Director (Student Support Leader), Center for Veteran and Military Students
Indiana University

Department

CENTER FOR VETERAN AND MILITAR (BL-VET-IUBLA)

Department Information

The Division of Student Affairs is focused on building a strong foundation to ensure every student's Indiana University experience is positive, safe, healthy, and meaningful. The Division of Student Affairs staff and 22 departments aim to help students navigate their time at IU, providing the tools they need to be successful in school and after graduation. Students are our priority, and their health, safety, and overall well-being are our core mission.

The Center for Veteran and Military Students is proud to be a department within the Division of Student Affairs. The Division is committed to promoting learning and respect by integrating diversity, equity and inclusion in all programs, interactions, and partnerships. We commit to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment where all people are respected, valued, and affirmed so that they may know they matter and belong at Indiana University.

Indiana University's connections to the United States military date back to the school's founding in 1820. Many of IU's first students, faculty members, and trustees had military ties, including some who served in the War of 1812. IU's proud tradition of military involvement has remained strong over the past 200 years. Today the IU Bloomington campus is home to more than 500 veterans and nearly 750 military spouses and dependents. The Center for Veteran and Military Students helps veterans and military-connected students make the transition from the military to IU and provides support and resources during their time on campus.

Job Summary

The Director functions as the senior VA Certifying Official for IUB and is accountable for campus compliance with US Department of Veterans Affairs regulations and guidelines. Additionally, this person is the lead contact for audits regularly performed by the VA, Department of Defense, and State Approving Agency. The Director will also serve as advisor to the Dean of Students and other administrators on military issues particularly as they relate to students' educational progress and opportunities.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Directs and coordinates campus services as the Bloomington campus point of contact for over 1,100 prospective and current veterans, military members, and their families.
• Develops programs, policies, and tools to ensure the Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) campus maintains federal and state compliance while providing optimum direct service to the university's veteran and military student community.
• Supervises three full-time employees, several student hourly employees, and 2-4 VA work-study students.
• Develops and recommends policies to support academic success of the military and veteran student population. Develops methods to survey the military student population, identifies needs and creates programs to address those needs.
• Designs, implements, and utilizes evaluation and assessment tools to track and analyze student population retention and success, as well as program effectiveness.
• Researches, determines, and shares best practices for veteran student support and success.
• Serves as the Bloomington campus liaison with outside agencies and offices whose work impacts veterans and military members in higher education.
• Collaborates with IU ROTC units and local Veteran Service Organizations to support student veterans.
• Determines appropriate points of contact within armed forces organizations and creates networks to assist in resolving student issues with the VA, Indiana National Guard, and all branches of the armed forces. Coordinates with military services and components on educational issues.
• Collaborates with academic units in creating programs and outreach for student recruitment. Assures that all programs meet federal and state military/veteran regulatory requirements.
• Develops outreach programming for military and veteran students to inform them of campus services applicable to their needs. Develops publications, advertising, and web sites to market military and veteran student services and opportunities. Provides information about VA-provided services such as counseling, medical support, and education benefits.
• Creates opportunities for students of similar military background and experience to interact in a social setting. Actively promotes IU opportunities for military students. Develops programs to promote public awareness of the IUB military student population and veterans in general. Assists with planning for military-related campus events such as the annual Veterans Day Flag Raising and Salute to Service events.
• Provides professional development training, resources, and materials for faculty and staff unfamiliar with the experiences and needs of student veterans. Presents at conferences and campus professional development programs on student veteran issues. Contributes to publications on student veteran issues. Attends conferences and training meetings to remain current on VA regulations as well as general issues regarding military and veteran students on campus including developmental, emotional, mental health, academic, and financial concerns. Participates in the Big 10 Academic Alliance Veteran Services Network and serves on the university-wide School Certifying Official (SCO) Council.
• Cultivates partnerships with potential donors to veterans programming at IU. Seeks out grant solicitations, creates proposals (independently or in collaboration with other university entities and units), submits proposals, and develops programs to fulfill grant objectives. Manages multiple financial accounts.
• Develops tools, processes, and procedures to assure compliance with VA, DOD, and state requirements. Collaborates with university offices to develop procedures to assess success of specific student populations; creates systems to provide success metrics for internal use and external reporting that impact university standing with federal agencies, prospective students, and the public.

General Responsibilities

• Provides the highest level of operational leadership and coordination of assigned staff members to define student support methodologies and standards; provides direction and guidance on high priority student support projects/initiatives.
• Establishes short-term business plans and long-term operational objectives, including managing project timelines/deliverables and developing resource plans for multi-project/multi-phase student support initiatives.
• Conducts a variety of personnel actions to include, but not limited to hiring, promotion, performance management, and dismissal.
• Manages high level assignments and allocation of student support resources, including negotiating and coordinating initiatives that involve staff in other departments/areas/teams; may coordinate large-scale student support projects with a wide audiences in support of academic initiatives.
• Makes budgetary recommendations/proposals based on resource needs and ensures cost containment.
• Researches and stays up-to-date on new industry student support standards, technologies, policies, and procedures; responsible for the implementation of new protocols/procedures to address business needs.
• Works collaboratively with other student support leaders across departments in recommending standards, best practices, and related policies/procedures.
• Prepares management reports and summaries for senior administration, executive, steering and advisory committees; acts as advisor to executive committees; serves on various university committees, communities of practice, and task forces related to student support.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in social work, law, or related field

Preferred

• Master's degree in higher education student affairs or related field

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 4 years in student support, higher education student affairs, or related field
• 1 year of management experience in relevant field

Preferred

• 4 years of experience in direct student services and working with military members or veterans
• Military leadership/management experience including advocating for the interests of students generally or veterans specifically
• Experience in enrollment management, academic advising, and/or financial aid is strongly desired

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent collaboration and team building skills
• Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback
• Instills commitment to organizational goals
• Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills
• Effective conflict management skills
• Builds and manages effective teams
• Demonstrates ability to maintain confidential information
• Demonstrates customer service skills
• Knowledge of student development, counseling, or career development theories and practices
• Knowledge of current needs and trends of diverse student populations
• Ability to develop accurate reports, correspondence and prepare and deliver presentations
• Commitment to working with people from diverse backgrounds and demonstrated cultural competency
• Ability to build strong partnerships with students and other university departments

Preferred

• Strong public speaking, writing, and technological skills

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Multiple plan options for medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Health Savings Account with generous IU contribution
• Life insurance, LTD, and AD&D options
• Base retirement plan contribution from IU, subject to vesting
• Additional supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition benefit for IU classes
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing our online Benefits Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level: Sr. Operational

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Student Services

Job Family: Student Support

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

Posting Disclaimer

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be differences in the working conditions as advertised in our standard job postings (e.g., the ability to travel from one campus to another, etc.). If you are invited for an interview, please discuss your questions or concerns regarding the working conditions at that time.

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

New employees will be provided with information regarding Indiana University's COVID-19 vaccine policy, which includes the opportunity to request an exemption. To learn more, view our COVID-19 vaccine information page.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission, as required by Title IX. Questions or complaints regarding Title IX may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the university Title IX Coordinator. See Indiana University's Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Campus Safety and Security

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.

Contact Us

Request Support
Telephone: 812-856-1234

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