Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Dean, Student Life & Engagement

Class: Management | Exempt status: Exempt | Grade: O

grad with arms raised in celebrationThe Dean of Student Life & Engagement serves as the College’s leader for the “campus” lived experience and engagement in student leadership, activities, co-curricular opportunities and athletics. This position assumes College-wide administrative oversight for student rights and responsibilities, including the student disciplinary process and student appeals/complaint process. The Dean of Student Life & Engagement partners closely with Public Safety and the division of Student Belonging and Wellbeing to manage student behavioral intervention and support. The position oversees a College-wide infrastructure with consistent execution of campus and location-based equitable educational and social programming. The incumbent works closely with Academic Affairs and community partners to enhance co-curricular program development; Government Relations to support student advocacy and civic engagement, and with community partners to provide onsite childcare services. The role provides College-wide leadership and support for College signature and community-facing events.

Leadership competencies

  • Advances Racial and Social Justice
    Actively works toward the elimination of racism and social oppression; utilizes culturally responsive practices and processes to achieve equitable student and employee outcomes
  • Drives Vision and Purpose
    Participates in the creation of and executes a vision for the College’s mission balancing compliance with flexible, multimodal, inclusive delivery of financial services.
  • Drives Engagement
    Initiates and drives authentic exploration and engagement cross-departmentally to arrive at collaborative solutions that lead to employee and student success.
  • Accelerates Agility and Innovation
    Analyzes systems, policies and practices and commits to continuous program improvement through the strategic use of culturally responsive data.
  • Builds Partnerships
    Partners to solve problems, adapts communication and approaches, supports healthy conflict, and develops strong relationships with associated areas to advance institutional goals.

Our mission

To support student success by delivering access to quality education while advancing economic development and promoting sustainability in a collaborative culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our vision for equitable student success

Recognizing the unique value, perspectives, strengths, and challenges of every person who comes to PCC for education, all students will achieve their academic goals through equitable support, quality instruction, clear guidance to persist, and an unwavering commitment to completion shared by the entire College community.

Learn more

YESS logo

Yes to Equitable Student Success (YESS)
Our roadmap to dismantling barriers and building inclusive systems of education and support.

Strat plan

Strategic planning
The College’s overall map for ongoing planning and strategic actions.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Provides College-wide strategic and operational leadership and accountability for student government, student leadership and identity development, co-curricular programming, College events and activities, civic engagement, student behavioral support and intervention, student rights and grievance resolution, childcare service contracts, and athletics.
  2. Ensures culturally responsive and inclusive operations that center historically underserved and marginalized communities; accountable for flexible service delivery modalities that support access and equitable student outcomes.
  3. Develops, executes and measures the impact of College-wide infrastructures that support the resolution of student appeals and grievances, and resolution of student behavioral issues.
  4. In partnership with the Office for Equity & Inclusion, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and others key stakeholders, develops, executes and assesses College-wide, community-facing, signature events.
  5. Conducts ongoing needs assessment and gap analysis to identify and forecast student life and leadership programming needs; directs modification of programming for continuous process and outcome improvement.
  6. Leads oversight, development, and execution of policies, administrative procedures and practices related to assigned areas. Ensures institutional compliance with federal/state/College regulations, policies, and guidance related to student discipline and due process, NW Athletic Conference regulations, First Amendment/free speech, student grievance and appeals, Clery Act reporting, student activity fee administration, risk management, civic engagement, threat assessment and other related areas.
  7. Creates and maintains collaborative and productive partnerships across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Government Relations, administrative/systems services, and shared governance bodies in order to integrate institutional effectiveness and planning efforts for holistic student support; Provides leadership for College-wide strategic initiative execution (e.g., Strategic Plan, Guided Pathways, Equity & Inclusion Plan, Advising Redesign, Pathways to Opportunity).
  8. Serves as College administrative point of contact for student civic engagement, community service, and community education/event opportunities. Serves as administrative liaison to the Government Relations office, Cabinet and the Board of Directors related to the student shared governance model.
  9. Develops, oversees, analyzes, and makes budget decisions in alignment with College strategic plan, values and priorities. Forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies. Approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate. Assumes institutional authority for grants, contracts and technology portfolio that directly support division’s programs and activities
  10. Supervises management, academic professionals, classified staff, technical/support, and/or student staff. Evaluates and provides guidance and support regarding professional development plans and goals for assigned areas of responsibility in accordance with good management practices, district policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Hires, evaluates, trains, disciplines and recommends dismissal of staff as necessary.
  11. Supports, implements and promotes advancement of the district’s equity goals and assists in the hiring of a staff that reflects the diversity of the district. Participates in and supports activities that enhance equity-minded recruiting, hiring, and employee retention practices.
  12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work environment includes frequent disruptions and changes in priorities. Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Working hours may vary and occasional evening or weekend work is required. Frequent travel to other locations is required. No special coordination beyond that used for normal mobility and handling of everyday objects and materials is needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s Degree and eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience related to the area of assignment, providing program/project management or program/project coordination. Four (4) years of higher education management/supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Strategic leadership and management;
  • Program development, budgeting, and management;
  • Policy and procedure development and administration;
  • Applicable local, state and federal laws, codes, rules, and regulations;
  • Public administration and Higher Education principles and practices;
  • Conflict mediation;
  • Health, safety and emergency preparation, business and operational continuity, and response.
Skills in:
  • Directing and providing strategic leadership to staff;
  • Planning, implementing, improving, and evaluating programs, policies, procedures, operational needs, and fiscal constraints;
  • Evaluating research to identify potential solutions, resolve problems, and provide information;
  • Utilizing data and assessment outcomes for communication and to make continuous improvements for programs and services;
  • Managing change and sensitive topics;
  • Speaking in public;
  • Managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
Ability to:
  • Drive systemic change for racial and social equity and justice;
  • Communicate and execute a vision for student-centered (flexible, multimodal) delivery of instruction and services through oral and written mediums;
  • Manage healthy conflict to resolve issues in alignment with College mission and goals;
  • Counsel, direct, and facilitate professional development of employees while motivating them toward goal achievement;
  • Apply independent judgment to interpretation and application of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

New

11/2020

Portland Community College is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.