Associate Director, Student Life

Position Summary

BCIT’s Student Life department is seeking a regular, full time (1.0 FTE) Associate Director, Student Life. This position develops and ensures delivery of programs and activities that enhance student success. Oversees departments and staff in day-to-day operations of activities that provide services to support the health and wellbeing of students and the greater BCIT community. As a key member of BCIT’s Student Success senior management team, responds to, supports, and resolves complex cases related to students misconduct, conflict, distress, or risky behaviour. Oversees student conduct, orientation and transition programming, Early Assist, Recreation Services and Health Promotion. Makes policy and procedural recommendations and ensures key partners, such as administrators and faculty, are knowledgeable and trained in matters that impact student success.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Ensures early intervention and corrective measures for all parties involved in incidents involving students and allegations of student misconduct (non-academic) and consults with appropriate internal resources including departments such as Counselling, Accessibility Services, Student Housing, Student Health Services, and Safety and Security.
• Provides administrative and procedural support to Decision Review Board in conducting appeal hearings on student misconduct matters; ensures compliance with procedural fairness process and adherence to BCIT policies. Ensures minimising of institutional risk in partnership with Safety and Security.
• Establishes procedures and processes to support students and staff towards student misconduct allegations. Provides procedural guidance and advice to faculty and Associate Deans with regards to sanctions appropriate for academic misconduct incidents. Ensures all official records of academic integrity violations are maintained and ensures investigations comply with institutional policy and procedure.
• Considers Institute policy, past practices, investigation results, student records, and other relevant facts when arriving on a decision or making recommendations. In incidences of student misconduct (non-academic), implements Administrative Resolutions as delegated by the Senior Director. Reviews, triages, and refers complex cases to intervention teams such as the Threat Assessment Team.
• Conducts meetings with student(s) involved in alleged incidents to determine and monitor interim measures in accordance with BCIT policies. Seeks dispute resolution through mutually agreeable resolutions as appropriate.
• Works with BCIT Registrar, Associate Deans, Safety and Security, Student Services Coordinators, Faculty, and others to develop protocols for academic and institutional accommodations to aid students in distress in areas such as academic, administrative, economic, family relationships, health, physical, psychological and societal.
• Acts as a senior case manager to provide assessment and response to affected students in adherence with the institute’s policy and procedure. Liaises with the BCIT Student Association to provide complementary services and events. Works with BCIT community partners to implement opportunities and activities that foster a positive student experience.
• Assesses, develops, and delivers programs and activities that aid in students’ entry and transition to BCIT. Collaborates with internal groups such as Student Association, Schools, International and Indigenous services, to ensure smooth transition of the students. Assesses and evaluate student experience post student’s transition back into BCIT and incorporates relevant feedback.
• Conducts reviews and assessments of Institute academic and non-academic student conduct policies and procedures and makes recommendations for change as appropriate. Advises and decides appropriate orientation activities and curriculum for incoming students adhering to best practices in student development and student success. Develops external contacts, where applicable to remain current with student judicial issues, trends, and practices.
• Chairs the Behavioural Intervention Team overseeing high risk students and refers imminent risk cases to BCIT Threat Assessment Team. Establishes and maintains collaborative relationship with Student Association Advocate for information exchange, procedures to follow and to maximize opportunities for resolutions available to students.
• Oversees the day-to-day operations and wellness programming for Recreation Services department towards delivery of quality fitness programs; supervises maintenance of fitness facilities at all campuses, and revenue generation through facility rentals.
• Oversees programming and staff in Health Promotion. In partnership with the Associate Director, Access and Wellbeing, provides strategic direction for institution-wide health promotion initiatives, including the advancement of the Student Well-Being Action Plan.
• Manages reporting staff, overseeing and participating in selection, coaching, mentoring, development, performance management and all other people-management practices.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counselling, Social work, or related discipline, plus minimum of 7 years of progressive experience encompassing student services in a post-secondary environment.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Advanced negotiation and conflict resolution skills for adjudicating academic and non-academic matters, conflict resolution and/or mediation, and facilitation.
• Experience with working with a diverse student population and is current in emerging practices in supporting equity deserving groups
• Advanced working knowledge of student conduct policies and other relevant legislative requirements (FIPPA, Mental Health Act, Harassment and Discrimination) with proven experience in policy writing and administration.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to build and sustain effective relationships and rapport.
• Excellent organizational, communication, facilitation and project management skills.
• Strong cross cultural communication skills and proven experience working with diverse populations
• Excellent leadership and team building skills with experience working with student leaders or volunteers
• Strong working knowledge in case management to resolve complex problems and manage high profile, sensitive, and contentious issues is required.
• Flexibility to be available on call after hours to occasionally respond and/or assess critical incidents related to students, as assigned.

Salary Range: $105,653 - $145,272, with a control point of $132,066 per annum

Additional Salary Information: The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and the maximum base salary for a position. The control point of the range represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications, and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred, or promoted between the minimum and the control point of the salary range for a job, taking internal equity into account. Salaries above the control point may be considered for extenuating circumstances and must be approved by an external governing body.