Job Listings

Dean of Students

Company:
Hellenic College Holy Cross
Job Location:
Brookline, Massachusetts
Category:
Student Affairs and Services
Type:
Full-Time
Email:
Dossearch@hchc.edu

Dean of Students – Professional Profile

Department: Office of Student Life

Institution: Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC)

Job Description

Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC) seeks a visionary and servant leader to serve as the Dean of Students, fostering and leading a Christ-centered, dynamic, and supportive student community. This pivotal role requires an intentional, holistic, integrated, and responsive approach to co-curricular education, nurturing the moral, intellectual, and spiritual development of HCHC students in a formative Orthodox Christian community.

The Dean is responsible for overseeing student life, housing, and well-being while strengthening and leading a comprehensive program of Orthodox Christian formation. The ideal candidate will embody the principles of Orthodox Christian servant leadership, cultivating a vibrant Eucharistic community and preparing students for roles of service-oriented leadership as ordained clergy or committed lay leaders in the Church and society.

Servant Leadership Approach

The Dean of Students will exemplify Orthodox Christian servant leadership, prioritizing the growth and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. By fostering community, actively listening, and empowering others, the Dean will create a nurturing environment reflective of Christ’s humility and dedication. This leadership style emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and a deep commitment to the personal, spiritual, and academic growth of students, ensuring they thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Leadership and Management
    1. Oversee the Office of Student Life (OSL): Lead and implement a comprehensive co-curricular philosophy for student formation. Coordinate all non-academic programs and services to align with the institution's strategic vision, fostering an inclusive student life environment rooted in Orthodox Christian values.
    2. Supervise and Empower OSL Staff: Lead, train, and evaluate staff, fostering a collaborative culture of respect, growth, and accountability. Utilize servant leadership principles to inspire excellence among team members.
    3. Develop, Manage, and Assess Co-Curricular Programs: Design and execute programs that promote student engagement, spiritual formation, leadership, and personal growth. Collaborate with faculty and administration to ensure these programs complement academic excellence. Regularly assess and document outcomes using both quantitative and qualitative data for strategic planning and accreditation purposes.
    4. Visible Campus Leadership: Maintain a consistent, approachable presence on campus for students. Attend and support student events, acting as a visible role model and mentor for students.
  2. Student Programs and Activities
    1. Design and Oversee Student Initiatives: Manage programs such as residence life, outdoor adventures, service-learning opportunities, and campus recreation. Encourage leadership, teamwork, and community-building among students, emphasizing practices they can apply in future ministries and vocations.
    2. Orientation and Student Government: Collaborate with Admissions and Academic Deans to organize orientation programs. Provide mentorship to the Student Government Association (SGA) to ensure active student participation in campus decision-making.
    3. Extracurricular Development: Work with faculty and staff to create experiential learning opportunities, community outreach programs, spiritual retreats, and leadership workshops that enhance student engagement outside the classroom.
    4. Advocate for Student Needs: Act as a trusted advocate, addressing students' concerns, aspirations, and challenges with compassion and fairness.
  3. Christian Formation
    1. Foster a Eucharistic Community: Create a vibrant, Christ-centered community through worship, prayer, and Orthodox Christian formation. Provide opportunities for communal and personal spiritual growth.
    2. Direct and Oversee: Chaplain, Office of Spiritual Formation and Counseling Services (to ensure students receive comprehensive spiritual and emotional support), spiritual mentors, and housing.
    3. Activities: Facilitate retreats, seminars, and other spiritual activities.
    4. Seminarian Formation: Lead the formation of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese seminarians. Instill values of ordained servant leadership and maintain active communication with hierarchs, parishes, and spiritual fathers. Provide mentorship to foster their spiritual, ecclesiastical, and personal development.
  4. Student Housing, Well-Being, and Counseling
    1. Manage Student Housing:
      1. Oversee all aspects of student housing, including the assignment of rooms, development of housing policies, and supervision of residence directors and staff.
      2. Ensure housing facilities meet the highest standards of safety, cleanliness, and comfort in collaboration with the Vice President of Administration.
      3. Foster a welcoming residential environment that nurtures community living and supports students' spiritual, personal, and academic growth.
    2. Supervise Counseling Services:
      1. Direct the Office of Spiritual Formation and Counseling Services to provide students with accessible and compassionate mental health resources.
      2. Promote a culture of wellness and empower counseling staff to deliver care that aligns with Orthodox Christian values.
    3. Ensure Campus Safety: Collaborate with Campus Security and the Vice President of Administration to maintain a safe campus environment. Oversee compliance with safety regulations and emergency preparedness initiatives.
    4. Title IX and Regulatory Compliance: Serve as a key leader in addressing Title IX matters, including participating in hearings, investigations, and prevention education.
    5. Support International Students: Partner with Enrollment to provide international students with resources, guidance, and cultural transition support. Help foster an inclusive and connected campus environment for all.
    6. Student Discipline: Administer the student disciplinary process with a focus on restorative justice and personal accountability. Promote reconciliation and growth through compassionate intervention.
  5. Budgeting and Resource Management
    1. Steward Financial Resources: Manage the Office of Student Life budget to ensure efficient and effective use of funds. Use data-driven approaches to allocate resources in ways that directly benefit student life and development.
    2. Develop Policies and Procedures: Establish and evaluate policies for student-related activities. Oversee the annual publication of the Student Handbook and Code of Student Conduct to ensure they reflect HCHC’s mission and values.

Required Skills and Minimum Qualifications

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

  • Orthodox Christian Commitment: A deep devotion to fostering and enhancing the Orthodox Christian identity of HCHC.
  • Cultural Competence: Experience working with diverse populations and creating an inclusive environment. Ability to support the integration of international students.
  • Educational Background: A Master’s degree in Orthodox Theology, Counseling, Social Work, Higher Education Administration, or a related field, with 7–10 years of progressive experience in student life or ministry leadership.
  • Leadership Skills: A servant leader with exceptional team-building and mentoring abilities.
  • Diplomatic Communication: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to navigate complex situations with empathy, tact, and poise.
  • Crisis Management Expertise: Familiarity with mental health conditions and the ability to manage crises effectively.
  • Organizational Acumen: Proficiency in planning, multitasking, and managing complex projects.
  • Technology Proficiency: Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and student affairs-related software.

Application Process

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience.

Applications: Applications accepted immediately. The position will remain open until filled, but to ensure full consideration please submit by December 23, 2024, a resume, including name and contact information for three professional references, and a cover letter which responds to the position description and details commensurate experience for the position. In addition, please answer the following questions (each answer should be 250 words or less):

  1. Describe your understanding of Christian Servant Leadership and how you would apply it in your role as Dean of Students at Hellenic College Holy Cross. Please provide specific examples of how you have demonstrated servant leadership in previous roles and how you would foster a Christ-centered, supportive, and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff.
  2. How would you balance the spiritual, academic, and emotional needs of students while promoting both their personal and leadership development? In your response, consider the unique challenges faced by undergraduate, graduate, and seminarian students attending a small institution of higher education, and how you would create programs or initiatives to support their holistic growth that have explicitly articulated outcomes and methods of assessment.
  3. How would you engage a broad array of undergraduate, graduate, and seminarian students to take ownership of their community, assume leadership roles, and create a community that is a vibrant witness to the continuing life of Christ? In your response, consider how the internal campus culture could radiate outwards to the Greater Boston area, and in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
  4. Hellenic College Holy Cross is home to Orthodox students from a variety of cultural and regional backgrounds. How would you foster an environment that honors and strengthens the diverse cultural expressions within the Orthodox tradition while maintaining a strong sense of unity in faith? Please share examples from your experience working with diverse Orthodox communities, and explain how you would support international students as they integrate into the HCHC community, ensuring they feel both welcomed and connected.

Application Process: Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to the Office of Human Resources at Hellenic College Holy Cross at Dossearch@hchc.edu. All submissions are confidential.

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