Asst Dir- Engagement & Leadership Programs

About the Opportunity

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Director of the Asian American Center (AAC), a key student service department within the Cultural and Spiritual Life (CSL) unit at Northeastern University, the Assistant Director is a member of a dynamic team of professionals focused on fostering greater awareness, knowledge, skills, and demonstrated actions of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) identities, cultures, and belonging through individualized and communal support–in person and online–for APIDA learners as well as a robust collection of evidence-based culturally sustaining signature programs and services. The Assistant Director develops, implements, and evaluates dynamic experiential learning opportunities that promote a deeper sense of belonging and deepens dialogue and relationships for and among domestic and international students. The Assistant Director works closely with the Director and Associate Director to advance the University’s strategic imperatives around diversity/equity/inclusion by developing and growing the Center's engagement and support strategies to meet the needs of a diverse Asian population across the Boston Main Campus as well as a growing Northeastern Global Network.

The Assistant Director has primary accountability within the Center for the implementation of student leadership operations; program assessment and evaluations; and operational processes related to the Center’s day-to-day work. The Assistant Director is also tasked with sharing the responsibility for writing curriculum, managing daily operations of the physical space, overseeing student employees, and contributing to the ideation, implementation, and evaluation of signature events and programs.

The Assistant Director may also be tasked with providing direct support and meeting with learners one-on-one, providing referrals, and mentoring and advising student organizations and affinity groups as needed in collaboration with the other professional staff of the Center.

The AAC is embedded within Northeastern University’s Cultural and Spiritual Life unit. The Cultural and Spiritual Life Centers of Northeastern University are dedicated to the support, celebration, and advancement of culture, affinity, and understanding. As such, the AAC programs are grounded in Northeastern’s rich communal traditions and intersectional identities, advance intercultural literacy and dialogue/community-building skills; foster intellectual/personal/spiritual/vocational growth; build bridges with local, national, and global cultural, religious/spiritual/humanist, and social justice communities; promote wellness and wholeness through practices of self-care: and advance civic engagement, social action, and global citizenship as learners work to build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world. This position involves significant involvement in evening and weekend programs and events.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in a related field and 1-3 years of experience working with diverse or minority populations or an equivalent combination of education and experience, such as a bachelor’s degree in a related field supported by significant professional and other experience aligned with the core competencies of the position.
• Knowledge of social justice issues and best practices, program and curriculum design, student activism, and contemporary APIDA cultural issues is necessary.
• Knowledge of global Asian climates and international student experiences is preferred.
• Specific experience in providing direct services to historically underrepresented and APIDA students in an urban, multicultural, and global environment preferred.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Programming & Curriculum

• Write curriculum for student leadership development, student-facing programs, and–as appropriate–staff and faculty partners on campus.
• Supervise initiatives related to student leadership development such as monthly meetings with all student affinity group and student organization leaders, periodic trainings for student leaders, and student employee professional development opportunities.
• Mentor and support socio-political identity-based affinity groups.
• Contribute to ongoing development and implementation of a strategy for supporting international students.
• Support signature events and major programming initiatives such as Open House, Asian American Heritage Month, and InspirAsian.
• Facilitate training and provide consultations for campus partners seeking to increase APIDA competency.
• Provide one-on-one direct support and mentoring to students and initiate referrals as appropriate.

Operations

• Recruit, train, manage