Assistant Director for SOAR

Job Description

The Student Opportunities and Achievement Resources (SOAR) Program is a program within the Office for Inclusion and Diversity, under the Provost’s Office. The Assistant Director reports to the Director of SOAR. The Assistant Director will assist in providing coordination and support to a holistic approach to student success for marginalized and underrepresented and underserved populations, through robust partnerships with Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Student Affairs.

This position has three main focus areas: coaching, student outreach, and the Black College Institute.

The Assistant Director will serve as a Coach to two Colleges – the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) and the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS). The Assistant Director will partner with academic units across campus to support students. In the coaching aspect of this position the Assistant Director will meet with underrepresented students to help support their personal, professional, and academic success.

The Assistant Director will be responsible to develop and implement programming and educational opportunities enhance student retention and sense of belonging. This position will design and provide resources that enhance students personally, academically, and their social identity development with a comprehensive lens on historically marginalized populations.

This person will collaborate with other campus partners to create resources, programs, and services to address the intersectional nature of identities and support student’s academic achievement. This position will support traditional programming and large scale events such as the Black College Institute and the Sankofa Professional Development Program.

The Black College Institute is a 3-week Summer Institute that has been offered virtually and in-person. This institute is a partnership with Admissions/Enrollment Management and serves as a pipeline program. BCI also has an on-campus component throughout the year, of BCI Alum that are current VT students. The Assistant Director will be responsible for the outreach and programming for the BCI alum that are on campus, and the Sankofa program that supports the BCI students.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Assist in creation and development of the SOAR Program resources and offerings, focusing on coordinating efforts across departments to promote student success, broadly defined for underrepresented and underserved students.

Assesses and reports to university leaders on effectiveness of programs, services and student academic progress and persistence.

Partner with Colleges, the Career Center, the Academic Support Center, the Cultural and Community Centers, and New Student Programs to ensure coordination and collaboration related to underrepresented student success.

Assist in the development of annual and long-range goals, reporting, and assessment of SOAR programmatic efforts, and the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) and the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS) outreach and coaching.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree with significant coursework in Higher Education Administration, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work or related field and relevant work experience; or Master’s degree. Experience working with underrepresented and underserved students. Experience in community development and program management with a demonstrated knowledge and understanding of race/ethnicity/class, college access issues.

Demonstrated ability to plan and implement educational and informational programs in a diverse cultural environment.

Strong interpersonal skills in order to communicate and collaborate effectively with a broad range of constituencies including students, staff, and faculty.
Have a working knowledge of student development theory, social justice training and diversity education.
Advanced computer skills involving databases, spreadsheets, word processing, web based interactive communications, social media and/or other applications utilizing software applicable to function.

Understanding of complex organizational structures, including student success. Experience in building professional partnerships with university departments, student groups, and community partners.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience working with financial aid, banner, and other student progress monitoring software.

Familiarity with available campus and community resources and help students navigate these resources.

Appointment Type

Restricted

Review Date

4/30/2021

Additional Information

The successful Candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Lisha Farrier at lfarrier@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: April 14, 2021
Applications close: