Ombuds and Senior Director, Student Affairs

Santa Fe College•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

Student Affairs at Santa Fe College (SF) adds value to the lives of our students and enriches our communities by providing research-based and learner-centered services to support access and student engagement from matriculation to goal attainment. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Ombuds and Senior Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for specialized student support programs, including the Disabilities Resource Center (DRC) and Displaced Homemakers Program (DHP). In this capacity, the Senior Director promotes student access, success, and well-being by ensuring effective service delivery to students with varied needs. This position also provides supervision to program leaders, oversight of budgets and grants, and ensures compliance with federal, state, and college regulations. Serving as a confidential and neutral resource, this position also functions as the college’s student ombuds, assisting students in navigating concerns related to college policies, procedures, and conflicts, while also promoting fair and equitable resolution. This role identifies systemic issues that impact students through casework and data analysis and provides recommendations to college leadership to strengthen support services and enhance the overall student experience. Additionally, this position represents the college in community partnerships, external collaborations, and professional organizations to advance student success and college priorities.

Requirements

A master’s degree in student affairs, psychology, counseling, student development, student personnel administration, higher education administration, or a related field, with four (4) years of experience in a community college setting or related setting, or a combination of education and experience equal to ten (10) years, in which two (2) years include management and/or intermediate supervisory experience.
A criminal background check will be conducted.

Nice To Haves

Experience with policy development, budget management and records and data management.
Experience in student counseling and advocacy.

Responsibilities

Serves as a key member of the Student Affairs leadership team, contributing to divisional strategic planning, college initiatives, and policy development.
Provides strategic leadership, oversight and support for the DRC and DHP, ensuring alignment with college priorities and effective service delivery.
Supervises direct reports by setting accountability benchmarks, conducting performance evaluations, and supporting professional development; provides training to direct reports and other staff as needed.
Provides guidance on resource allocation, staffing, and program priorities to ensure alignment with the college’s strategic objectives.
Oversees and collaborates with direct reports on program budgets and grant-funded initiatives, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and college regulations.
Serves as the college’s student ombuds, providing a confidential and neutral resource for students to discuss concerns, navigate policies, and explore options for resolving conflict.
Facilitates informal conflict resolution using techniques such as mediation, negotiation, coaching, referral to appropriate resources, and other strategies.
Demonstrates proactive and passionate advocacy on behalf of students in all facets of their education and development, from admissions through graduation and goal completion.
Identifies systemic issues that impact students through casework and data analysis and provides recommendations to college leadership to improve policies, procedures, and student services.
Serves as a college resource for incidents involving campus health, safety, and/or student well-being.
Collaborates with the Title IX Coordinator and other appropriate personnel on matters related to harassment, discrimination, or other sensitive issues requiring formal resolution.
Advocates for students’ access needs by coordinating collegewide support programs including emergency aid, technology access, Take Stock in Children, and services for students experiencing homelessness, foster care, or other significant life changes.
Supports students during emergencies, hospitalizations, or critical life events, including coordinating with faculty, staff, and families as appropriate.
Represents the college in community partnerships, external collaborations, and professional organizations to promote student success and advance college priorities; serves in initiatives such as the Keys to Home (Local CoC) and Positive Pathways.
Collaborates with internal and external partners, including the SF Foundation, Financial Aid Office, Saints Care Center, and community agencies to secure resources and support for students.
Works with faculty and staff across campus to ensure coordinated and effective support and services for students.
Remains current on emerging trends, legislation, and best practices in student affairs, accessibility, ombuds practices, and federal/state compliance, including FERPA, ADA, Title IX, and FCS directives.
Ensures alignment with professional standards, including the International Ombudsman Association code of ethics, and participates in relevant state, regional, and national professional organizations.
Provides service to the college through participation in events, committees, and other college activities; serves as Chair on select committees, such as the Life Happens Emergency Grant committee, and serves on the Disciplinary Review Panel.
Complies with all published College Rules, procedures, guidelines, and laws/regulations governing public employees, including but not limited to those related to document retention and destruction, FERPA, and confidentiality.
Strictly honors the privacy, security, and confidentiality of records and other sensitive information according to appropriate state, federal, and college regulations, policies, and procedures.
Provides service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible, and professional engagement.
Performs other duties as assigned.