Assistant Vice President For Student Life

The Assistant Vice President for Student Life serves as the chief student affairs officer in the absence of the Vice President for Student Life and serves as a close advisor to the Vice President. The position requires discretion, exemplary problem-solving skills, and the ability to advocate a point of view directly to the Vice President in an open and direct fashion, highest order capacity for verbal and written communication, and a sincere desire to assist the Vice President in advancing the Division to serve the needs of UMaine students most effectively. The incumbent must have a demonstrated capacity to manage, assess, and develop large budgets, complex facilities, personnel, and other resources. They must be approachable, open to the university experience, kind, caring and compassionate. The AVP is also responsible for managing responses to emergencies and crises; as well as identifying and implementing innovative solutions to problems. An entrepreneurial and highly inclusive focus and initiative are also required. The AVP performs a wide range of executive and high-level duties of broad scope and complexity requiring outstanding professional ability, originality, mature judgment, and a thorough knowledge of the academic and administrative programs and organizational structure of a modern university. The AVP is expected to develop recommendations and responses that involve subtle, sensitive and sophisticated relationships and take into account divergent and often contradictory demands and reactions. The AVP is responsible for assuring divisional compliance with Title IX, Clery Act, Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, Constitution Day, and other state/federal legislation as assigned. This may involve direct responsibility and/or oversight of others more directly involved. The AVP must be innovative, clearly and demonstrably student - centered, and committed to the complexities of a very busy and inclusive Student Life division. Typical hiring range for this position is $115,000 to $149,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Complete Job Description

The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu. 

The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. As a former NSF ADVANCE institution, the University of Maine is committed to diversity in our workforce and to dual-career couples.

UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer here.

Knowledge & Skill Qualifications: Advanced education is required as is current service at an associate dean or dean level at a minimum. Abilities in creative leadership, program management, human relations, and conflict management are essential. The AVP must be able to think strategically, have an ability to receive assignments, conceptualize their solutions, and bring them to closure with little to no supervision, and be able to tolerate and perform in an environment that often requires honest difficult feedback to staff and students. This person needs to be a capable supervisor who is willing to address creatively, proactively, and successfully personnel matters and other issues as they arise. A clear understanding of the legal landscape for Student Life operations is highly desired and strongly preferred.

Required:

• A minimum of eight years high-level professional experience in a Student Life/affairs division at the level of associate dean or dean at a college or university.
• Supervisory experience demonstrating excellent personnel and budget management skills, and previous entrepreneurial or auxiliary/facility administration.
• Superior leadership, organization, management, and administrative skills. 
• Demonstrated knowledge regarding the concerns and issues of all students.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and cultural competency.  
• Must have a caring and compassionate student-centered philosophy.
• Ability to think critically, problem solve, and make sound decisions daily and in crisis situations are essential.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional and collaborative relationships with faculty/staff, students, parents, and community members.  
• Threat and crisis management experience including pandemic and weather-related emergencies.
• An understanding of the demands and complexities of a senior role in Student Life organizations.
• A desire and openness to full involvement in the life of a university and a desire to serve students, faculty and staff to affect our mission of kind, caring, and compassionate service delivered non - bureaucratically to serve the developmental and service needs of all community members.

Preferred:

• Doctoral degree in higher education, student development or similar field or Juris Doctor degree.
• Legal training strongly preferred.
• Excellent ability to form collaborative relationship with town officials, including police and fire agencies.
• Building/facility management experience including planning, financing/budget and construction phases.
• Assessment and/or research experience.

Materials must be submitted via "Apply For Position" below. You will need to create a profile and application; upload:

1.) a cover letter which describes your experience, interests, and suitability for the position
2.) a resume/curriculum vitae
3.) contact information for three professional references

You will also need to submit the affirmative action survey, the self-identification of disability form, and the self-identification of veteran status forms. Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

Search Timeline is as follows:
Review of applications to begin: October 2, 2023
Screening interviews to begin no earlier than: October 16, 2023
On-site interviews to begin no earlier than: November 6, 2023
Tentative start date: January 1, 2024

The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 127 Alumni Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207-581-1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).