Job Summary 

Towson University (TU) is one of the nation’s top 100 public universities. Located north of Baltimore, TU currently enrolls more than 19,000 students and is the second-largest university in the prestigious University System of Maryland. Towson University values diversity and fosters a climate that is grounded in respect and inclusion to cultivate the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.

The Assistant Dean & Director of Student Outreach & Support will provide leadership, direction, and management for the University’s Student Outreach & Support (SOS) department and programs. Work with students to help them navigate challenges and obstacles to their academic and personal success using a restorative and collaborative approach. Build and maintain relationships with internal and external resources to support students. Manage and supervise departmental staff and budget. Serve as an expert to the University community on addressing student needs and concerns. Collaborate with other Student Affairs Directors and leadership as a member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team.

Core Functions of the Position: 

• Supervision
• Case Management
• Educational Outreach
• Administrative and Budgetary Oversight
• Relationship Building
• Intervention Team Membership

Responsibilities and Duties

Supervision: Oversee and supervise student case management. Oversee the management of cases, including the implementation of a continuity of care plan to ensure that reports are assigned to staff and given appropriate response and follow up that reflect best practices in the field of student case management. Create protocols and systems to support case documentation and tracking using the CARE module in the case management system Symplicity Advocate. Maintain a departmental operations manual that accurately describes the function of the department in detail. Ensure that staff are appropriately trained to provide consistent yet customized support and guidance to students who need assistance. Hire, train, and supervise an Assistant Director who manages two Coordinators. Hire, train, and supervise an Administrative Assistant who provides support to the SOS team. Create a supportive team atmosphere that provides opportunities for staff to engage with one another in consultation, support, and growth both individually and as a group.

Case Management: Manage and respond to referred cases. Provide direct support to students who are in high levels of distress. Engage in collaborative conversations with students, families, campus partners, and off campus resources to provide intervention and resource connection for students who are experiencing significant need. Consult with faculty and staff who may need support when working with a student in distress. Support other staff who are engaging with students in distress by providing consultation and coaching. Provide regular updates to the Associate Dean of Students regarding the status of high-level cases.

Educational Outreach: Oversee the development and implementation of education and outreach opportunities that assist students in building skills around resiliency, financial literacy and management, social stress, and overall well-being. This includes outreach that educates the university community on the functions of SOS including how to notice signs and engage with students in distress and how to refer students for support. Serve as the primary point person for all requests for outreach from the University Community. Ensure the department has adequate representation at major functions like orientation for students, faculty, and staff.

Administrative and Budgetary Oversight: Adequately assess departmental functions and efforts and utilize results to make data driven decisions regarding programmatic, staffing, or budgetary changes. Manage the departmental website and oversee the publication of any outreach materials, ensuring appropriate representation of the departmental functions. Serve as a superuser of the Symplicity Advocate product, providing appropriate updates to the functions used by SOS team members. Provide training to the SOS team on the most effective use of the system to manage cases. Oversee the stewardship of all emergency resource programs. Maintain and implement a rubric for awarding emergency grant funds. In partnership with the Associate Dean of Students, serve as one of the responsible administrators of the emergency fund’s budget. Collaborate with the Student Government Association (SGA) to administer the device loaner program. Partner with dining services and the contracted dining provider to administer a swipe donation program. Explore the expansion of resources to support students in financial crisis. Manage departmental budget including oversight of spending for programming and outreach. Become Serve-safe Certified and provide secondary support to the FoodShare in the Basic Needs Hub if primary staff members are unavailable.

Relationship Building: Build and maintain relationships with relevant partners, both on and off campus like the Counseling Center, Accessibility & Disability Support, The Basic Needs Hub, Student Accountability & Restorative Practices, the Center for Student Diversity, Financial Aid, Academic Advising, International Students & Scholars Office, Student Success Programs, and more. Build relationships with external partners like local food banks, housing resources, and other benefits for which students may be eligible. Stay abreast of both changing needs as well as new programs that may support students.

Intervention Team Membership: Serve as a member of both the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) and CARE teams and work in collaboration with other university officials and offices in managing student behavioral concerns.

Complete other duties as assigned.

Telework may be available for this position up to two days per week following the completion of 90 days of service in good standing.

Qualifications and Skills

Required:

• Master's degree
• 7-10 years of case management or other social work experience. 
• Knowledge of and experience with student case management, current practices and issues in higher education case management.
• Understanding of student development and a commitment to student advocacy and equity.
• Evidence of establishing effective working relationships with students, faculty & staff, and external partners like families and other agencies.
• Demonstrative administrative skills and supervision of professional staff.
• Evidence of ability to lead a team and work independently.
• Exceptional communication skills, including listening skills.
• Ability to resolve conflict, work efficiently, meet deadlines, respond to emergent problems and crises; successfully coordinate and execute multiple tasks and responsibilities; utilize communication and record keeping technologies.
• Experience dealing with sensitive and confidential issues. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (advanced knowledge and capabilities in utilizing Excel is desired). 
• Must be organized and have a strong attention for detail; prioritize responsibilities, and coordinate numerous projects simultaneously; maintain quality customer service skills; possess excellent interpersonal and coalition-building skills; and have a strong work ethic with the ability to work independently or as part of a team. 
• Excellent public speaking and persuasive communication abilities. 

Preferred: 

• Specific experience in working with the college student population.
• Experiences creating and leading workshops and trainings.
• Ability to embrace and support TU’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 
• Ability to write, prepare, and present accurate, effective, and clear-notes and reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively across a diverse spectrum of campus stakeholders. 
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment to meet established goals. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information. 
• Ability to lead a team and foster a supportive and innovative work environment.

 Salary and Benefits 

Competitive salary and full University benefits that include 22 days of annual leave, up to 14 holidays, personal and sick days; excellent health, life, and retirement plans; and tuition remission. To learn more about our benefits, please click here. TU also offers a variety of great perks and discounts, which can be found here.

If you are motivated, innovative and team-oriented, we would love to hear from you.  
For consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume with your online application. 
This position will be open for a minimum of 14 days.  

The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors has been our top priority and the focus of every one of our decisions since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the University System of Maryland (USM) has strongly encouraged full COVID vaccination and up-to-date booster shots (when eligible) for all faculty, staff, and students at all schools in the USM as both a reasonable and necessary means of protecting our health and safety. 

Requirements

• Start Date: No Start Date
• Education: Master's Degree Required
• Work Experience: 7 - 9 years
• Part/Full Time: Full-Time

Contact / Additional Information

www.towson.edu/jobs