Job Description:

Berry College invites applications for the position of Director of Student Support Services. Student Support Services (SSS) is a new program at Berry College, funded by a TRIO grant award through the Department of Education, that focuses on supporting students who are low-income, first-generation, and/or have diagnosed disabilities. The ideal Director will be deeply invested in promoting student success and wellness; eager to mentor students from a wide range of disciplines, cultures, and academic backgrounds; and excited by the prospect of collaborating closely with other student support staff at Berry College.

The Director will be responsible for the implementation of programs and services outlined in the grant award and will work quickly to hire and train a part-time Program Coordinator and part-time Office Manager, both reporting to the Director. The SSS staff will join a strong, supportive team of professionals reporting to the Dean of Student Success, including staff in the Academic Success Center, Academic Transitions, the Writing Center, and Accessibility Resources.

The Director is expected to be well-versed in research regarding student development, high-impact practices in higher education, and student support in higher education. Candidates should have experience in, or the potential for, building an equitable and diverse academic environment. This is a full-time, twelve-month appointment and is 100% grant-funded for five years with the expectation of renewal.

Job Responsibilities

The Director will work closely with other Berry staff to plan and provide programs that:

• Support students' academic success, financial literacy, wellness, and participation in co-curricular activities (e.g., study abroad, internships, undergraduate research);
• Build on Berry's strong culture of mentorship to provide a network of Berry faculty and staff who support each student's unique goals and challenges.
• Enroll 35 eligible new TRIO each year, for a total of approximately 150 students enrolled in SSS;
• Welcome and prepare incoming students in SSS, complementing Berry's vibrant, robust student orientation (SOAR, Viking Venture, and BCC 100).

The Director will also be responsible for overseeing the budget, conducting assessment, and fulfilling grant requirements related to SSS at Berry College.

Requirements:

• Master's degree in higher education or a related field required; candidates completing degrees by the close of the 2022-2023 academic year will also be considered
• At least two years of experience leading programs or services and supervising staff (student or professional) in a higher education setting
• Highly professional written and verbal communication skills
• Prior experience that enables the Director to manage a large budget, conduct robust assessment, and regularly report on grant requirements and student outcomes
• Preference given to candidates with experience running or working with federally funded programs, background in program assessment, and who can demonstrate understanding of unique obstacles confronted by low-income, first-gen, and/or disabled students

Additional Information:

Berry's Commitment to Inclusion:

An Equal Opportunity Institution, Berry complies with all applicable laws and provisions prohibiting discrimination in its educational and employment policies. Berry respects the essential dignity of all individuals and accordingly hires and promotes employees without regard to matters of personal identity such as ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and political affiliation.

Berry College is committed to ensuring facilities, programs, services, and activities are accessible to everyone, including those seeking employment at Berry College. Inquiries about

interview or workplace accommodations are welcomed and can be directed to Wayne Phipps, Director of Human Resources, at 706.290.2698.

Berry College offers competitive benefits and salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Berry College provides benefit options with no employee costs for medical, dental, disability, and life insurance, including spouse and dependents at a reduced rate.

About Berry College:

Located on more than 27,000 acres in northwest Georgia in a setting of great natural beauty, Berry College has an enrollment of about 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students. The college is located in Rome, Georgia, 75 miles northwest of Atlanta and 75 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a comprehensive liberal-arts college with a distinctive mission and purpose, Berry unites a challenging academic program with practical work experience in a context that nurtures spiritual and moral growth, including significant service to others.

We seek faculty who are committed to excellence as teachers-scholars-mentors and staff who are also committed to serving as mentors and supervisors for students who work on campus. Although not required, more than 90 percent of our students participate in our premier student work program. Employee benefits are competitive.

Application Instructions:

Applicants should submit a resume, including three professional references, and a letter of application that describes the applicant's interest in this position, commitment to the Berry College mission, and professional work and/or personal commitments to promoting diversity and inclusion.

Review of applications will begin February 27th, 2023. The target start date for this position is late spring or early summer 2023.