Associate Director, Parent & Family Engagement

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students & Director of Integrity Formation, the Associate Director is responsible for engagement and outreach to encourage and promote a positive partnership connection with parents and families in support of student educational success and persistence to graduation. The Associate Director implements and supports programs and services to meet the evolving needs of parents and families of SU students as well as the needs of SU students who are parents. The position collaborates with existing institutional programs, services and activities for parents and families to ensure optimum coordination and resource management, timely response and referral and identification of additional opportunities to enhance parent/family relations and outreach.
The Associate Director works closely with university partners to establish and manage successful relationships that result in increased student success and family affinity for the Seattle University student experience.

Essential Functions

Engagement & Outreach (50%)

• Develop proactive communications to parents and families of students to ensure they feel welcome and connected to SU from admission to graduation. This includes outreach to underrepresented groups of parents and the families of underrepresented students.
• Respond in a timely manner to family inquiries, which are sometimes sensitive, to provide information, referrals, and support.
• Coordinate Family Weekend along with Homecoming planning team.
• Plan and implement family orientation programming in partnership with Orientation Programs.
• Collaborate with campus partners (e.g., Advancement, Alumni Relations, Admissions, University Events) to leverage resources, build and cultivate long-term relationships, and ensure effective programs and services.
• Develop webinar series for families regarding campus resources, student transition.
• Collaborate with Orientation and HRL to develop family move-in day programming
• Promote and support parent involvement to foster student success overseeing the Parent & Family Leadership Council and family volunteer opportunities.
• Support strategic planning and assessment of family engagement.
• Support fundraising efforts directed at families of students led by Student & Campus Life and University Advancement.

Strategic Communication (30%)

• Coordinate communications, including emails, newsletters, social media, and web pages, to proactively reach parents and supporters of students.
• Coordinate with Marketing & Communications to develop campus communications to parents and supporters in tandem with messaging to students.
• Respond to family inquiries, which are sometimes sensitive, via telephone and email, including drafting of correspondence to answer/address questions and complaints.
• Provide timely response, referrals, information, and support to family members of SU students who seek assistance.

Student Support (10%)

• Develop support programs for students who are parents in collaboration with campus partners such as the Associate Director, Student Care & Support and the Graduate Student Council.
• Serve as a member of the university behavioral intervention team, referred to as the CARE (Coordinated Assistance and Resource Education) Team. Attend CARE Team meetings and training.
• Support approximately 1-2 students referred to the CARE Team each week by providing direct support, coaching, mentorship, and referrals to campus and community resources.
• Maintain case notes and information in the Maxient and Slate for Student Success systems, provide timely updates to the Office of the Dean of Students and other relevant parties, and follow up with assigned students as needed or requested.

Other Duties (10%)

• Steward university resources efficiently and responsibly.
• Serve on Student & Campus Life and university committees as assigned. 
• Attend quarterly in services, retreats, and other training as directed. Attend high profile programs and events on both campuses as directed and maintain a high level of visibility.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social sciences, communication, management, or a related field.
• Strong, demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills (oral, written, and listening communication).
• Effective management of events and/or programs. 
• Demonstrated experience with and/or commitment to working effectively with students, parents, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds, in support of an inclusive and welcoming environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, or a closely related field, and
  Three years of full-time professional experience, preferably in a higher education setting, with previous experience administering parent and family programs, or
  An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.

Application Instructions

Please attach a cover letter with your resume when applying. Job postings are open until filled, unless otherwise specified.