
Respond to time-sensitive situations with sound judgment and coordinate across departmental and university resources.
Coordinate support for unexpected internship challenges using restorative justice, trauma-informed, intersectionality, and anti-oppressive practice frameworks.
Manage Student Review (addressing student performance concerns) and Agency Review (addressing agency quality assurance and policy compliance).
Facilitate student transitions into replacement internships aligned with learning needs and develop 'readiness to return' plans.
Provide leadership to Clinical Internship Faculty (CIFs) and Faculty Internship Liaisons (FILs).
Offer consultation and mediation to facilitate communication among students, FILs, agencies, OSWI advisors, and other department faculty/staff.
Balance individual student circumstances with equitable policy implementation.
Ensure Internship Student Support Processes align with departmental policies and procedures.
Maintain documentation of student support needs in the web-based internship database.
Track data on problem resolution, analyze trends, and design supports/processes to address findings in alignment with accreditation standards.
Use data to inform curriculum, training, and support needs for all stakeholders.
Maintain positive working relationships with FILs, agency partners, and department members.
Onboard and train FILs to ensure they are prepared to serve as liaisons and representatives of the University.
Work as a member of the OSWI leadership team with the Director and Associate Director.
Provide leadership in developing internship program policies and procedures under the Director's guidance.
Ensure the internship program adheres to university accreditation and CSWE requirements.
Assist in interviewing, hiring, training, and supervising OSWI personnel as directed by the Director.
Interpret and recommend policies and procedures related to internship education and communicate program information effectively.
Contribute to the development and facilitation of OSWI events, including student and agency orientations and training.
Represent OSWI on department, university, and community committees, meetings, and events.
Collaborate with the Department of Social Work Advisory Board to enhance program success.
Guide OSWI policies and procedures regarding exceptions in internship education (e.g., employment-based placements, same agency placements, out-of-sequence internships).
Interpret and provide information on policy regarding exceptions in internship education to students, agencies, FILs, and the Department.
Serve as an Internship Navigator for 75-100 undergraduate and graduate students, assisting them in securing approved community-based internships.
Assess individual student needs, guide them on appropriate internship settings, and screen new community partners.
Utilize the web-based internship database for the internship search process and learning during internships.
Screen and onboard new agency partners in alignment with program standards.
Collaborate with OSWI leadership to identify needed office resources.
Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.