Assistant to the President - Higher Ed. jobs in Benton Harbor, MI

The Assistant to the President for University Mission and Culture, who serves as the diversity officer of the university, provides spiritual, administrative, and academic leadership for promoting the mission and core values of the university and for extending the unity in diversity vision, resources, and programs across the University. Within the context of the mission and values of the University and the SDA Church, this individual fosters and affirms a university community and campus culture that values and actively supports diversity. This leader works in close collaboration with the senior leadership and diverse communities, both within the University and externally.

Qualifications summary

The Assistant to the President for University Mission and Culture is 100%-time, 12-month senior administrative position. This individual reports to the president and serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet. The appointment date to fill this position shall remain open until filled. Salary is commensurate with education, experience, and comparable positions at Andrews University. Qualified applicants shall also be eligible for a faculty appointment, contingent upon academic credentials and accomplishments.


Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.

Duties and responsibilities

• Promote the mission of the university across the institution and through various formats.


• Encourage and provide guidance for university initiatives that seek to internalize its core values.


• Serve as liaison for missional activities involving students and employees locally and globally.


• Provide periodic reports regarding the efficacy of the university in carrying forward its mission and in creating an institutional culture that integrates its core values.


• Support and cultivate awareness, appreciation, and engagement with both national and international diversity and its relevance in the university environment.


• Promote a campus culture that seeks to resolve conflict through reconciliation and healing as understood in the gospel.


• Work directly with university leadership at multiple levels on the development and implementation of policies and initiatives that promote institutional mission and culture, and that foster intercultural understanding and engagement.


• Work with university constituencies to create and maintain an inclusive campus culture aligned with biblical principles.


• Work with the university community to elevate the visibility and maximize the impact of campus diversity efforts, activities, and programs including student international and ethnic clubs and organizations.


• Coordinate and develop diversity training, in collaboration with other offices and departments.


• Implement and coordinate multicultural initiatives, such as multicultural mentoring.


• Identify barriers to recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations and support strategies to overcome these barriers for students, faculty, and staff.


• Encourage and assist with infusion of an understanding of diversity into the instructional content of new and existing courses, and in the co-curriculum, that is reflective of the gospel.


• Advise the President on matters of Title IV compliance, responsible for conducting an initial assessment of matters arising.

Supervisory responsibilities

N/A

Qualifications

• Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.


• Graduate degree required, PhD or comparable terminal degree preferred.


• Demonstrated professional experience in designing and leading efforts relating to mission, values transmission, and multiculturalism.


• Evidence of spiritual leadership required.


• Evidence of engagement with current higher education issues, both within North America and the Seventh-day Adventist Church preferred.


• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, public speaking, and written communication skills in English, and the ability to communicate effectively with multiple and diverse constituents.


• Strong analytical and organizational skills.


• Demonstrated visionary skills and the ability to oversee strategic planning and organizational development efforts relating to institutional change.


• Demonstrated experience advocating for, and leading change efforts related to, institutional change practice and policy as a member of senior leadership team.


• Experience internationally that included effective cross-cultural engagement preferred.

Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.

Technical competencies

• Computer literate and proficient in MS Office, particularly Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel.


• Must be able to create and manage an electronic filing system.


• An understanding of strategy and tools needed for social media-based communication.

Interpersonal interactions

N/A

Physical demands

Minimal Physical requirements. Must be able to move within and between campus buildings at all times of the year. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, type, reach, talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. Some lifting may be required, up to 30 pounds on occasion. The position may also involve extended automobile and air travel.

Work environment

The following work environment characteristics represent the atmosphere an employee will encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Works primarily in rooms with appropriately functioning air handling equipment except with traveling or in off-campus assignments. Is interactive with other campus departments and personnel, often has to attend student and faculty events. Required to address groups in large public settings. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with differing abilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.