Associate Director

Compensation Range:

Annual Salary: $63,720.00 - $86,020.00

Position Summary:

The Associate Director, Veteran and Military Center oversees the daily activities of the National University Veterans Center, including scheduling and supervising Veterans Center team, marketing/communications, collecting data and reporting other information, program planning, and program implementation. Provides direct student services to include student advocacy, instruction, and coaching, primarily in the subjects of transition from military life, VA benefits and funding, professional development, and student success.

Location: Onsite

Travel: Some Travel Required

Essential Functions:

• Create a strategic vision, in collaboration with senior leadership, for annual goals and outcome-based projects. 
• Compliance oversight through Quality Assurance Activities and aligned coaching/feedback engagements. 
• Collaborate interdepartmentally across the University to ensure transparency, partnership, and holistic representation of all perspectives in decisions and implemented initiatives within department. 
• Develop and conduct training programs to improve team members’ technical and soft skills. 
• Provide mentorship, professional development, and coaching to each of their team members through individualized development plans, performance management, and ongoing 1:1’s. 
• Responsible for strategic planning to develop and implement short- and long-term strategies focused on improved student retention and student experience. 
• Ensure that team retention targets are achieved in alignment with the University’s retention goals. 
• Provide leadership and operational guidance to ensure effective team member support of students as they progress in their courses/program. 
• Analyze team data and metrics to determine and facilitate change, to meet organizational expectations and goals. 
• Use business intelligence analytics to ensure the team is maintaining expected service-level agreements. 
• Evaluate reporting to ensure contact expectations are met for student outreach via phone/email/text and follows up as needed.
• Lead special projects as assigned to support continuous improvement initiatives and collaborate with other university stakeholders across the organization as needed. 
• Evaluate internal audits and provides coaching as needed to ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation guidelines. 
• Identify, hire, and retain top talent. 
• Create and maintain a culture of excellence and inclusivity through team activities, initiatives, and open communication. 
• Track and monitor schedules and attendance of team members. 
• Administrate payroll and timecard reporting for team members. 
• Oversee the entire department in the absence of the Director. 
• Lead team meetings and participates in Student Services Leadership Team meetings. 
• Uphold the University standard of conduct and all other policies and procedures. 
• Identify opportunities and recommend changes to improve the University. 
• Participate in training, continuous education, and leadership development activities to improve skill set. 
• Manage the day-to-day National University Veterans Center operations.
• Proactively promote activities and support services of the Veterans Center to all internal and external stakeholders.
• Recruit and develop Veterans Center peer mentors, providing transition support and professional/personal development expertise and mentoring.
• Develop military recognition events and messaging to all students including activities related to the Memorial Day and Veterans Day holidays.
• Act as a student veteran advocate for issues related to student veteran educational benefits and academic challenges/concerns, collaborating with internal stakeholders to empower student success and problem resolution.
• Administer the Veterans Victory Scholarship (VVS) fund reviewing candidates, facilitating awards to selected applicants and maintaining a supporting network and connection with VVS alumni.
• Maintain and expand the veteran community partner relationships throughout all regions, actively attending veteran community meetings and events.
• Provide military cultural awareness information and training to staff and faculty University wide and serve as the primary contact for questions related to student veteran best practices on campus.
• Serve as the Chapter Advisor for the National University Student Veteran Organization (NUSVO), providing leadership and support to NUSVO student leaders and board members.
• Participate in ongoing department projects, or other special projects, as needed. 
• Reasonable and consistent attendance to fulfill requirements of the position. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  

Supervisor duties to include:

• Direct oversight of at least one (1) team member.
• Hire, train and develop Veterans Center Coordinator and Federal Work Study staff.
• Implement and lead individualized development plans for all team members.
• Direct oversight for all performance management actions inclusive of direct coaching, performance action delivery, and separation of team members. 

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Preferably in the following areas: psychology, social work, communications, and/or related helping profession degrees.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience with veterans and/or military personnel required.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in higher education within Student Services, Student Affairs, Academic Advising, or related student-facing position required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of leadership experience preferred.
• Military service preferred.
• Experience in higher education preferred. 
• Experience working in a technology-driven enterprise preferred. 
• All skills, abilities and education will be considered for minimum qualifications.

Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills:

• Ability to understand and empathize with the challenges associated with military service.
• Demonstrated knowledge and involvement with military support services available to service members and their families.
• Excellent public speaking and interpersonal communication skills.
• A proven history of referring military community members to appropriate services when appropriate.
• Ability to develop rapport with non-traditional students. 
• Possess strong organizational and follow through skills.
• Possess administrative skills to facilitate operations.
• Established problem solving abilities and resource application.
• Must feel comfortable working with a team and individually.
• Works well with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to travel (including some air travel).
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Ability to work independently with little to no supervision.
• Familiarity with military and veteran educational benefits.
• Familiarity with military and veteran medical/social service benefits.
• A valid driver’s license and dependable transportation.

#LI-Hybrid

Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies.  Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family.  For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For Part-time benefits, please click here.

National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 4,500 faculty and staff and serves over 45,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University.