Assistant Dean of Student Affairs - Olin College of Engineering

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Dean of Student Affairs, the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs coordinates student support and opportunities, including academic advising, academic support services, and disability and accessibility services. As a key member of Student Affairs and Resources (StAR), the Assistant Dean serves to advance Olin’s mission by supporting students’ positive engage in academic pursuits, and through collaboration with key campus stakeholders such as the Registrar’s Office and faculty. This position manages staff with responsibility for advising and disability services and leads the recruitment and development of student employees engaged in academic support. 

This is an in-person/on-campus position based in Needham, MA, with possible flexible work options. Any approved remote work arrangement must be performed in the state of Massachusetts where Olin is registered to do business.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide leadership on institutional advising and curriculum topics; participate in decision-making, and act as a resource for the Academic Recommendation Board (ARB).
• Manage the holistic advising system; coordinate the annual advisor-student matching process, develop advisor training and onboarding resources, and regularly assess advising practices.
• Implement strategic plans to enhance advising's impact on student retention, belonging, and thriving, while continuously assessing advising practices.
• Serve as a support resource for advisors and provide direct support in difficult student situations.
• Offer both proactive and intrusive advising for students in academic jeopardy and support student development and well-being.
• Create and maintain advising and curriculum-related resources, collaborate on course planning tools, and engage in enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation with the Registrar’s office.
• Oversee academic support systems, including managing tutoring programs, academic warnings, and the Academic Resource Co-creator (ARC) program, with a focus on student development and program assessment.
• Participate in the Committee on Student Academic Progress (COSAP) to monitor at-risk students and collaboratively develop mentorship, coaching, and advising skills for student leaders.
• Oversee Disability Services at Olin (DSO), managing all academic, housing, and dietary accommodations, while serving as the primary contact for disability- and accessibility-related concerns.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan for DSO, focusing on inclusive practices, community education on disability and access, and collaborating across the institution to facilitate accommodations.
• Serve on the CARE (Concern, Assess, Respond, Evaluate) Team, coordinating case management and follow-up support for resident students alongside key student affairs leaders.
• Supervise and provide professional development for the Assistant Director for Accessibility & Advising in their work in advising and disability services.
• Manage student academic status changes, assist with withdrawal and leave of absence decisions, and oversee the related processes in collaboration with institutional partners.
• Participate formally and informally on various campus committees and groups focused on advising, academic support, and disability services, while contributing to student development programming.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Dean of Student Affairs. 

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree with at least five years of relevant professional experience.  
• Project management experience with strong supervisory skills. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to influence and provide appropriate motivation.  
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to effectively lead in a team environment. 
• Ability to work occasional nights and weekends.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to values of equity, access, and belonging.

Company Description

Olin College of Engineering seeks employees who are passionate about working collaboratively within and outside of the Olin community to support the College’s mission and vision for the future. At Olin, we are educating the next generation of engineering innovators and shifting the definition of engineering. Not only do our students ask, “Who are we designing this for, and what are their values?” They also ask questions about the impact of their work on society.

 As Olin evolves under the leadership of our president, Dr. Gilda Barabino, we seek to become a more diverse and aware community, a place where everyone is a learner and where everyone is an educator. Olin will become a place where experimentation—including making and learning from mistakes—will be embraced across the institution, not just in the classroom. Collaboration is key to Olin’s curriculum and culture, and we will work intentionally to reinforce the values and culture to which we aspire. We are a community that thrives on being together; we value trust. The College supports teams to collaboratively decide how they can best do their work, and display a commitment to the community, all while providing individuals with overall work-life flexibility.

Olin College is situated on 75 acres in Needham, Massachusetts. We are approximately ten miles from Boston, one mile from the MBTA Commuter Rail train station, and approximately four miles from the Woodland Station for the MBTA Green Line. We have plenty of free parking on campus. You can find more details on our Visiting Campus page.

• Take a Virtual Campus Tour: From the moment you step on campus at Olin, you feel a buzz of energy and activity—and once you experience it, you want to be a part of it.

Olin College is committed to supporting an innovative, integrated learning and working environment. As a small campus, the in-person experience and cross-team collaboration is what helps build a strong, dynamic community for our students, faculty and staff. Typically, most roles at Olin College are intended to be in-person and on-campus. Certain paid positions may be eligible for flexible working arrangements, at the College’s sole discretion. Any approved remote work arrangement for pay must be performed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where Olin is registered to do business. Individual flexible and remote work options can be discussed during the interview process. 

Benefits

Olin College prides itself on offering to faculty and staff comprehensive benefits that provide both choice and value. These benefits are an important part of total compensation.  

Full-time employees scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week may be eligible for the following benefits: 

Core Benefits

• Medical (three different options) 
• Dental 
• Vision
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (company paid)
• Paid Family Medical Leave
• Long Term Disability (company paid)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with company match
• Liberal sick and vacation time and paid holidays
• Free parking

Additional Benefits 

• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Business Travel Insurance
• Supplemental 403(b) Retirement Plan 
• Travel Assistance Services (company paid)
• Health Care Management Program
• Pet Insurance

Please note that benefits are subject to change at any time.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

At Olin College we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about a role and have relevant experience, but your work history doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we'd nevertheless encourage you to apply.

Olin College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We especially welcome applications from candidates belonging to groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA people, and people with disabilities. Employees of the College who have a disability are welcome to request reasonable accommodations by contacting Human Resources at HR@olin.edu.