Director, Veterans Resource Center (Full-Time, Catergorically Funded) Fresno City College

State Center Community College District - Fresno • Fresno, CA

55d

About The Position

GENERAL PURPOSE Under general direction of the Dean, Students, plans, organizes, directs and integrates operations of the college's Veterans Resource Center and associated services; manages services related to certifying and processing student applications for Veterans Administration educational benefits and work-study benefits in accordance with legal guidelines; and performs related duties as assigned. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Director, Veterans Resource Center is distinguished from other directors by its responsibility for assisting veterans and their beneficiaries to access educational benefits from the Veterans Administration and by developing a community to support the educational and emotional needs of military veterans.

Requirements

• Must have evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices.
• Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university;
• OR
• A valid California Community College Supervisory Credential;
• AND
• Six years of student support services or experience, at least two of which were with veterans' educational benefits; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• A valid California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District's vehicle insurance program.
• Must obtain and maintain School Certifying Official certification from the VA.

Nice To Haves

• Experience and skill with addressing issues of equity; recent experience working with African American, Latinx, Native American, and other racially minoritized students and an understanding of how historical patterns of exclusions of these groups in higher education shape patterns of participation and outcomes; willingness to examine and remediate one's relational practices to more effectively engage and support racially minoritized students; and a commitment to participatory governance, consensus building, and team approach to management.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, directs, controls, integrates and evaluates the work of assigned employees; with employees, develops, implements and monitors work plans to achieve goals and objectives; contributes to development of and monitors performance against the annual center budget; researches, identifies and assists with the solicitation of grants, donations and other sources of funding; manages and directs development, implementation and evaluation of plans, work processes, systems and procedures to achieve annual program goals, objectives and work standards.
• Participates in the selection of full-time and part-time faculty in coordination with the department, selection advisory committees, and the Human Resources Department; conducts and/or facilitates new employee orientations; works to promote and maintain a collegial environment; serves as a mediator in the adjudication of faculty, staff, student and community conflict-resolution and grievance processes.
• Directs and manages the performance of assigned employees; directs and oversees the selection of employees; establishes performance requirements and professional development targets for direct reports; regularly monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development including timely performance evaluations; ensures accurate reporting of absence time; hears and acts on grievances; subject to concurrence by senior management and Human Resources, approves or takes disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies, in accordance with Board Policies, Administrative Regulations, Human Resources procedures, Personnel Commission Rules, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Provides day-to-day leadership and works with employees to ensure a high-performance, service-oriented work environment that supports achievement of the centers and District's mission, objectives and values; promotes workplace diversity, inclusion, cultural competency and a positive work environment; coordinates student success initiative efforts across divisions and works effectively as a management team member committed to collaborative integration of instruction, student services and administrative services to ensure the needs of veteran students are being met and to enhance the learning and working environment towards advancing student equity and closing the achievement gap while promoting a veteran-friendly campus.
• Participates in the development and implementation of District or college strategic plans, goals and objectives; leads and directs center employees in the development and application of new methodologies, technologies and business process improvements to achieve higher efficiency, productivity and customer service in center work processes.
• Manages, directs, oversees and evaluates policies, processes, systems and procedures and the work of employees responsible for the certification and processing of student applications for Veterans Administration (VA) educational benefits, tutorial assistance and work study benefits; ensures the college is in compliance with all federal, state and local laws, regulations and reporting requirements.
• Manages and oversees the development and implementation of the counseling and non-instructional support services, programs, activities and events of the college Veterans Resource Center to promote retention of military-affiliated students; develops campus and community resource partnerships for veterans and ensures access to educational and mental health counseling; makes presentations to veteran audiences; plans and coordinates outreach and social events.
• Acts as the School Certifying Official (SCO) in accordance with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official Handbook; ensures student files and documentation are accurate and meet eligibility requirements for appropriate VA educational benefit programs; consults with VA officials and other certifying officials for clarification and assistance with complex problems.
• Validates that students enrolled in the program are compliant with educational plans and in courses that have been appropriately certified; signs student enrollment certifications, unit changes and enrollment verifications; ensures accurate and efficient processing of VA documents and forms related to educational benefits in the District and VA systems and verifies that the college has been appropriately paid by the VA.
• Works with faculty, staff and administration to ensure compliance with California Code of Regulations Title V, accreditation standards and Board Policies and Administrative Procedures; works with department chairs and faculty in monitoring veteran student success and equity outcomes and assessment activities at program and course levels; advocates for veterans utilizing enrollment and other data to develop efficient class schedules and related services to balance needs for student access, success and completion, while ensuring appropriate stewardship of the college's financial resources.
• Oversees and participates in the development and processing of reports and audits of student grades, attendance and academic status; assists students and the business office in resolving VA payment issues; researches data, posts and clears holds on student records; and approves student petitions to waive enrollment fees.
• Makes presentations to diverse audiences, including the Board of Trustees and other board-level groups.
• Provides leadership and collaboratively partners with external resources and services including county and regional Veteran Services Office, Wounded Warrior Project and other veteran-related programs as well as state, local and regional collaborations and in community outreach activities for veterans to administer support services for veteran students; oversees the development of grant applications and administration of grants.
• Recommends, develops, implements, and revises policies, procedures and operational guidelines to improve and/or clarify processes.
• Interprets, applies and ensures compliance with all federal and state laws, applicable program policies, procedures, guidelines and reporting requirements; remains current on applicable legislative decisions and developments; ensures accuracy and validity of program tracking and data; develops, maintains and audits spreadsheets, databases and reports; utilizes third-party portals and databases to research and track student information.
• Represents the college and participates in state and national program training and development and professional group meetings; makes presentations to various groups within the District, other educational institutions, community organizations and governmental agencies and participates in advocacy efforts for program funding and participant resources.
• Serves on or leads committees, workgroups and task forces.
• Participates in participatory governance processes and initiatives.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to and understanding of historically minoritized groups and participates in professional development activities to increase cultural competency to enhance equity-minded practices within the District.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• the District offers an attractive fringe benefit package including medical, dental, and vision coverage for the employee and dependents, and life insurance for employees.
• Employees are also members of the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees