Basic Needs Coordinator

Position Title:

Basic Needs Coordinator

Position Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Hiring Range:

$70,600 - $84,700/annually. Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity. On-campus housing in a residence hall apartment is optional and can be discussed at the time of the interview.

Pay Frequency:

Annual

A. POSITION PURPOSE

The Basic Needs Coordinator oversees government and nonprofit resources, provides direct support, and coordinates services for students experiencing challenges with food, housing, finances, and other basic needs within the CARE (Compassionate and Responsive Educators) System. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Students (CARE System), the Basic Needs  Coordinator facilitates access to campus and community resources, coordinates referrals and interventions, and collaborates with partners to reduce barriers to student success. Through the implementation of basic needs programs and services, participation on the Student Well-Being Team, crisis response, participation in the 24/7 on-call Dean of Students Office rotation, and outreach and assessment, the Basic Needs Coordinator supports students’ holistic development in alignment with Santa Clara University’s Jesuit mission and commitment to cura personalis.

The Basic Needs Coordinator position is a full-time, 12-month, three-year fixed-term position ending June 30, 2029, and requires flexibility of work hours, including work performed on weekends and evenings.

The Basic Needs Coordinator serves in the Dean of Students Office’s 24/7 on-call rotation. On-campus housing is available (optional) and can be discussed during the interview.

The priority review deadline: Friday, August 14, 2026. 

B. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Program Implementation  

1. Develop, organize, lead, and evaluate all basic needs functions and activities for the campus and serve as the primary campus contact for all services, programs,  policies, and protocols designed to meet student basic needs. 

2. Oversee the development and implementation of resources, programs, events, and services to support and address students' basic needs, including, but not limited to, food, housing, and financial insecurities. 

3. Direct the Food Insecurity and Bronco Pantry Program, including logistics, intake,  fundraising, assessment, and referral responsibilities. 

4. Serve on the Student Well-Being Team and provide timely communication and response regarding student well-being matters as they relate to basic needs resources. 

Student Support, Education & Outreach  

1. Assist students in accessing a network of support that includes on- and off-campus resources, ensuring effective advocacy, referral, and collaboration with such units as Counseling and Psychological Services, Drahmann Advising and Learning Resources Center, Financial Aid, Auxiliary Services, etc. 

2. Provide holistic support for students by addressing food, housing, and financial insecurities. Direct students toward academic and mental health resources as appropriate to their needs. 

3. Provide assistance with processing requests for gift funds, including, but not limited to, the Ivancovich Family Student Life Fund and Food Insecurity Gift  Fund. 

4. Effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders in support and development of the on-campus basic needs initiatives. 

5. As funding allows, distribute emergency funding to help address students’  financial concerns. 

6. Participate in the development and implementation of departmental trainings conducted by the Dean of Students Office, such as Residence Life, New Student Programs, Faculty Development, etc. 

Program Development, Strategic Planning, and Assessment  

1. Convene and facilitate the cross-functional Basic Needs Committee. 

2. Lead the implementation of an integrated Basic Needs Action Plan involving multiple departments/units on campus.

4. Partner with faculty and students to conduct robust research assessing student basic needs across the university to understand gaps in unmet student basic needs and develop innovative responses. 

5. Lead and manage all efforts to collect, evaluate, and analyze data to support the impact and growth of each function, program, or service. 

6. Prepare comprehensive annual reports based on findings, as requested. Provide reports to interdependent units to sustain effective collaboration and shared accountability. 

Policy and Procedure Development, Interpretation, and Implementation  

1. Develop, initiate, coordinate, review, recommend, interpret, and administer policies and procedures for the basic needs program that are effective, efficient,  and conducive to the personal, social, physical, spiritual, cultural development,  and general well-being of students. 

2. Serve as a university employee who is compliant with Title IX,  Violence Against Women Act, Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights, Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act, Clery, FERPA, Financial Aid compliance and other related legislation. 

External Relations 

1. Establish and maintain local and regional collaborative relationships and partnerships with business entities, community organizations, and educational agencies to support students and secure resources pertaining to students' basic needs. 

2. Be the designee for basic needs governmental partnerships, working collaboratively and effectively to expand existing programs (i.e., CalFresh initiatives) to benefit students experiencing basic needs insecurities. 

3. Collaborate and partner with the Division of Student Life, University Relations, and other university leadership for duties related to donor identification, cultivation,  and stewardship.  

Dean of Students On-Call Rotation 

1. Serve as a member of the On-Call Team that provides 24/7/365 coverage for the purpose of providing response (sometimes in person), support, direction and communication to parents of students and university leaders when critical incidents happen on or off campus. Critical incidents are: medical hospitalizations due to alcohol/drug use, accidents or health conditions, mental health crisis, including suicide attempts, involuntary and voluntary hospitalizations for psychiatric services, assaults, including sexual misconduct, missing student, and death of a student.

2. Contribute to the regular review, assessment, and updating of on-call protocols and policies to ensure clear, consistent, and effective responses to student safety, well-being, and conduct concerns in alignment with institutional priorities and best practices.

C. PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION

• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises and evaluates student employees (undergraduate and graduate).

• Provides direction and oversight of SCU community volunteers.

D. GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Recommends initiatives and implements changes to improve quality and services.

• 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 services.

• 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.

• Develops and implements guidelines to support the functions of the unit.

E. QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfy each essential duty. 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.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required. A master's degree in higher education administration, college student services,  social work, education, counseling, food systems, or related fields is strongly preferred.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience addressing student well-being issues, student basic needs, or equivalent experience in a non-educational setting is required.

• Minimum of 3 years of work in an academic setting; counseling, student life, social work, and development preferred. 

• Proficiency in Maxient case management software preferred. 

Knowledge

• Understanding and support of the Jesuit tradition of education and a commitment to the fundamental values of service to others, community, and diversity, as well as a commitment to and demonstration of skills, knowledge, and awareness to serve the unique needs of the diverse campus community of Santa Clara  University. 

• Familiarity with food security/food systems and knowledge of diverse and broad basic needs programs, services, and resources. 

• Knowledge of federal, state, local and community resources and relevant guidelines, including Second Harvest Food Bank and CalFresh Healthy Living  (SNAP-ED).

Skills

• Competency and experience in working with students of different cultural, ethnic,  racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds with special sensitivity to how personal experiences affect the transition into the University environment.

• Commitment to exceptional customer service, both internal and external to the university. 

• Organizational skills, including time management, multitasking, and project completion. 

• Evidence of strong analytical and problem-solving skills; utilization of data to optimize efficiencies and measure outcomes and utilization of technology,  database management, social media, and digital communication within an operational context. 

• Oral and written communication skills, including experience in delivering workshops and speaking to groups of various sizes. 

Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to complete projects of varying complexity from inception through implementation and assessment with minimal supervision and direction.

• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and provide a high level of professional discretion and integrity in handling confidential, sensitive information.

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate collaborative interpersonal relationships with internal and external constituencies. 

• Demonstrated ability to provide clear, effective, and timely written and verbal communication to a variety of internal and external stakeholders. 

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize, and be flexible. 

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.

• Lift and carry boxes from campus to secondary locations on and off campus.

• Assist with setting up/tearing down tables, chairs, and other equipment for events.

• May be required to attend conference and training sessions and/or meet with vendors or suppliers within the Bay Area or in or out-of-state locations.

G. WORK ENVIRONMENT

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

• Indoor office environment.

• Offices with equipment noise and occasional interruptions.

• This is a full-time position and requires flexibility to work evenings and weekends.

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].