The Division of Student Life supports dynamic co-curricular learning and engagement for all undergraduate and graduate students within the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA@Tufts). As a central resource supporting the safety, engagement, and wellbeing of all Tufts AS&E students, Student Life promulgates community standards; coordinates communication between campus constituencies and departments; supports programs and activities to advance student learning; facilitates the coordinated support of individual students, and; works 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.
Student Support is a department within Student Life, which contributes to student growth, development, and wellbeing by teaching students to navigate challenging situations, understand and evaluate their options, and make decisions aligned with their goals and values. The Student Support team coordinates comprehensive support for undergraduate and graduate AS&E students experiencing health, personal, and other challenges. Student Support also oversees the medical leave and return from hospitalization processes for all AS&E students. Student Support partners closely with colleagues across the university on policies, programs, and initiatives related to student development and wellbeing.
What You'll Do
The Assistant Director of Student Support provides comprehensive, non-clinical case management and support to students experiencing personal, health, and other challenges. This includes:
Working directly with students in distress
Managing emergency hospitalizations
Overseeing leave of absence processes
Maintaining a student caseload
Coordinating access to both on- and off-campus resources
Implementing other support processes to promote student wellbeing and success.
The Assistant Director of Student Success resolves such situations in a way that prioritizes the safety of both the student of concern and others in the community; respects student agency, encourages resilience, and facilitates personal development; and restores health and wellbeing.
This position primarily focuses on undergraduate students, although occasional support and case management for graduate students may be necessary.
What We're Looking For
Basic Requirements:
Knowledge and skills as typically acquired by a Master’s Degree in higher education, college student development, social work, counseling, psychology, or another closely related discipline, or the international equivalent
A minimum of 4 years of work experience in a related field, with a minimum of 2 years of experience working directly with students of concern in a higher education setting
Experience with crisis response, including the ability to analyze situations and implement effective solutions in a thoughtful way during times of distress
Strong helping skills (e.g., active and reflective listening, facilitated reflection, appropriate confrontation, recognition of mental health concerns requiring referral, suicide prevention, etc.), experience making referrals and providing case management to students in distress
Extensive, nuanced understanding of college student mental health concerns, trends, and best practices
Excellent judgment and experience making thoughtful decisions in complex, sensitive scenarios
Current and thorough knowledge of laws, trends, and practices related to student support in the college and university environment
Demonstrated success in starting up and implementing innovative programs
Outstanding written and oral communication skills, especially in complex situations that carry safety, legal, and reputational risks
Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
Proven ability to shape outcomes successfully in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment
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
Commitment to Tufts’ goal of becoming an anti-racist institution and experience with diversity, equity, inclusion, or social justice work
Ability to utilize technology in the delivery of student programs
Experience with the administration of a student records system
Personal computer, time management, and strong organizational skills
Preferred Qualifications:
Training in case management, suicide prevention and intervention, and/or closely-related topics
Experience formulating and/or advising on organizational policy
Experience creating and assessing learning outcomes and/or programmatic objectives
Membership in and service to relevant professional organizations
Special Work Schedule Requirements:
This is a hybrid role expected to be in person at least 3 days each week. Occasional night and weekend commitments are required.
Pay Range
Minimum $58,750.00, Midpoint $73,550.00, Maximum $88,300.00
Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.
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 oeo@tufts.edu. Applicants can learn more about requesting reasonable accommodations at https://oeo.tufts.edu/