Dean of Students

The Community Solution Education System•Portland, OR

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Dean of Students provides strategic leadership for student life and support initiatives that foster student success, engagement, safety, and belonging. Serving as a senior student affairs leader, the Dean oversees student success operations, including advising, tutoring and counseling services, student events, and career support services, with a specific charge to expand and strengthen co-curricular programming and career preparation across the university. The Dean of Students also serves as the University’s Title IX Officer, ensuring institutional compliance with federal and state regulations and promoting a campus culture of respect, equity, and accountability. This role is ideal for a collaborative, student-centered leader who can balance compliance responsibilities with innovation, relationship-building, and program growth in a small-university environment. The Dean of Students reports to the Provost of the University and is a member of the President’s Leadership Cabinet. This role is also a pivotal collaborator with The Community Solution Education System working with student affairs professionals across six (6) institutions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of higher education coursework plus related experience
Four years of experience working in student affairs or a related field.
Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory and student success practices for graduate students.
Experience or demonstrated ability to serve as a Title IX Officer or complete required training.
Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
Demonstrated commitment to student well-being.
Demonstrated experience designing and delivering student-centered programming.
Working knowledge of best practices related to student engagement in higher education
Ability to work effectively with diverse student populations.
Experience with event coordination and assessment, and budget oversight.
Ability to negotiate prices and terms with contractors
Proficiency in MS Office
Demonstrated ability to build strong student relationships with a diverse student population

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in higher education, college student personnel, student affairs, counseling, or related field preferred.
Significant progressive experience in student affairs or student support services.

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership and vision for student support services, focusing on retention, persistence, and holistic student success.
Serve on the President’s Leadership Cabinet, providing strategic and tactical guidance on matters related to student life and student success.
Regularly engage with The Community Solution Education System departments to support student life and success, including participation in cross-system task forces, regular meetings, programming, and the life.
Supervise the Director of Student Success and the Director of Student Engagement & Events, ensuring aligned goals, effective assessment, and continuous improvement.
Collaborate closely with academic leadership, faculty, and staff to integrate academic and co-curricular student support efforts.
Serve as a visible and accessible advocate for students, both online and on campus, addressing emerging student needs and concerns.
Serve as the point person to manage and resolve student complaints and behavioral situations.
Guide the development and assessment of proactive advising, early-alert, and intervention strategies.
Support data-informed approaches to student success, persistence, and engagement.
Partner with academic leadership to ensure that student services and student scheduling aligns with academic goals and objectives.
Provide leadership and oversight of student events and co-curricular programming focusing efforts on both online and on-campus programming that supports students’ professional and psychosocial development.
Lead the expansion of campus-wide events that foster community, belonging, leadership development, and student involvement.
Create and implement inclusive, relevant programming that reflects the needs of the student body and supports student well-being.
Develop and implement career-focused programming for both on-campus and online students, such as: Workshops and seminars, Guest speaker events, Networking sessions, Skills-building opportunities.
Partner with deans, program chairs, the clinic, and other academic stakeholders to align career services with program needs and professional expectations.
Curate and maintain online career resources, including job search tools, resume guidance, professional development materials, and employer engagement opportunities.
Strengthen relationships with alumni, employers, and community partners to expand networking and learning opportunities.
Serve as ex officio member of university/college/program advisory councils (as assigned).
Serve as the University’s Title IX Officer, with responsibility for oversight of policies, procedures, and compliance related to sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct.
Coordinate investigations, resolutions, and supportive measures in compliance with federal, state, and institutional requirements.
Develop and lead training and education efforts for students, faculty, and staff related to Title IX and related policies.
Collaborate with legal counsel, human resources, and campus partners as needed.
Lead, monitor, and promote university compliance with external regulations in the area of student services including ADA, FERPA, Title IX, and other legislative and regulatory mandates.
Collect and maintain accurate records and data related to compliance matters and student engagement in activities/programs.
In collaboration with the university policy committee, develop, review, and implement policies related to student conduct, student support, and campus safety.
Assess the effectiveness of student affairs programs and services using measurable outcomes.
Manage the annual development of departmental continuous improvement plans (CIPs) to improve service, efficiency, and operational effectiveness.
Prepare, publish and disseminate the CIP report annually.
Partner with Institutional Effectiveness to ensure integration of CIPs with the university strategic plan, mission, and core themes.
Develop annual department operating budget with input from department staff and the provost.
Manage assigned budgets and resources responsibly.
Serve on university leadership committees and represent student affairs in institutional planning.