Assistant Director, Basic Needs

This position is 100% on campus

Salary Range: $52,981/year or higher, commensurate with experience and/or education

JOB SUMMARY 

The Assistant Director of Basic Needs performs a range of administrative and programmatic duties in support of the Basic Needs Center which includes the Food Pantry at the University of Houston-Downtown. The Assistant Director oversees the center's services, functions, and activities; provides case management and specialized information related to basic needs to students; and coordinates with campus and community organizations to obtain resources for students to promote student success, retention, and completion.

DUTIES 

• Leads, supervises, evaluates, and promotes the Basic Needs Center's services and functions
• Addresses and manages care interventions for students who identify as having an unfulfilled basic need
• Manages a care intervention referral tracking system
• Connects students to campus services, programs, resources, and other institutional opportunities to aid in the retention and success of all students
• Develops and coordinates programming for students that promotes holistic wellbeing
• Works with and trains faculty, staff, and administration to address and respond to student concerns and needs
• Researches, builds partnerships with, and connects students to community programs and resources
• Conducts program evaluation and student satisfaction surveys for the development and management of continuous improvement plans and reports

MARGINAL DUTIES 

• Serves on university and other committees as assigned
• Performs all other duties assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Direct Reports:

• Full-Time Employees

Delegation of Work:

• Regularly assigns work to subordinate(s)

Supervision Given:

• Makes final decisions on evaluating employee performance, hiring new employees, disciplinary actions, scheduling work hours, granting time off, and making recommendations on handling employee grievances and complaints

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of trends, issues, and accepted practices relevant to higher education, student affairs, student leadership development, and student well-being
• Knowledge of campus and community resources

Skills:

• Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Strong planning and organizational skills, accompanied by strong attention to detail

Abilities:

• Ability to provide leadership, direction, and support to direct reports
• Ability to deliver excellent written and oral communication in a manner appropriate to the audience
• Ability to work through processes quickly and prioritize responsibilities
• Ability to synthesize detailed, complex information into clear and compelling recommendations

WORK LOCATION AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Primary Work Location:

• Works in an office environment

Physical Demands:

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment, which does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements
• The position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about sitting (80%), walking (10%), standing (10%), etc
• Occasional lifting, pushing, climbing, and pulling may be required
• The work environment involves minimal exposure to physical risks
• Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be required

EEO/AA

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree

Required Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years related job experience

License/Certification:

• None Required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience providing services and support to college students
• Experience working with students in distress and/or unfulfilled basic needs

About University of Houston Downtown

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions:  No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. TheStockWatcher.com called UHD a “notable institution providing high-quality online MBA programs. … UHD ensures that its graduates are well-prepared to succeed in their chosen career paths.”

UHD is one of the four distinct and separate components of the University of Houston System, which also includes the University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and University of Houston-Victoria. Instructional Sites operated by UHD are University of Houston-Downtown Northwest, University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College Kingwood, and University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College CyFair.

The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.

The University of Houston - Downtown is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution and recognizes protected classes of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, religion, age (40 and above), national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or status, and gender expression as required by federal law. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.