Director of Veteran and Military Student Success

Position Summary

The Director of Veteran and Military Student Success leads a comprehensive program to recruit and support diverse students who have served or are currently serving in the US military. The Director is a visionary and inclusive leader who has a deep commitment to the success ofMSUDenver's diverse veteran and military-affiliated students and employs a collaborative approach to carrying out initiatives and programs in support of students.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, the Director must have an unwavering commitment to the success of our diverse military-affiliated students. The Director develops, executes, and assesses veteran and military affiliated student support services, activities, fundraising, recruitment, and related initiatives. The Director is responsible for establishing departmental goals and strategies, leading a team of staff to achieve goals, and for making data-informed decisions to support the university's commitment to veteran and military students. The Director assumes oversight of the direction, strategy, planning and programming responsibilities associated with veteran student services on campus and the Veteran and Military Student Center, including leadership and supervision of all Center staff. This position also leads recruitment efforts, trains staff in best practices for recruiting veteran and military affiliated students, and sets veteran/military recruitment goals.

The Director works collaboratively with other administrators, faculty, campus committees, and staff, as well as external partners and donors to ensure the effective provision of services to current and prospective veteran and military students and their dependents, and to accomplish specific objectives within designated timelines. With a keen understanding of military-culture, the Director exhibits and promotesMSUDenver values of transparency, collaboration, inclusion (secures decision-making input from those being impacted) and accountability in order to develop a culture that steers and shapes the veteran/military student services team toward greater collective growth and success. As a student affairs professional, the Director's work is centered on the experiences and best interests of the diverse veteran/military students atMSUDenver.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver. Our student population consists of nearly 56% first generation students and over 50% students of color.

Within the Division of Student Affairs, we strive to create a student-centered learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to student success and belonging. We value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. Rather, it requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a foundation for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer.
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Duties/Responsibilities

45% - Leadership and supervision of veteran and military student services professional staff:

• Provide vision, direction, advocacy, leadership, supervision, mentoring and support to all veteran and military affiliated enrollment services and veteran education benefit staff.
• Direct supervision of the Associate Director of Veteran and Military Benefits and the Veteran Certification and Recruitment Specialist. Supervision includes performance planning and evaluation, hiring, conflict resolution, collective capacity building (teambuilding), training, and termination.
• Manage staff with responsibility and accountability for performance and results; coach, counsel, mentor, and appraise performance.

30% - Strategic planning for and assessment of veteran and military recruiting and retention strategies:

• Develop veteran and military student services to maximize effectiveness and efficiency, and to provide exceptional service to prospective and current veteran and military affiliated students.
• Create and implement a veteran and military student recruitment plan, in conjunction with colleagues in the Office of Admissions, and as a part of MSUDenver's overall recruitment strategy.
• Use innovative ideas and methods in developing strategies and activities to recruit and retain veteran and military affiliated students.
• Develop, expand, and evaluate a Women's Veteran Program in collaboration with campus and community partners.
• Lead assessment of current practices relating to retention and recruitment of veteran and military students.
• Provide recommendations on, and enforce academic policies that affect regulatory compliance, student enrollment and retention.
• Administer and facilitate training for faculty and staff on working with veteran and military students.

15% - Fundraising and external relations:

• Increase the visibility and reputation ofMSUDenver veteran and military student services through strategic networking with alumni, community members, and potential program donors.
• Identify applicable grants and write grant proposals.
• Build relationships that benefitMSUDenver students through active participation and leadership in veteran serving organizations, committees, and resource groups.

5% - Budget management:

• Prepare and manage the department's annual budget, while ensuring efficient use of University resources.
• Plan for received grant funds usage, as well as ongoing reporting on fund utilization to donors and community partners.

5% - Other duties as assigned:

• Develop and monitor relevant education materials and social media
• Monitor and respond to legislation impacting veteran and military students
• Serve as a backup school certifying official for veteran education benefits

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Experience working in or directly with the military or experience administering military programs that assist service members, veterans, and/or their family members achieve higher education.
• Professional supervisory experience
• Excellent written communication skills

Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meetALLrequired qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior or current military service (veteran, active duty, or in the national guard or reserves)
• Master's degree
• 5 or more years of experience working with veteran and/or military affiliated college students.
• Demonstrated experience impacting equity outcomes in an education setting
• Demonstrated fundraising success
• Grant writing experience
• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills
• Assessment and data management experience
• Knowledge of student development theory and practice
• Experience serving as a department of veteran's affairs school certifying official
• Experience with recruitment of underrepresented students

Work Hours

• Full-time, 40 hours per week, Exempt
• Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
• Evenings and Weekends: As needed, Occasional weekends/evenings for special meetings/events
• Hybrid schedule (on-campus and remote) available for this position
• Travel: Rarely

Salary for Announcement

We anticipate the qualified candidate to be placed between $64,500 - $86,050. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The above salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Instructions to Apply

For full consideration, please submit the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

3 professional references will be required of the finalist. One reference must be a prior supervisor.

This position will remain open until filled. Please apply byMarch 21, 2025for consideration.

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

If you are an Internal applicant, please apply via the Career tab within the WorkDay Menu

Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meetALLrequired qualifications.

Open Until Filled

The University's benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as accessto a long-term disability (LTD) plan.Visit MSU Denver'sbenefits websiteto learn more.

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf.

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at totalrewards@msudenver.edu.

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors. To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.