Assistant Director, Immersion Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt University

Position Summary:



Immersion Vanderbilt seeks a collaborative and detail-oriented individual to serve as the Assistant Director. Immersion Vanderbilt, within Undergraduate Education in the Office of the Provost, offers undergraduates unique opportunities to engage in hands-on, transformative learning experiences that go beyond the traditional classroom. Each student is provided an opportunity to participate in a customized, mentored experience culminating in a final project. This cross-campus collaboration requires a collegial and well-organized team member who is passionate about supporting student goals.



The Assistant Director will manage the Immersion Vanderbilt staff advisers, coordinate efforts to build a student-centered advising program, and collaborate across campus to deliver resources to students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, this position manages internal office operations, working closely with the senior director to ensure programmatic effectiveness. This role, which is integral to the success of Immersion Vanderbilt, is well-suited for a collaborative leader with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to supporting student success.



About the Work Unit:



Immersion Vanderbilt provides a unique opportunity for Vanderbilt students to pursue their interests through a hands-on, mentored experience inside and outside the classroom. Immersion Vanderbilt culminates with a tangible final project, such as a work of art, an op-ed piece in a newspaper, a thesis, a web app, a musical performance, or a prototype, among many other products. This work unit facilitates these transformative student experiences, supporting learners as they engage with mentors, apply classroom knowledge, and create novel products that demonstrate their learning and contributions. This office plays a vital role in providing Vanderbilt students with unparalleled opportunities for experiential learning, personal growth, and real-world impact.



Through Immersion Vanderbilt, students can explore diverse experiential learning pathways such as study abroad; internships; civic and community engagement; research; innovation, arts and creativity; and leadership and professional development.



Key Functions and Expected Performance:





+ Supervise and mentor professional staff, including hiring, training, and conducting performance evaluations to ensure a high-functioning team that supports the Immersion Vanderbilt program.



+ Create relationships with campus partners, faculty, and staff to promote partnerships and collaborations.



+ Conduct office hours and workshops across campus.



+ Track students’ progress to ensure advancement by key benchmarking dates.



+ Define the bridge from experience to project planning, including finding a faculty adviser, defining the culminating project, and developing a plan to completion.



+ Oversee process for guiding students through the completion of the Immersion Vanderbilt program.



+ Manage software and system updates to accommodate programmatic needs.



+ Oversee coordination, creation, implementation of Immersion Vanderbilt showcases and events ensuring all Immersion Vanderbilt culminating projects can be demonstrated.



+ Collate data to produce reports and regular updates in support of experiential learning and Immersion Vanderbilt.



+ Assist with managing aspects of the office budget.



+ Develop best practices for Immersion Vanderbilt and student advising based on best practices in higher education; attend conferences, workshops, and campus meetings as necessary to fulfill this mission.



+ Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with a diverse group of stakeholders, including students, faculty, and staff.



+ Utilize strong problem-solving skills to address student concerns, programmatic challenges, and operational issues, ensuring the smooth execution and continuous improvement of the Immersion Vanderbilt program.



+ Perform other duties as assigned.





Supervisory Relationships:



This position will supervise Immersion Vanderbilt staff advisers. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Senior Director of Immersion Vanderbilt.



Education and Certifications:





+ Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience is necessary.



+ Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is strongly preferred.



+ 3-5 years of experience working closely with students in a university setting is necessary.





Experience and Skills:





+ Strong organizational and planning skills, ability to multi-task and meet deadlines is necessary.



+ Ability to work occasional nights and weekends is necessary.



+ Self-motivation with a positive and professional approach is necessary.



+ Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with students is necessary.



+ Ability to work independently and as part of a team is necessary.



+ Proficient in MS Office software tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint), and other software tools for communication, analysis and office operations is necessary.



+ Demonstrated interest in civic engagement, pre-professional programs, and career preparation is preferred.





Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion



At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.







Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.





Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.







Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.