Program Director of Immersions

Position Title:

Program Director of Immersions

Position Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Hiring Range:

$77,600 -$87,911; Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity

Pay Frequency:

Annual

Note: This is a full-time, fixed-term position that expires on June 30, 2027. We remain hopeful and confident in the capacity to provide yearly extensions to the position pending business need and financial capacity. 

POSITION PURPOSE

The Program Director of Immersions administers the Ignatian Center’s immersion programs in collaboration with the Senior Program Director of Immersions (SPDI) and the Director of Community Engaged Student Learning (DCESL). For all immersions, the Program Director manages the logistical preparation of immersion trips and student leadership opportunities. The Senior Program Director of Immersions assigns individual immersion programs to the Program Director; and for those assigned programs, the Program Director serves as principal director (preparation, content, logistics, risk management, student leadership, travel, and follow-up). The position will include periodic accompaniment on immersion programs and support of fellowship programs. This is a full-time position reporting to the Senior Program Director of Immersions of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education as part of the Division of Mission and Ministry.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
 

Oversee assigned immersion programs 

The Senior Program Director of Immersions strategically assigns immersion programs to the Program Director for management and oversight. Immersion staff shares responsibility on any given immersion cycle in key areas: accompaniment, logistics, formation, and immersion coordinator supervision.  

• Manage full oversight of 3-4- immersions per year, serving as the sole staff member and decision-maker leading the group (including directing all aspects of formation and follow-up for these specific immersions).

• Exercise sound judgment and strategic planning for program preparation and execution.

Oversee all logistical components for immersions per cycle (oversee all logistical planning, including pre-trip decision-making, communication with host organization, students, student leader, and staff companion).

• Direct formation process for full student participant cohort for given immersion cycle as assigned by the SPDI. Manage all logistical planning for immersion preparation meetings, events, and retreats.

• Provide accompaniment, mentorship, support, and care for immersion participants, including vocational and spiritual conversations.

• Supervise Student Assistants in key areas of formation and logistics.

• Serve as the primary supervisor of undergraduate student leaders for all assigned programs.

• Oversee all aspects of local plunges.

• Manage full oversight of local daylong and overnight plunges .

• Set up meetings, communicate with, and ally with community partners pre- and post-plunge.

• Oversee all logistical components, including pre-trip decision-making, communication with host organization, students, student leader, and staff leader.

• Manage travel and lodging.

• Mentor urban plunge student leader.

• Recruit participants and target student groups.

Coordinate Student Formation for all Immersion Programs and support Fellowship Programs.

• Support the recruitment, supervision, training, and mentoring of student immersion coordinators.

• Plan and facilitate student coordinator meetings and various meetings and  events for immersion teams (i.e., Kick-Off, Welcome Back, Formation Nights, retreats). 

• Direct student coordinators in pre- and post-immersion training and formation, including the identification of academic, theological, and spiritual resources and support for post-immersion student engagement.

• Prepare immersion coordinators to lead their immersion teams effectively, engage key formational/preparational topics, and guide reflection in team meetings, participant meetings, and retreats.

• Support the recruitment, placement, and formation of participants in Fellowships.

Provide logistical oversight of immersion and fellowship programs

• Execute all operational aspects of a robust immersion program, including: host organization communication, host reservations, payments, transportation logistics (airline and other), etc.

• Manage purchasing and organization of supplies for immersion programs

• Coordinate and communicate risk management and emergency contact information with various campus partners and key stakeholders.

• Serve as first responder to health and safety incidents that occur while on immersion. Maintain timely communication and update the ICJE primary on-call emergency contact. Enact emergency response plans as needed and agreed upon.

• In collaboration with the CESL team, provide operational, administrative, and risk management support for the Fellowship Programs

• Assure the successful recruitment and selection of student participants through thorough publicity, including digital designs, campus posting, managing classroom visits, and other activities as needed to ensure recruitment goals are achieved.

• Manage ICJE Student Assistant support for CESL programs 

• Coordinate management of immersion assessment data for individual trips and the immersion program as a whole in collaboration with the CESL team. 

• In collaboration with Senior Program Director of Immersions (SPDI),  DCESL and the Director of Communications and Marketing, support marketing and communications efforts for immersions and fellowships.

• Support the various fundraising efforts connected to the immersions program in collaboration with the CESL leadership.

Develop program offerings to support the future growth and development of  the Immersion and Fellowship programs grounded in the Ignatian Tradition 

• Develop opportunities for student leadership, formation, and mentorship

• Create opportunities for the development of faculty and staff involved in CESL programs.

• Collaborate with the broader work of ICJE and the Division of Mission and  Ministry.

• Supports and participates in Ignatian Center and Division events as articulated by leadership.

• Contribute to discussions, activities and other events appropriate to Division staff.

• Execute other tasks as assigned by the Senior Program Director of Immersions and other Division leadership.

C.   PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION 

• In consultation with the Senior Program Director of Immersions, provides supervision of the Student Assistants and Immersion Coordinators.

D.   GENERAL GUIDELINES
 

• Identifies and determines cause of problems; develops and presents recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices

• Maintains contact with customers and solicits feedback for improved service

• Maximizes productivity through use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives

• Researches and develops resources that create timely and efficient workflow

• Prepares progress reports; informs supervisor of project status; and deviation from goals. Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all operational functions

• Prepares and submits reports as requested and required

E.   QUALIFICATIONS
 

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred. 

• This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of and familiarity with Jesuit, Catholic mission and values

• Knowledge of and familiarity/experience with domestic and international student immersion experiences

• Understanding of community-engaged learning in higher education preferred

Skills 

• Demonstrated outstanding organizational and project management skills and data management acuity required

• Excellent communication skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of MS Office, Excel, PowerPoint, GoogleDocs required 

Abilities

• Demonstrated ability and desire to mentor undergraduate students

• Ability and availability to work nontraditional hours, including evenings and weekends and to travel for immersions

• Ability to meet deadlines, work autonomously and in a team environment 

• Ability to think strategically while balancing attention to detail and handling competing demands 

• Ability to take initiative and anticipate needs 

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to communicate with a high level of sensitivity and tact 

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Ability to oversee marketing, communication, and event planning 

• Demonstrated commitment to equity and respect in the workplace, intercultural awareness, and the ability to manage difficult and contentious situations

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required. 

Years of Experience

• Two years of professional experience, preference for experience with students in a professional capacity and in a higher education setting

Other

• Valid U.S. Driver’s License required

• High-intermediate Spanish preferred

F.   PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities.  A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. 

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal

• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus

• May be required to attend domestic and international immersions 

• May be required to drive groups while on immersions

• May be required to sleep on the floor while on immersions

G.   WORK ENVIRONMENT
  

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

• Typical office environment with periodic travel to field and community-based settings across diverse geographic regions.

• Mostly indoor office environment with windows

• Offices with frequent interruptions

•  Travel for periods of 1-2 weeks for immersions 3-4 times a year, that may involve locations with limited infrastructure, utilities, or connectivity. In addition, travel locations may not always have ADA accommodations. 

 

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

 

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at  https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/. 

 

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please visit the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act

Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.  Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at [email protected] or by phone at (408)554-4392. Please note: This contact information is intended for accommodation requests only. Resumes or inquiries about application status sent to this inbox will not be reviewed or forwarded. For resumes or questions regarding application status, please contact [email protected].