Sr. Asst Dean for Student Success and Community

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Senior Assistant Dean for Student Success and Community is a full-time, twelve-month leadership position within the Office of Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) at New England Conservatory (NEC). Reporting to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Academic Life, the Senior Assistant Dean plays a central role in supporting student wellbeing, engagement, accessibility, and community development across the institution.

The Senior Assistant Dean serves as a highly visible, student-facing administrator who fosters a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive campus environment that promotes students’ academic, artistic, and personal success. The role provides leadership in student support and care coordination, student engagement initiatives, accessibility services, and holistic wellbeing programming while collaborating closely with faculty, staff, and campus partners.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong understanding of the unique artistic, academic, cultural, and personal challenges faced by conservatory students, along with a commitment to supporting students within an intensive arts-focused environment.

Evening and occasional weekend responsibilities are required in support of student programming, institutional events, New Student Orientation, and Commencement.

Essential Functions

Student Support and Coordination

• Serve as a key member of the student CARE team, supporting coordinated outreach, referrals, student support, and follow-up for students of concern.
• Provide leadership in addressing day-to-day student concerns and collaborate with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Academic Life on elevated or ongoing matters requiring coordinated intervention.
• Support students in accessing institutional resources and support systems while maintaining appropriate documentation and confidentiality standards.
• Participate in CARE Team processes and collaborate with campus partners to support student wellbeing and safety.
• Support the engagement, wellbeing, and community integration of international students in partnership with the Assistant Dean for International Student Support.

Accessibility Services and Accommodation Coordination

• Lead coordination of accessibility accommodations and support services for students with disabilities in accordance with ADA, Section 504, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Support students through accommodation, leave, withdrawal, and other student support processes in collaboration with campus partners.
• Oversee coordination and communication of approved academic and residential accommodations in collaboration with campus partners.
• Collaborate with campus partners to support student wellbeing, accessibility, and equitable access to the student experience.
• Support institutional accessibility compliance efforts and ongoing refinement of related policies, procedures, and educational resources.
• Develop and facilitate accessibility-related training and consultation opportunities for faculty and staff in collaboration with academic leadership.

Student Community and Engagement

• Oversee The Huddle, NEC’s student community and resource center, including supervision of student workers and community-focused programming initiatives.
• Develop and implement initiatives that enhance student engagement, community building, leadership development, and participation in campus life.
• Oversee student clubs and affinity groups, including registration, leadership support, advisor coordination, and event planning.
• Manage budgets and resources associated with student engagement initiatives and community programming.

Wellbeing and Mental Health Support

• Lead initiatives that support students’ physical, emotional, mental, and social wellbeing.
• Collaborate regularly with Counseling and Wellness staff and other campus partners to support coordinated student care efforts and responsive programming.
• Support initiatives that foster resilience, belonging, and student connection.

Collaboration and Institutional Engagement

• Collaborate closely with the Assistant Dean for Academic Advising and advising team to support a holistic approach to student success.
• Work closely with faculty, staff, and students to identify and address student needs across the institution.
• Lead, coordinate, and oversee major student-facing institutional events and initiatives, including New Student Orientation and Commencement.
• Serve on committees, working groups, and institutional task forces.
• Support broader Office of Academic and Student Affairs goals and student success initiatives.

Confidentiality and Reporting Responsibilities

• Maintain appropriate confidentiality standards consistent with institutional policy and professional expectations.
• Serve as a responsible employee under Title IX policy and follow all institutional reporting obligations unless otherwise designated by institutional policy.

Qualifications Required

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, social work, disability studies, music, music education, or another related field.
• Minimum of five years of professional experience in student affairs, student support, accessibility services, student life, or related higher education work.
• Experience supporting students through case management, crisis response, or coordinated care processes.
• Knowledge of ADA, Section 504, and accessibility accommodation practices within higher education.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive student matters with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and student-centered campus community.

Preferred

• Experience working in conservatory, arts-focused, or higher education environments.
• Experience supervising staff and/or student leaders.
• Experience developing and implementing student engagement, wellbeing, or community-building initiatives.
• Experience working with international student populations.
• Familiarity with student support databases and case management systems.

NEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Annual Clery Report

In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. This report will provide the reader with a record of statistics regarding crimes that were reported in the NEC community during the previous three years as well as College policies and procedures, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. This report may be accessed here. A paper copy can be requested by contacting NEC's Director of Public Safety at 290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115.