The Placement Exchange Job Board

The Assistant Director develops students as active citizens who value and contribute to their community, through coordination of volunteerism and public service opportunities and opportunities to engage in leadership development and civic engagement. The position provides transformative opportunities to complement high-impact teaching, learning and research at Lehigh University to support the University’s goal to prepare graduates to engage with the world and lead lives of meaning. The Lehigh community takes seriously our commitment to antiracism and The Principles of our Equitable Community.

Note: There are two positions available. One position is responsible for Lehigh's civic/democratic engagement functions; the other is responsible for oversight of our low-ropes course on campus.

Position Responsibilities:

1. Work with Assistant Dean/Director and Associate Director to coordinate, conduct and establish short- and long-range planning activities for the Community Service Office
*Collaborate with Assistant Dean/Director and Associate Director to develop semester- and year-long office learning outcomes and goals
*Assist with the development of action steps to accomplish the office’s semester- and year-long goals
*Assist with the communication and implementation of the office’s semester- and year-long goals to both University and community partners
*Demonstrate expertise in the Community Service Office Guiding Principles, Five Critical Elements, Spectrum of Service, which serve as the foundation for the office’s programming structure and advising philosophy
*Pursue professional development opportunities and engage in independent learning to enhance knowledge base, areas of expertise and an understanding of theories and practices as it relates to Community Service Office priority areas and student development
*Serve as an integral member of the Community Service Office by attending regular staff meetings and staff retreats, assisting with other office initiatives and coordinating special projects when needed

2 Coordinate programs and initiatives related to community engagement
*Collaborate with Associate Director on coaching of and professional development opportunities related to community engagement for student employees in the Community Service Office
*Design and facilitate training opportunities and professional development opportunities related to community engagement for students engaged in Greek-letter organizations
*Collaborate with Community Service Office staff to develop and execute community engagement opportunities for both the campus community and stakeholders in the South Bethlehem community, including but not limited to, leadership retreats, roundtable offerings, panel discussions, workshops, seminars, guest speaker series, publications, etc.
*Supervise execution of seasonal flagship program “Spring Fling” during the spring semester for children of the Bethlehem community
*Supervise execution of pre-orientation program “Volunteer Experience” for incoming first-year Lehigh students
*Supervise a portfolio of on-going office programs, including weekly recurring programs and monthly programs
Work with Assistant Dean/Director and Associate Director to develop new service programming opportunities, including direct action and education, to a variety of Lehigh and community constituents

3. Coordinate programs and initiatives related to leadership development
*Develop and maintain understanding of relevant leadership development frameworks and theories, including Clifton Strengths and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
*Collaborate with Associate Director on coaching of and professional development opportunities related to leadership development for student employees in the Community Service Office
*Design and facilitate training opportunities and professional development opportunities related to leadership development for students engaged in Greek-letter organizations
*Collaborate with Community Service Office staff to develop and execute opportunities related to leadership development for both the campus community and stakeholders in the South Bethlehem community, including but not limited to, leadership retreats, roundtable offerings, panel discussions, workshops, seminars, guest speaker series, publications, etc.
*Serve as the Program Coordinator for The LeaderShape Institute and corresponding Day 7 program at Lehigh for all student populations
*In collaboration with Assistant Dean/Director & Associate Director, develop and execute leadership programming opportunities for the University’s community schools in South Bethlehem
*Work with Assistant Dean/Director and Associate Director to develop new leadership development programming opportunities, including direct action and education, to a variety of Lehigh and community constituents

4. Coordinate and execute civic and democratic engagement programming and partnerships
*Serve as primary point of contact for Lehigh’s participation in the All-In Campus Democracy Challenge, NASPA’s Campus Vote Project, and other civic/democratic engagement groups, as necessary and appropriate
*Oversee the planning, development and execution of Lehigh’s Civic Engagement Day and year-round civic and democratic engagement programming opportunities
*Coordinate the ongoing evaluation of the civic and democratic engagement efforts across all relevant stakeholders and partners
*Facilitate related collaborations and relationships with both campus and external stakeholders related to civic and democratic engagement programming and initiatives

5. Collaborate with Assistant Dean/Director and Associate Director to develop and implement assessment strategy in alignment with Community Service Office learning outcomes and goals
*Assess and evaluate all programs and initiatives under this position’s portfolio using the processes developed by the Community Service Office
*Develop and maintain understanding of the student life curriculum and its theoretical framework to ensure that all current and new programs and initiatives are in alignment
*Analyze data and make available as necessary for internal review and reporting needs
*Based on the available evaluation information, provide recommendations for any changes necessary within a program and implement them, as necessary
*Conduct research on “promising practices” resources regarding relevant theories, models, programmatic materials and new initiatives or trends related to the fields of community engagement and leadership development

6. Serve as an integral member of the larger Dean of Students Office and Student Affairs Team
*Attend and participate in regular staff meetings, professional development opportunities and staff retreats
*Collaborate effectively with departments across the University community on projects and topics as necessary and as it relates to service, leadership and/or community engagement
*Collaborate with University administration, offices and departments to facilitate effective working relationships and partnerships
*Provide guidance and serve as a resource to faculty and staff seeking to incorporate principles of service, leadership and/or community engagement into their work
*Serve as part of the larger Dean of Students team, including opportunities to participate in various Dean of Students and/or Student Affairs working groups and committees, as appropriate
*When asked to serve on various committees, fully participate, attend meetings, keep supervisor updated about your involvement and respectfully present the Community Service Office, Dean of Students Office and Division of Student Affairs
*Support Dean of Students, Division of Student Affairs and University efforts to ensure the creation, promotion and adherence to the Principles of Our Equitable Community

Grade: 8 - 40

Position Number: S99190 & S99180

Special Considerations

The duties of the position do not allow for a remote work option; the employee in this position will be required to work on campus where they can be fully accessible to the Lehigh community.

Off the 2nd/3rd Week of December and 2nd/3rd Week of May – Annually – works 48 weeks out of 52

This position is responsible for driving university-owned vehicles as a routine function, therefore a valid Driver’s License and a good driving record is required

This position works with minors

Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience

One to three years related work experience

Solid computer skills with experience using word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software

Solid analytical, decision making and problem-solving skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Proven ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and a high degree of initiative for bringing tasks to completion

Leadership Development experience

Solid writing ability, attention to detail and organizational skills

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position

All Lehigh faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated and receive a booster shot six months after their second vaccine; unless they receive an approved medical or religious exemption from the requirement.

About Lehigh University Community Service Office

Located in Pennsylvania's beautiful Lehigh Valley, Lehigh is one of the nation's most distinguished private research universities. Our campus is in the Lehigh Valley, which is comprised of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, and the third largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania. More adventures are also within driving distance, including the 1½-hour trip to New York City and both the 1-hour trips to Philadelphia or the Pocono Mountains. More than 150 years after its founding, Lehigh continues to honor its legacies and traditions while constantly seeking new and innovative ways to educate the leaders of tomorrow. Through academic rigor, an entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative opportunities we challenge our students to become the leaders of the future. A university that began as the home of just 39 eager young scholars is now a thriving, internationally recognized university of more than 5,500 undergraduate and 1,700 graduate students. Lehigh has launched a strategic planning effort that will develop into a ten-year strategic plan defining the future of the university while staying true to Lehigh’s ongoing work achieving excellence in teaching, learning and service to society.... The Community Service Office at Lehigh University develops students, faculty, and staff as active citizens who value and contribute to their community. Through volunteerism, public service, leadership education, civic engagement, community schools, and experiential learning the CSO provides transformative opportunities to complement high-impact teaching, learning and research at Lehigh University. CSO staff are critical to Lehigh University’s work to create a more just and sustainable world.

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Connections working at Lehigh University Community Service Office