St Hilda's College Associate Dean — Academic & Development

About the role

The Associate Dean is a senior member of the residential staff team at St Hilda's College. This position will take a leading role in the oversight, administration and delivery of the academic, professional development, community and wellbeing programs within St Hilda's College. St Hilda's employs two Associate Deans who share an identical core role — front-line wellbeing and academic support, community leadership and stewardship of culture — reporting to the Deputy Principal and Dean of Students. In addition to the shared core, each Associate Dean leads one portfolio across the College. This role leads the Academic & Development portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Hold a front-line wellbeing caseload for an assigned share of students, offering support to both students in need and those supporting students in need

• Understand and respond to the concerns of individual students and refer to medical, counselling and University services when required

• Form part of the wellbeing team and foster networks for the early detection of wellbeing issues

• Be proactive in preventing and responding to minor conduct and behavioural matters, escalating serious matters to the Deputy Principal and Dean of Students

• Maintain a highly visible, approachable presence; support the Students' Club and contribute to an inclusive community-events program

• Support student leaders in planning and delivering Orientation events; contribute to day-to-day support of the SRA and RA team and attend weekly wellbeing team meetings

• Contribute to the development of and be an active participant in the student leadership training program

• Create and deliver a third-year student program that balances community building with professional development, that drives retention of senior students and adds value especially to those without a formal leadership position

• Contribute to the admissions interview process and to the delivery of Open Day and Check-in Day

• Be active in Student life; dine in the Dining Hall during semester and attend High Tables, formal and academic dinners and attend and support sports, cultural, arts and wellbeing events on the student calendar

Portfolio lead — Academic & Development

• Lead the end-to-end administration of the tutorial program (timetable, tutor recruitment, contracts, tutor onboarding and evaluation)

• Own the data management, analysis and reporting of students' academic results

• Coordinate show-cause and academic improvement plans by mentoring and meeting students requiring additional support or by facilitating those students meeting regularly with another staff member

• Lead the creation and delivery of a stretch-program for high-achieving students

• Lead the Strengths Development Program with student leaders and third-year students

• Liaise with the Community Engagement team to lead the delivery of our alumni mentor program and fireside chat program

• Liaise with University academic and careers services to ensure students are aware of events, activities and resources available and to explore opportunities for collaboration

• Lead the design and delivery of the Hilda's Headstart program as our flagship professional development offering

• Lead the creation and delivery of a leadership-passport that establishes engagement expectations and opportunities for students aspiring to leadership roles in senior years

• Own survey design, data collection and reporting across the academic program, and the case-management/incident-tracking system as the single source of records

• Coordinate compliance and currency tracking (Working with Children Checks, National Code compliance and contract returns etc).

• Foster an environment that celebrates academic excellence by developing opportunities for students and alumni to engage across faculties (e.g. colloquiums and research projects and outcomes evenings.

• Manage the St Hilda’s Librarian and support the development of innovative opportunities for students to engage with library resources to enhance their academic, professional and personal development.

About you

Essential (common to both Associate Dean roles)

• A tertiary qualification and demonstrated experience supporting and caring for young emerging adults in a diverse environment

• Sound judgement in wellbeing, conduct and crisis situations, with a trauma-informed and developmental mindset

• Strong organisational and administrative skills and the ability to work both independently and within a senior team

• High-level interpersonal and communication skills across a culturally diverse community

• Willingness and ability to live on-site and work variable, out-of-hours patterns

• Capacity and willingness to lead the assigned portfolio and to cover the other portfolio when required

Desirable — strengthens the Academic & Development portfolio

• Experience administering an academic, tutorial or mentoring program (timetabling, coordinating staff)

• Strong data-handling, survey and reporting skills; familiarity with case-management systems

• Experience supporting students with and building programs relating to careers, employability and professional development, leadership or academic-skills support

Benefits

• Salary + Superannuation. For a confidential discussion regarding the position, including the role and remuneration package, please contact the Deputy Principal, Fiona Cadorel. 

• On-site accommodation provided including meals, parking for one vehicle and utilities

• Four weeks annual leave, generally taken outside term time and agreed with the Deputy Principal and Dean of Students

• Comprehensive training (Mental Health First Aid, First Aid, First Responder, Active Bystander, Conflict Management, Vicarious Trauma, Difficult Conversations)

About us

St Hilda's College is a residential college affiliated with the University of Melbourne. Established in 1964, it provides accommodation and educational support for over 240 tertiary students from rural, interstate and international backgrounds, guided by its values of Respect, Belonging, Challenge, Growth and Communitas.