Director of Guidance - Community College

Westchester Community College   Valhalla, NY   Full-time     Education
Posted on April 18, 2024
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About Westchester Community College:

Westchester Community College was founded in 1946 as the New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in White Plains. In 1957, the County of Westchester bought the 360-acre John Hartford estate in Valhalla and designated 218 acres for the community college. Westchester Community College is more than just the county's largest educational institution. It is a living, breathing part of Westchester that goes beyond the influence of a typical college and affects the lives of all who enter its doors.


Job Description:


The Director of Guidance - Community College serves a mission-critical role at the College as the Executive Director of Advising & Accessibility Services within the Division of Student Affairs. The incumbent will provide administrative leadership, management, and supervision for the unit dedicated to providing students with guidance and support to successfully pursue their academic, career, and transfer pathways. Areas included in Academic Advising and Accessibility Services include academic counseling, accessibility services, career services, and transfer services. The position maintains a college-wide orientation and an equity focus in supporting students' educational access and planning, with a focus on student persistence, retention, and on-time completion or transfer. The successful candidate:
  • Assesses and evaluates operations and facilitates changes, as needed.
  • Partners with campus leaders in leveraging technology-enabled solutions to streamline workflows, referrals, early warning, and more to foster a community of care on behalf of our students and to help bring successful approaches and interventions to scale.
  • Consistently demonstrates support of the College's vision for the effective coordination of an integrated set of data-informed academic advising and transition services that support equitable outcomes in student achievement, momentum, retention, on-time degree completion, and transfer.
  • Exercises fiscal responsibility and acumen.
  • Fosters collaborative working relationships with faculty, staff and students in support of student success initiatives for all students and in particular, but not limited to, first generation college students, students with documented disabilities, adult learners, and students from marginalized populations.
  • Works collaboratively and cooperatively campus-wide with administrators, faculty, and staff to foster consistent college-wide communication, and intentional and ongoing advising and student success professional development opportunities.
  • By connecting with constituents across campus, raises awareness and clarifies the role of Accessibility Services, its practices and policies in accordance with the ADA and other appropriate laws.
  • Oversees the development of an onboarding and training program, as well as an ongoing professional development program that is consistent with current, evidence-based practices in the field for new advisors, academic counselors, and support for faculty with advising responsibilities.
  • Stays apprised of evidence-based practices and other developments in the field of academic advising, accessibility, and student success.
  • Supports a culture of assessment through the tracking, collection, reporting, and analysis of services for continuous improvement. Shares results with Student Affairs and relevant members of the campus community.
  • May perform other incidental tasks, as required.

Requirements:


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: The successful candidate must have one of the following:

(a) Bachelor's Degree in Guidance and Counseling or a related field and six years of practical experience in teaching, counseling and/or personnel work; OR

(b) Master's Degree in Guidance or Counseling or a related field and five years of practical experience in teaching, counseling and/or personnel work.

The successful candidate must also possess thorough knowledge of counseling and guidance techniques and psychological evaluation techniques; thorough knowledge of the subject matter; good knowledge of teaching techniques; ability to plan and supervise the work of others; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; and the ability to establish and maintain effective faculty, student, and administrator relationships. All candidates must have evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and evidence of equity-minded practice.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: The preferred candidate will possess:
  • A Master's Degree.
  • Understanding, knowledge, and experience providing leadership for advising models, effective practices in academic advising, accessibility services, or best practices for student success and retention, preferably in the community college sector.
  • Ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and present data.
  • Competence in the usage of PeopleSoft, Degree Works, Starfish, Bright Space, and Microsoft Office products.
  • Highly developed problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
  • A strong interest in building cooperative relationships.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and comprehensive departmental operations.
  • Bilingual verbal and written fluency.

Additional Information:


WORK SCHEDULE: The work schedule is Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm. Some evening hours might be required with ample notice. This is an on-campus position.

SALARY & BENEFITS: The starting salary is $102,151. Additional compensation with seniority steps maximize at a salary of $157,702. Benefits include comprehensive health coverage, a choice of defined benefit and/or defined contribution pension plan, generous leave benefits, and access to tax sheltered annuities and a deferred compensation plan.


Application Instructions:


Applicants must apply online by submitting a letter expressing interest in this position, a resume/CV, and contact information for three professional references. You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of hire. Please login to: https://sunywcc.interviewexchange.com/login.jsp in order to check/edit your profile or to upload additional documents. The review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received by March 13, 2024.

Westchester Community College provides accessible, high quality and affordable education to meet the needs of our diverse community. We are committed to student success, academic excellence, workforce development, economic development and lifelong learning.

The College will provide equal opportunity in all of its employment practices to all persons without unlawful discrimination on the basis of political affiliation, age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, arrest or conviction record, membership in any reserve component of the armed forces, or use or non-use of lawful products off College premises during nonworking hours, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law.