Associate Director of Community Engagement

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

School for Social Work

Job Description

Job Summary

The Smith College School for Social Work invites applications for a full-time administrative position. With a commitment to systemic transformation, the School for Social Work seeks a candidate who embraces the spirit and aspirations reflected in the school’s five guiding principles.

Core Principles
1. Prioritize intentional action over standard logistics
2. Ensure accountability at the individual, program and institutional levels and that there are meaningful processes for repair and reconciliation
3. Center communities that have been marginalized for their strength, knowledge and beauty
4. Ensure that Black faculty and staff and faculty and staff of color are hired and retained at all levels of power in the organization
5. Stay open to and actively engage with change

Overview of the position
The Associate Director of Community Engagement and Student Support at the Smith College School for Social Work holds a pivotal leadership role setting the strategic direction for on-campus community engagement aimed at nurturing a compassionate and accountable campus culture that aligns with SSW’s 5 Core Principles and SSW Community Agreement. Specifically the Associate Director will hold decision-making authority for the strategy, design, implementation and supervision of a range of student and faculty programs to create and build community, accountability and student support. These programs will include the faculty/staff/student Anti-Racism working group, the faculty Sotomayor Collective, the school's advising system including the First Gen Programming, and a student-of-concern response system. The Associate Director will be expected to create a sustainable plan for a SSW post-graduate Career Office. The Associate Director will advise and collaborate with student government and develop an integrated student advisement program. This position holds authority for the critical processes related to SSW accountability and culture-building, working closely with faculty, staff, and student groups. The Associate Director is both a thought and administrative leader reporting to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

The central theme of this position is the engagement of all members of the SSW on-campus community in ways that advances social-emotional support and deepens restorative justice practices within the school. This position will supervise a range of student, faculty, and staff responsibilities and positions. The Associate Director must collaborate regularly with all SSW departments, faculty, and students as well as many departments and offices at the college. The successful candidate has a record of leadership and positive collaboration, experience with student services and/or student advising, as well as leading, managing, or coordinating large-scale cultural change work - preferably in an educational setting. As a Smith employee, the Associate Director must take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. To attract and retain top talent, further diversify the candidate pool and address changing preferences in the workforce, Smith College allows hybrid/remote work arrangements.

Essential Functions

Responsible for the identification, design and implementation of strategic initiatives to advance SSW cultural change toward a Caring & Accountable Campus Community, 30%

• Hold a vision for the integration of restorative practices and transformative justice principles in alignment with the School's 5 core principles across all facets of the Social Work (SSW) model.
• Develop and implement comprehensive strategies for the growth, development, and assessment of the SSW's Marta Sotomayor Collective on an ongoing basis.
• Provide oversight and guidance to the faculty Sotomayor Fellows, ensuring alignment with program goals and best practices in social work education.
• Supervise and provide strategic support to the Faculty, Staff, and Student Anti-Racism Planning Group, fostering a collaborative and impactful approach to institutional anti-racism efforts.
• Collaborate with the SSW Director of Communications and External Relations to develop and implement processes that preserve the School's cultural history within the institutional framework.
• Oversee the implementation of the SSW Classroom-Based Accountability Process, ensuring comprehensive training and effective utilization within the social work community on campus.

Direct Student Services Programming & Student Governance programs 25%

• Direct the SSW’s Advising Program, continuously evaluating its effectiveness, overseeing ongoing improvements, and facilitating transitions to new models as required.
• Direct the SSW First Generation Program, ensuring its alignment with institutional goals and providing strategic leadership to enhance support for first-generation students.
• Manage and collaborate with student government and student groups, overseeing all related student training initiatives to foster a cohesive and empowered student community. This includes overseeing and collaborating with the Council for Students of Color, ensuring their initiatives are supported and aligned with the School's diversity and inclusion goals.
• Design and direct the substantive programs for Student Orientation, Faculty Onboarding, and other key trainings, working closely with the Special Projects Specialist to ensure successful implementation.
  

Design and direct a SSW post graduate Career Office 25%

• Collaborate with SSW’s Alumni Engagement Office, Smith College Lazarus Center for Career Development, and student advisers to design, develop and direct comprehensive supports for students and recent graduates seeking employment or post-graduate fellowship opportunities.
• Develop and oversee a sustainable repository of employment and post-graduate fellowship opportunities for graduating students, ensuring accessibility and relevance to their career aspirations.
• Work in collaboration with SSW’s Alumni Engagement office, Smith College Lazarus Center, and student advisers to design and implement supports for students and recent graduates looking for employment or post graduate fellowship opportunities

Direct and implement a school and community-held wellness program at SSW 15%

• Lead the SSW Wellness Program, facilitating community engagement to develop and provide opportunities for self-care and collective restoration throughout the practicum year and summer academic terms.
• Plan and work with the Directors of the Smith College Accessibility Resource Center and the Schacht Center for Health and Wellness to oversee a unified system of student support, ensuring comprehensive and coordinated services for all students.

Other duties 5%

• Manage the nomination process to identify the NASW Student of the Year, ensuring a rigorous selection process that highlights outstanding achievements and contributions.
• Recruit, train, and supervise summer Resident Assistants in collaboration with the Operations Manager, ensuring effective leadership and support for student residential life programs.

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

Candidates should possess a strong collegial orientation and a commitment to collaboration, along with a visionary and creative approach to programmatic transformation and its potential impacts. Requirements include a master’s degree in social work or a related field, along with a minimum of 5 years of leadership experience demonstrating proficiency in the following areas:

• Implementing effective community-based strategies to foster a supportive and accountable campus culture within higher education.
• Applying restorative practice or transformative justice methods for conflict resolution at both individual and collective levels across diverse environments.
• Addressing issues related to race, racism, white supremacy, anti-blackness, and advancing racial justice through leadership and program development initiatives.
• Facilitating coalition-building efforts and collaborative program development that drive innovative solutions.
• Developing and implementing community-based accountability processes that yield measurable outcomes.
• Providing supportive and outcome-focused supervision that enhances organizational effectiveness.
• Designing and overseeing comprehensive advising programs within an educational context.
• Demonstrating a strong commitment to the values and principles of the SSW, and possessing experience in working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Skills

Extensive experience and deep knowledge of the social work profession and current national trends. Proven track record in coalition building, program development, and implementing transformative justice models. Skilled in project management and effective supervision. Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and both written and oral communication abilities. Demonstrated excellence in administration with a focus on positive staff management and development. Strong emotional intelligence (EQ), adept at flexible and creative thinking, and experienced in collaborative work with diverse individuals and groups. Capable of thriving in a fast-paced environment and managing stress effectively. Proficient in leveraging technology, including Microsoft Office and the Google suite, to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Additional Information

The school for Social Work is part of Smith College. Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Diversity and a commitment to equity among students, staff, faculty, and administration are crucial to the mission and values of Smith College. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religions, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Smith College School for Social Work faculty have expertise in relationally-based, culturally responsive practice that is firmly grounded in a synthesis of psychological and social theories. A history of expertise in psychodynamic theory is one defining feature of the School. The curriculum is designed to educate students for the provision of effective clinical social work services with diverse communities in agency settings as well as with vulnerable and underserved populations. The program is known for its intensive practicum internships based across the United States and offers both an M.S.W. and Ph.D. The School works actively to improve alignment with its five core principles of racial justice in all aspects of its programs and operations; faculty, staff and students contribute actively to this aspiration. The school operates with a block program in which students attend a condensed program of courses in Northampton in summer months (June- August) and complete practica training across the country between September- April. For more information about the Smith College School for Social Work, please visit https://www.smith.edu/ssw/.

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Review of applications will begin

September 9, 2024

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts.  A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of  equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty.  The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.