Director, Military and Veteran Services

The University of Houston Clear Lake (UHCL) is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to fill the position of Director of the Captain Wendell M. Wilson Office of Military and Veteran Services. This leadership role is crucial in ensuring the successful transition and academic experience of military-connected students, Veterans, and their families. The Director will be responsible for overseeing the VA certification process and developing impactful programming and co-curricular experiences to support the unique needs of Veteran and military-connected students, and families.

Duties:

• Create and implement strategic programming that addresses the unique needs and challenges of Veterans and military-connected families. Collaborate with academic departments, student affairs, and community partners to develop initiatives that enhance the overall experience of military-affiliated students. Assist Veterans and their families to support their career and professional aspirations, transition to a post-military service career and promote mental and physical well-being.
• Serve as an advocate for Veteran students and military connected students and families and have duties across and throughout all divisions on the UHCL campus to create and provide resources, training, and leadership initiatives. Direct measures to improve office efficiency and effectiveness through collaboration with staff in Strategic Enrollment Management, Student Business Services, and other campus offices to ensure student Veteran problems are resolved and process changes are implemented.
• Manage and supervise the certification process for military benefits, ensuring accurate and timely submission to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Advise Veterans, student Veterans, their families and dependents of their rights under military service benefits acts and other relevant legislation. Serve as lead School Certifying Official (SCO); maintain compliance with state and federal regulations governing the application of military-connected education benefits.
• Lead and collaborate with UHCL campus departmental leaders, University Advancement, Strategic Enrollment Management, Student Business Services, Counseling and Mental Health Center and other units on campus to ensure the needs of student Veterans, military connected families and their dependents are addressed while promoting a Veteran friendly campus in becoming a national leader in Veterans’ services.
• Responsible for the hiring, training, development, supervision, and evaluation of support and professional staff members, student employees, and student leaders/mentors for all functional areas of the unit. Directs and oversees business process documentation including training documents and policy manuals, establishing and implementing new procedures as needed.
• Administrative oversight of unit planning, budgeting, and assessments. Support divisional initiatives so that unit learning outcomes align with the unit's mission, Division of Student affairs goals, and university priorities. Develop and disseminate reports for the division and university. Develop and maintain comprehensive data tracking systems to monitor and evaluate the success of programs and services. Generate reports to share with university leadership.
• Develop and maintain community relationships and partnerships that may include but not limited to corporations and corporate partners, non-profit business organizations, local and state government offices, and local and regional military bases and facilities. Ensures compliance with policies and procedures of the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration.
• Manage departmental marketing efforts, implementing communication strategies that have campus-wide reach, including website, social media, student engagement platforms, and all other digital and print marketing materials both for the unit and those that directly support Veteran students and military connected students and families.
• Serve on university and divisional level committees and advisory boards that support Veteran students and military connected families efforts in developing co-curricular experiences aimed at enhancing student engagement and student success and performs related duties as assigned.

Required:

Desired:

Doctoral degree in Student Personnel, Higher and Postsecondary Education or related area.

Experience in military and Veteran certification processing and developing programs and activities for Veteran students and military connected students and families in a university setting.

Certification as a Certifying Official from the VA - must complete once hired and serve as School Certifying Official.

Full-time position with benefits. Criminal and motor vehicle background checks required.  To apply, please complete the online application and attach a resume and a cover letter.  Applications without the required documents will be considered incomplete and disqualified.