Career Center

The Office of the Dean of Student Affairs supports dynamic co-curricular learning and engagement for all undergraduate and graduate students within the School of Arts & Science, the School of Engineering at Tufts and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA at Tufts).  The department partners closely with colleagues across Division of Student Affairs on a wide variety of campus programs and initiatives.  As a central resource that supports the safety, dynamic engagement and wellbeing of all Tufts AS&E students, the Student Affairs office at SMFA will coordinate communication between campus constituencies and departments; support programs and activities to advance student learning; facilitate the coordinated support of individual students, and; work cooperatively with members of the faculty and the colleges’ senior leadership team to ensure the successful achievement of institutional and divisional goals, vision, and values.

The Associate Dean of Student Affairs provides overall direction and leadership at a strategic and policy planning level to the graduate and undergraduate student experience at the Tufts SMFA campus. As a visible and engaged member of the SMFA community, leads the student affairs staff to ensure an immersive and positive experience for all students. Responsible for developing the focus of programmatic efforts aimed at the student community including Orientation and 1st Year Student programs, co-curricular programming, and other initiatives. Partners with other staff and offices in working with students in distress and crisis management.

The Associate Dean of Student Affairs oversees several operational functions that reside in the SMFA Student Affairs staff. Works closely with Academic Advising, Student Accessibility Services, Residential Life, Facilities, Dining, Transportation and other campus partners to enhance the holistic student experience at the SMFA and supports broader efforts in the Division of Student Affairs.  This is a hybrid position.  This position will work in person on campus for at least half the work week during the fall and spring semesters while classes are in session, with more flexibility for remote work over the summer and during school breaks. There are periods of time and events in which in-person participation is required, and may require availability outside of regularly scheduled hours for emergency response.

Basic Requirements:

• Knowledge and skills as typically acquired through completion of a Master’s degree in higher education, college student development, counseling, psychology, or another closely related discipline, or the international equivalent
• At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs, including at least four years of high impact contribution in student activities, the dean’s office, or equivalent
• Extensive experience in building co-curricular experiences and opportunities in student activities; experience managing highly complex conduct issues with discretion and consistency
• Current knowledge of laws, trends, and practices related to law and mental health in the student affairs environment, and experience applying them to the student intervention environment
• Experience creating, analyzing, and interpreting policy
• Experience successfully managing major student crises
• Demonstrated success in starting up and implementing innovative programs and generating community buy in for initiatives
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Highly advanced helping skills (e.g., active and reflective listening, facilitated reflection, appropriate confrontation, recognition of mental health concerns requiring referral, suicide prevention and intervention, etc.), and experience providing case management to students in distress
• Proven ability to shape outcomes successfully in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment
• Integrity, forthrightness, and fair-mindedness are characteristics essential to success in this position
• Excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to build strong relationships with members of diverse constituencies, and a successful track record of collaboration in achieving objectives
• Experience working effectively with a wide range of diverse faculty, staff, and students
• Ability to utilize technology in the delivery of student programs
• Personal computer, time management, and strong organizational skills

Preferred Qualifcations:

• Active engagement in relevant professional organizations
• Experience working in student affairs at an art school is strongly preferred
• Understanding of the intersection of a liberal arts ethos and the values espoused in the arts education field
• Experience successfully generating and sustaining organizational change
  

About Tufts University

This is Tufts. Tufts is a student-centered research university with a constellation of world-class schools encompassing undergraduate, graduate, professional, and lifelong learning programs. Across the university, students satisfy their intellectual curiosity, jump-start rewarding careers, and unlock bright, promising futures. Through rigorous academics, groundbreaking research, and a commitment to civic engagement and leadership, our community of students, faculty, and staff collaborate across four Massachusetts campuses to build a brighter world (Medford/Somerville, Grafton, Boston-Chinatown, and Boston-Fenway). Our employees light the way. Tufts develops innovative solutions for the most complex global challenges of our time through teaching, research, and an unparalleled investment in civic engagement. In administration and operations, in dining centers and in labs, every employee plays a role in our mission for a better, brighter world. At Tufts, the work you do matters. So do you. Enjoy flexible and remote opportunities, innovative benefits, and an inclusive, welcoming, collaborative culture that supports you. Develop your skills. Take classes. Advance your career. ...Do work that makes you proud in a community you love. All while taking great care of yourself and the people who matter most. We’re all in on creating an anti-racist culture of belonging. Across Tufts, we’ve deepened our commitment to making the university a truly inclusive place. Where every member of our community contributes and feels like they belong. Where diverse perspectives are seen as our strength, and great ideas are always heard. In offices, labs, classrooms, and beyond, we’re doing this work together, knowing it is the foundation of our mission to create a brighter world. An innovative university needs resourceful people who make things happen. Here, collaboration isn’t just a buzzword, colleagues actually care, and community means everything. Sound appealing? Come join us. Choose a campus and find the role that fits you. Tufts University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff and fostering their success when hired. Members of underrepresented groups are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. See the University’s Non-Discrimination statement and policy here https://oeo.tufts.edu/policies-procedures/non-discrimination/. If you are an applicant with a disability who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, please contact us by calling the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 617-627-3298 or at [email protected] Applicants can learn more about requesting reasonable accommodations at https://oeo.tufts.edu/

Show more

Show less

Connections working at Tufts University