Assistant Director of Family Services

Who We Are
We, the Division of Student Affairs, are a student-focused organization that aims to empower student success and support personal development. We act daily to create, enhance, and sustain a culture of respect and inclusion in the workplace, focusing on equity and justice in its many forms, including racial, social, and environmental justice. We intentionally and relentlessly pursue excellence through introspection, vulnerability, empathy, compassion, learning, and courage. We value our internal and external partnerships as vital drivers of the ambitious goals we pursue. We celebrate and take pride in the following:

• Named one of the "Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs" by Diverse Magazine.
• Serving a highly diverse student body (click here for more information).
• Leading the way as the #1 ranked institution in the AAU and #3 of all colleges and universities nationally in fostering our students' social mobility.
• Awarded multiple distinctions including philanthropic awards and research grants in experiential learning and career development, voter engagement, student engagement, health and wellness practices, and quality of residential life.

Click here for more about Student Affairs.

Required Qualifications (as evidenced by an attached resume):
Bachelor's degree (foreign equivalent or higher). Three (3) years of full-time advising, counseling, and/or administrative experience. Experience communicating with parents/families. Event planning experience. Experience working with diverse populations. Experience with Microsoft Office and/or Google applications.

Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in higher education administration, counseling, social work, or related field. Four (4+) years of full-time advising, counseling, and/or administrative experience. Experience working with parents/families of college students in a higher education setting. Project management experience. Supervisory experience (supervision of students may be considered). Experience presenting or teaching.

Brief Description of Duties:
The Assistant Director of Family Services reports to the Director of Student Support and Family Services and is part of the broader Student Health, Wellness, and Prevention Services team. The Assistant Director is responsible for engaging and supporting parents and families of Stony Brook University's diverse undergraduate and graduate students.
The Assistant Director is a full-time, forward-facing role dedicated specifically and only to parents and families of Stony Brook students. As the first point of contact for parents and family members, the Assistant Director collaborates with other team members both within and outside of the Division of Student Affairs to ensure high quality programs, events, and services are provided. As detailed below, the Assistant Director manages projects and initiatives that support family engagement, sense of belonging, communication, and education.
The Assistant Director must be adept at understanding and meeting the unique needs of family members, including providing a very high level of care, discretion, and empathy. The Assistant Director must have excellent customer service, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills. Essential for this role is the ability to work independently as well as part of a team with a collaborative approach to problem solving.

Personalized Service and Support

• Act as the first point of telephone and email contact, providing outstanding service to parents and families who are seeking help, support, or need more information related to Stony Brook for their incoming or enrolled undergraduate or graduate student.
• Within FERPA guidelines, assist in managing, triaging, and/or mediating complex situations between families, students, and the university in collaboration with campus partners.
• Utilize discretion and good judgment in communicating with parents and family members.
• Actively listen to questions, complaints, or concerns; provide guidance on institutional policies; help solve problems or resolve misunderstandings; make referrals as needed; and follow up to ensure the situation or issue has been addressed.
• Manage critical or high acuity situations appropriately, escalating concerning or crisis situations to the Director of Student Support and Family Services.

Communication

• Collaborate with the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications for Student Affairs and the CRAFT (Communications, Research, Assessment, Fundraising, and Technology) Team on the development and execution of a comprehensive parent and family communication strategy.
• Proactively advertise and communicate with parents and family members via telephone, email, website, and social media.
• Monitor the Family Services social media pages and respond to questions with timely, accurate information through direct outreach as needed.
• Assist in developing content for the Family Connect e-newsletter, Family Services website, and ongoing email communication to parents and family members.
• Develop tailored communication and outreach to parents and family members of students in particular affinity groups and class years (i.e., first year, sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate student).

Event and Workshop Management

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Student Affairs Events and Initiatives in developing, planning, executing, and evaluating the annual Family Welcome BBQ, Family Weekend, Siblings Weekend, and other parent and family-related events.
• Collaborate with the Director of New Student and Transition Programs in developing, planning, executing, and evaluating parent and family orientation programming as well as visits to campus for Admitted Student Days and New Seawolf Visit Days.
• Collaborate with campus partners to create and execute new and innovative parent and family workshops, webinars, engagement events, and campus experiences, including online resources for Stony Brook's out-of-state and international families.

Family Relations

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Development to engage with parents and family members on fundraising initiatives.
• Help develop parent and family partnerships, including creating and leading a parent and family board/council at Stony Brook.

Professional Development and Committee Involvement

• Participate in opportunities that promote learning, growth, and development (i.e., classes, training, committees, webinars).
• Contribute to the Division of Student Affairs and Stony Brook University by attending and/or supporting events, activities, and programs sponsored by areas within and outside Student Affairs (i.e., campus-wide traditions, events, programs).
• Other duties or projects as assigned as appropriate to rank and departmental mission.
• Evening and weekend work will be required at times.

Special Notes:
This is a full-time appointment. FLSA Exempt position, not eligible for the overtime provisions of the FLSA. Minimum salary threshold must be met to maintain FLSA exemption.

In addition to the employee's base salary, this position is eligible for $3,400 UUP annual location pay, paid biweekly.

Essential Position: This has been designated as an essential position based on the duties of the job and the functions performed. Positions that are designated as such may be required to report to work/remain at work even if classes are canceled, and the campus is working on limited operations in an emergency.

For this position, we are unable to sponsor candidates for work visas.

Resume/CV and cover letter should be included with the online application.

Stony Brook University is committed to excellence in diversity and the creation of an inclusive learning and working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.

If you need a disability-related accommodation, please call the university Office of Equity and Access (OEA) at (631) 632-6280 or visit OEA.

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