Director, Compass Center for Advising, Career, and Life Design

About Salve Regina University:

Salve Regina University, ranked as one of the most transformative colleges in the United States by Money Magazine, is a comprehensive Catholic University located in the scenic coastal community of Newport, Rhode Island. The University’s commitment to academic success and personal discovery extends beyond its historic campus into a dynamic world where the application of higher thinking and skill are most valued. Salve Regina offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, graduate certificates, and doctoral programs in humanities, international relations and nursing. Enrollment includes more than 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students from across the U.S. and around the world.

Job Description:

BASIC FUNCTION:

Salve Regina University seeks an experienced, innovative, and student-centered director for its newly established Compass Center for Academic, Career, and Life Design. Alongside a collaborative team of academic advising and career development specialists, the Compass Center will provide proactive, holistic, and student-centered services that prepare Salve Regina students and alumni for purpose driven lives and meaningful careers. The position reports directly to the Executive Director for the Salve Compass Program, Salve Regina’s new strategic program for the student experience, and will be charged with restructuring and designing programs, systems, and tools that will help students flourish while enrolled at Salve through graduation. This position provides strategic leadership and operational guidance for programs and services focused on academic navigation and career design, including first year advising,  major exploration, career planning, student-alumni-career connections, and related areas. The Director will actively seek to expand and integrate the Compass Center campus-wide by developing relationships and partnerships across academic departments and programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Strategy:

Centering the University’s Strategic Compass, establish and serve as founding director of Salve Regina’s Compass Center for Academic, Career, and Life Design
Lead the design, development, and implementation of a high-impact integrated approach to academic advising and career development programs in support of the overarching goals of the Salve Compass Program.
Supervise a professional staff of 9 professional advisors and team members, which includes 4 direct reports (Associate Director for Academic Advising, Associate Director for Career Development, Employer Relations Coordinator, and Office Coordinator)
Develop efforts to recruit, train, retain, supervise, and support the Compass Center staff, including the annual performance review process

Program Design:

Drawing upon relevant student development and identity-based theories, develop and implement a comprehensive and holistic advising model that offers equitable access to all students, centers and promotes self-exploration and development, and is grounded in the foundational questions identified for each year of the student experience
Collaborate with campus community members to provide programs and services to Salve students that offers career exploration and decision-making
Establish collaborative and productive partnerships across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and other divisions across campus to allow for intentional planning and execution of holistic, proactive, and streamlined delivery of student services
Partner with the Director of First Year Experience to coordinate instruction of first year studios. Develop and provide instruction of one-credit studio workshops for sophomores and juniors that support the goals and objectives of The Salve Compass Program

Fostering University and External Partnerships:

Manage and lead team meetings and advisory board meetings
Provide collaborative and evidence-based training resources for new and existing professional and faculty academic advisors
Respond to concerns of students, families/advocates, faculty and staff
Develop and foster relationships with internal and external partners as it relates to best practices for student and alumni career development and vocation discernment
Monitoring Assessment & Evaluation:

Partner with Institutional Research and Effectiveness to collect and analyze data on academic and career advising activities to assess student learning outcomes, program effectiveness, and career readiness
Ensures staff knowledge of, and institutional compliance with regulations, policies, and guidance related to advising, career and employment services
Develop, implement, and monitor budget for expense planning and resource management
Regularly conduct student, employer, and alumni engagement needs and gap analyses to inform strategic priorities

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Participate in faculty department meetings, university leadership meetings, and Student Success Committee to share knowledge and insight on student success systems to maximize retention and graduation rates
Partner with Admissions to deliver advising and career related content at University sponsored events
Assist with all other functions of the Center and related duties as requested by the Executive Director of The Salve Compass Program

LICENSES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT:

N/A

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The incumbent is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Requirements:

The successful candidate will possess a master’s degree in higher education leadership, or a similar field, from an accredited college or university with significant (5-7 years) administrative experience in higher education, including at least three years of direct supervisory experience in leading and managing a team within student success, academic advising, career development, or a related area in a college/university setting.
Familiarity with The Council of Independent Colleges’ Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) and Design Your Life programs preferred.
The successful candidate will also possess an understanding of and commitment to Salve Regina’s Mercy, Catholic tradition and mission, in addition to familiarity with professional, global industry standards surrounding advising and career readiness.
A strong record of administrative leadership, demonstrating analytical ability in assessing learning outcomes and evaluating programs; fostering a cooperative and team environment; and building productive and collaborative working relationships across campus are required.
Facility with current technology, evidence of superior interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to lead change; creating a student-centered culture that supports high standards of excellence for all members of the campus community will be important considerations in the selection.

Additional Information:

Salve Regina University offers generous benefits to eligible employees including:

health and dental coverage
life insurance
long-term disability
403B plan
tuition benefits and more

Salve Regina University strives to provide equal opportunity in employment and education to all employees, students and applicants. No employee, student or applicant shall be discriminated against or harassed on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, age, marital or parental status, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal or state law, in the administration of Salve Regina’s employment policies, education policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other University administered programs. In accordance with Title IX, it does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any of its educational programs or activities. Salve Regina is also committed to making its programs and campus accessible to its visitors and compliant with all applicable non-discrimination laws.

Application Instructions:

Applicants must apply online for any open staff and faculty positions by providing a cover-letter and resume. Pre-employment background checks and reference checks are required of successful candidates. Salve Regina University participates in E-verify.