Director Academic Services - College of Arts & Sciences

Washington University in St. Louis

1d • $84,200 - $148,500 • Onsite

About The Position

The College of Arts & Sciences is seeking a versatile and experienced leader to direct and oversee Student Academic Affairs functions. This role is crucial for managing advising, student progress, academic policies, and post-graduate planning for approximately 4,400 undergraduate students. The Director will champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within these areas and serve as a key support for students from diverse backgrounds. This senior leadership position reports to the Vice Dean of Undergraduate Affairs and supervises twenty-two FTE staff members, with four reporting directly to the Director. The role involves extensive collaboration with various university departments and campus partners to ensure a holistic student academic experience and support the strategic vision of the College.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Academic Environment (10 Years) of work experience

Nice To Haves

• Doctoral degree
• Background in leadership in school and university wide initiatives.
• Incredibly sound judgement, decision making ability, high level maturity, and strategic thinking in highly sensitive and confidential situations involving students, staff, faculty, parents, and university administrators.
• Proven leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Written skills should demonstrate a wide range of flexibility in format including web content, journalism, proposals, reports, and other formats. Audiences should include students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders.
• Skills in evaluation, assessment, and reporting with experience leading evaluation and assessment.
• Experience contributing to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within institutions or organizations.
• A strong commitment to designing and delivering excellent academic and student affairs.
• Ability to quickly build relationships, credibility, and consensus among diverse populations of students, staff, faculty, and individuals outside the university.
• Ability to successfully manage complex operations and supervise staff at various levels, including organizing and coaching diverse individuals.
• Ability to step in as a strong individual contributor and team member on various projects as needed.
• Ability to anticipate issues, properly assess pertinent data, and develop and implement practical solutions to complex issues.
• High degree of self-motivation and organization with an ability to manage time, set deadlines, and follow-through on projects independently and in a timely manner with varying degrees of pressure.
• Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy
• Relevant Experience (4 Years)
• Education (10 Years)
• Business Management skills
• Communication skills
• Confidentiality skills
• Data Analysis skills
• Deadline Management skills
• Decision Making skills
• Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) skills
• Interpersonal Relationships skills
• Leadership skills
• Organizing skills
• Outcomes Based Education skills
• Project Administration skills
• Relationship Building skills
• Self Motivation skills
• Skill Assessment skills
• Solution Implementation skills
• Sound Judgment skills
• Strategic Thinking skills
• Stress Management skills
• Time Management skills
• Work Collaboratively skills
• Working Independently skills
• Writing skills

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and oversight of Student Academic Affairs activities and personnel.
• Direct the development, planning, execution, and oversight of Student Academic Affairs programs and events, including four-year advising, first-year experience, student progress and academic success, academic policies and administration, and post-graduate and pre-professional planning.
• Oversee the assessment of programs within the Student Academic Affairs functional areas, ensuring program goals are effectively implemented and evaluated, and making recommendations for improvement.
• Serve as the chief program officer responsible for recruitment, hiring, supervision, professional development, recruitment strategy, and general management functions of all Student Academic Affairs personnel.
• Serve on the senior leadership team of the Vice Dean of Undergraduate Affairs to ensure alignment of Student Academic Affairs with the mission of the College and to realize the strategic vision of the Vice Dean.
• Collaborate closely with the Vice Dean and senior leadership in areas of strategic growth for the College of Arts & Sciences.
• Support the Vice Dean in the development and implementation of a recruitment strategy for the College of Arts & Sciences in collaboration with the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
• Support the development and implementation of alumni engagement strategy as it relates to the growth of Student Academic Affairs programs and events.
• Work with Finance and the Director of Operations to set financial goals for Student Academic Affairs programs.
• Represent the College of Arts & Sciences with mission-critical stakeholders.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for families of prospective and currently enrolled students.
• Develop and participate in recruitment sessions.
• Liaise with Arts & Sciences departments and programs to support a holistic student academic experience, including robust major advising at the academic unit level.
• Participate in various university committees and task forces.
• Work with the Arts & Sciences Communications team on marketing and communications.
• Facilitate efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the College Office.
• Develop and promote evidence-based best practices for supporting underrepresented and first-generation students in the liberal arts.
• Research and recommend strategies to leverage the strengths of Arts & Sciences in the design of policies, programs, events, and support services to ensure that principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded in all Student Academic Affairs activities.
• Document, communicate, evaluate, and assess diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within all functional areas of Student Academic Affairs.
• Ensure collaboration and engagement across initiatives within the College and with campus stakeholders.
• Contribute to efforts across the university to track and assess student success through the lens of equity.
• Participate in planning and organization around diversity, equity, and inclusion across Arts & Sciences and the university by providing meaningful connections between these efforts and ensuring such efforts are shared widely.
• Serve as an academic advisor, advising a small number of undergraduate students.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including supporting the College Office with additional programming and mission-critical priorities.

Benefits

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
• 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child.
• Family care resources for continued childcare needs.
• Adult care resources.
• Tuition coverage for employee and family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director