Associate Center Director Africana Center

Tufts University•Somerville, NJ

About The Position

The Associate Center Director is a student-facing role supporting the Africana Center at Tufts University. The position develops and implements community engagement programs that support students of African descent and their intersecting identities, and works closely with the Center Director to manage center projects and programs. The Associate Center Director meets with students regarding individual support needs and collaborates with student-facing departments and resources across and beyond the Division, including identity-based resources, Residential Life and Learning, Student Affairs, Counseling and Mental Health Services, the Career Center, Global Education, Financial Aid, faculty, and the CARE office. The role also writes grants and seeks funding for center programs and initiatives. The position oversees Africana Center programming, outreach, communications, and annual programs; manages the year-long Peer Leader Program and its support for SQUAD Pre-Orientation; oversees components of SQUAD; and manages the interview and selection process for Capen House residents. It supports assessment and improvement of services and programs, strategic planning, annual reporting, budgeting, and funding proposals. The role may hire and train support staff or temporary employees, contribute to staff evaluations and professional development, and manage a student activities fund.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Five years of relevant experience supporting student growth and development within an educational setting.
Superb judgment and demonstrated excellence in organizational, managerial, oral, and written communication skills.
Awareness of how social identities affect college students’ experiences.
Strong understanding of issues affecting students historically underrepresented at Tufts, including students of color, first-generation students, and undocumented students.
Awareness of models for identity-based resource centers.
Demonstrated sensitivity, imagination, and effectiveness in developing educational and community programs.
Ability to design programs and resources that account for cultural constructions of race as they intersect with gender, class, ethnicity, sexual identity, religion, and ability.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting student growth and development in a selective university or liberal arts college environment.
Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

Oversee Africana Center programming and outreach with support from the Director, Program Administrator, and Administrative Coordinator.
Develop goals, strategies, and infrastructure with the Director to advance programs promoting scholarship and leadership in an affirming campus climate for marginalized and underrepresented students.
Coordinate educational programs and outreach addressing marginalized and underrepresented populations and the intersections of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, class, disability, sexual orientation, and religion.
Support annual programs, including SQUAD Pre-Orientation, First Year Orientation Retreat, Orientation Open Houses, Black Legacy Month, CHMS Vent & Vibe, Stole Ceremony, Black Men’s Group, and Black Women’s Collective.
Cultivate collaboration with student organizations in the Africana Advisory Alliance and maintain the relationship with the Africana Center TCU Senate Community Representative.
Attend weekend and evening programs offered by the Center and associated student organizations.
Develop website and social media content and strategies and manage Center outreach and communications.
Design and deliver seminars and lectures and lead special events.
Support the Program Administrator in identifying events and opportunities for the weekly newsletter and podcast.
Represent the Center in training and facilitation for students.
Manage the year-long Peer Leader Program and its support of SQUAD Pre-Orientation.
Interview and select Peer Leaders; develop and conduct summer training and a spring retreat.
Create and maintain monthly Peer Leader professional development training and a comprehensive curriculum supporting Peer Leaders and first-year mentees.
Assess the Peer Leader Program and make improvements based on collected data.
Collaborate with the Career Center to manage the Africana Alumni Mentorship Program.
Oversee SQUAD program components, including recruitment, selection, and professional development training for SQUAD Coordinators in collaboration with the Senior Director.
Supervise SQUAD Coordinators and Peer Leaders.
Liaise with offices including the Office for Campus Life, Student Affairs, the Division for Student Diversity and Inclusion, Dining Services, and Residential Life and Learning.
Represent SQUAD at informational workshops and events, including information sessions, diversity programming support, and tabling events.
Assess SQUAD learning objectives and goals using available data, including orientation and pre-orientation surveys, and adjust the program accordingly.
Generate annual reports that can be shared with potential program donors.
Manage the interview and selection process for Capen House residents.
Collaborate with Residential Life and Learning and Capen House residential staff to address resident issues and projects.
Assess services, initiatives, and programs; recommend and implement improvements based on assessment data.
Participate in long-term and strategic planning with the Director and create an annual report with the Director’s support.
May hire and train support staff and temporary employees, or provide input into their hiring and training.
May oversee staff performance evaluations and professional development opportunities.
Create and analyze program budgets and prepare reports and projections for the Director.
Write grants and proposals for new funding opportunities or continued support.
May manage the student activities fund.