Careers

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Evans School of Public Policy is the nation’s #3 ranked school of public policy and administration (#2 among public universities).  Its purpose is to inspire public service and democratize public policy by advancing a mission of educating leaders, generating knowledge, and hosting communities to co-create solutions to pressing societal problems.  In this search, we are recruiting someone to step into a leadership role in this organization who demonstrates experience working with and valuing diverse communities and populations as well as a commitment to our goals of dismantling systemic racism in our institution and our field.

As a member of the senior leadership team, The Assistant Dean of Students provides strategic leadership for advancing the Evans School purpose and mission in ways that reflect our shared values of equity, courage, and service. This person leads the Office of Student Affairs.

The Assistant Dean of Students primary responsibilities are to lead the strategic engagement and support of over 400 students in the Evans School's educational programs, including the master’s in public administration (MPA), executive master’s in public administration (EMPA), doctorate in public policy and management (PhD), and undergraduate minor. This includes leading our efforts in admissions & recruitment, fellowship awards & financial aid, student life & wellness, academic advising, student conduct & retention, and career development.

The Assistant Dean serves as the principal liaison between the administration, faculty and students for any aspect of student life, providing leadership and strategic direction to ensure a positive student experience. This positive experience begins with prospective students and continues by actively fostering a sense of inclusion and community for current students in and outside the classroom. It also focuses upon helping them transition into careers and professional experiences following their Evans School education through internships, professional development programming, and other career development support. The position routinely benchmarks the Evans School’s programs with other top ten schools in the country and represents us in national professional associations.

Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership (35% FTE)
Provide guidance, direction and coordination for the Evans School Admissions and Student Services team, leading with a deep commitment to an inclusive culture and understanding that our people are the drivers of our success.

Lead parts of the School’s Equity & Inclusion Blueprint related to student recruitment, retention and success.  Mentor team members efforts to develop and implement the tactics articulated in the Blueprint and other actions that move Evans toward being an anti-racist organization.  Applying anti-racist lens to all of the work of the Office of Student Affairs.

Align the student affairs operations to our mission, purpose, and values.

Using accountability structures (annual budget process, admissions targets, etc.), provide oversight to our implementation of holistic admission processes including preparatory programs, such as the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) program to allow students to succeed.  Lead enrollment management.  Oversee financial award process for all Evans School degree programs to meet admission, retention, and completion objectives and make recommendations to the Dean.   

Represent the Evans School in national associations including, Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) consortium, NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration), and Volker Alliance which present opportunities for field building activity and high-profile visibility. Stay current on national trends in public affairs graduate education and make recommendations for implementation of promising student affairs practices at the Evans School.

Lead efforts to better support and integrate the School’s growing international student body with domestic students including serving as a liaison with the International Student Services office, developing programming and affinity groups specially tailored to their needs and interests, supporting faculty in efforts to internationalize the curriculum.

Strategy Development (35% FTE)
Research peer institutions and continually benchmark to admissions, student support and career practices, cost, and other competitive attributes. Participate in communities of practice at the University of Washington to build trusted colleagues relevant to this role and the School’s mission and values.

Working with the faculty Undergraduate Program Director, develop cost effective ways to provide academic and career development support for undergraduate students which do not duplicate other campus resources.

Participate in development of the Next Gen Civic Leader Corps on the Seattle campus and engage with leaders across the UW system to help support growth in the Corps.

Working with the Director of Professional Learning Programs, develop cost effective ways to support students engaged in new educational programs that serve a range of mid-career professionals and other graduate students.

Work with the Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning to refresh institutional relationships for the Global MPA degree in the post-COVID era.

Management (30%FTE)
Engage in continuous quality improvement of our comprehensive admissions process to recruit high caliber, culturally diverse, national, and international students for all educational programs.

Working with faculty Program Directors, oversee ongoing innovation and execution of admitted student open house events, new student orientations, graduation, and other major student related School events and activities.

Oversee development of array of student programming and activities that reflect our shared values of equity, courage, and service related to their engagement, wellbeing, and professional development.  Support team in soliciting information about employer perspectives on training needs, public service employment trends and changing student career needs.

Meet with student leaders at regularly scheduled meetings related to issues pertaining to student life.

Ensure appropriate staffing of all student affairs functions, including use of student and part-time workers, within budgetary constraints.  Support transition within the overall team to a more integrated staffing model.  Assure members feel connected to our larger purpose and values by continuing the well-established collaborative approaches to problem solving.

Manage the analysis, review, creation, and interpretation of student policies and procedures. Support the Graduate Program Coordinator and faculty in issues related to student conduct.

Manage complex student conduct matters and issues pertaining to student progress, safety, and wellness.  Support staff who are working with students who are struggling academically and/or personally and help them connect to Disability Resources for Students (DRS), UW Safe Campus, UW Counseling Center, UW Veterans Center, International Student Services, and other relevant units.  

Ensure implementation of the School’s Equity and Inclusion Blueprint related to student recruitment and retention.  Support implementation of Title IX for Evans School student experiences.

Work with academic Program Directors and Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning to improve efficiency in implementation of our educational programs.

Other duties as assigned

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Dean of the Evans School.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position includes responsibility for seven fulltime staff including Director of Admissions and Director of Student Services, Assistant Director of Career Services, Assistant Director of Student Services, Program Managers and Student Affairs Coordinator.  Student workers also help to support the office.

REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate for this position will be an experienced leader with a demonstrated track record in higher education sectors, with management and operational experience.  The candidate must thrive working with individuals and groups of different types.

Within this overall picture, the successful candidate will have:
•Master’s degree in public affairs and policy, higher education, student affairs or related field and at least five years of progressively responsible experience in management or student services.
•A passion for the mission and purpose of the Evans School including our values of equity, courage, and service.
•Management of units with various functional tasks and supervisory experience in a collaborative team.
•Proven ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
•Attentive to detail but able to relate details to larger program activities and goals. 
•Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well with individuals at all organizational levels.  

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Knowledge and understanding of current trends and research into student success factors in higher education;
•Knowledge of University of Washington;  
•Experience using UW databases and systems including SDB, Canvas, Catalyst, MyGrad and/or related tools.

Working Environment/Conditions
The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced student services office.  The position requires attendance at evening school events as requested by the Dean. The position will require extensive local travel throughout the year to market the School’s continuum of programs and out-of-state travel to attend graduate recruiting events. Some evening and weekend work will be required.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.