Assistant Director of Student Services

This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause.

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need. This position will also be required to travel occasionally to the Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, CA.

Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

About Us

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.

For more information on the school, click here.

The first new department approved as part of SDSS is the Oceans Department. The oceans are earth’s last frontier and are vital for our health and future. The Oceans Department supports the critical activities needed for breakthrough ocean teaching and research and uses inspired research to drive fundamental discovery and impact, including broad interdisciplinary and system-based approaches to addressing global ocean challenges. Our mission and vision are amplified by strong and durable linkages to other existing and emerging units in the new school and across campus. A critical and major component of Stanford Oceans is Hopkins Marine Station (HMS), located in in Pacific Grove, California. HMS has over a 130 year-long tradition as a renowned marine biological station with over 15 faculty, 20 staff, and 40 graduate students and postdocs on site.

The Oceans Department is seeking an experienced student services professional to provide administrative and operational support to faculty and students. The Assistant Director of Student Services will be responsible for all student services matters, including making recommendations regarding student advising through the declaration process, academic curriculum, event planning, financial aid, housing, registrar services, visa services, student life, career counseling, and academic services using Stanford defined policies and practices and professional knowledge. The position is also responsible for advising students on course selection and degree progress, course scheduling, bulletin updates, and maintaining relevant web site pages. The position will report to the Director of Finance and Operations.

Your Responsibilities will include:

• Independently manage all aspects of graduate and undergraduate student programs, including interpretation of policies, analysis and problem solving for oftentimes complex and sensitive issues, and advising/recommending action plans. Analyze and recommend program improvements.
• Work with the Admissions Committee to support annual processes. Evaluate and make recommendations on program eligibility and suitability and review decisions made by other Oceans staff.
• Provide advice and counsel to students on a range of issues including, but not limited to, academic progress, academic program policies, career plans, accessibility, community standards, etc., to guide them in making appropriate choices and decisions. Triage and recommend solutions for complex and sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality at all times. Escalate issues to a senior advisor where necessary.
• Oversee course scheduling, Stanford Bulletin entries, room scheduling, and other logistics related to academic operation. Continuously assess operations and develop recommendations to optimize.
• Manage postdoctoral and visiting postdoctoral appointments.
• Maintain knowledge of individual student coursework and interests and apprise students of relevant research, fellowship, and scholarship opportunities. Participate in related student recruitment and selection.
• Provide first line response to identify students in crisis and refer to appropriate resources, as needed.
• Collect and analyze data from multiple sources including student feedback, surveys, trend reports, and data analytics. Prepare and summarize reports and make recommendations to enhance offerings, such as programs and courses, and to influence current processes and policies. Identify gaps in data, additional data sources, or additional analysis that could be helpful in enhancing Oceans programs and courses.
• Support the internship programs on campus and at Hopkins.
• Oversee and implement the setup and maintenance of financial aid and other support for all graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
• Identify trends, perform needs analysis, and participate in the implementation and testing of new technology.
• May develop marketing materials and strategies for program activities and outreach functions. Assist in planning and developing webinars, education fairs, and other external functions. Develop and execute outreach strategies, nurture community relationships, and represent Oceans externally.
• May provide oversight of financial processes such as budgets, data entry, and following up and resolving issues.
• May train and supervise other staff, volunteers, students, and temporary workers.

* The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.