NACE JobWire

The Director of the Arts & Sciences (A&S) Connector will create and lead the A&S Connector. The A&S Connector is a new undergraduate resource center that is a key component of the undergraduate education initiative, Arts & Sciences in Action, defined in the 2030 Strategic Plan for Arts & Sciences. The Connector is intended to serve as a nexus point to support our students in navigating the diverse range of experiential learning opportunities available within A&S, across BU’s professional schools and campus offices, and in the Boston-area and world at-large. In establishing the Connector as a resource for A&S undergraduates - a student body of over 7,000, the Director will identify and promote existing opportunities and encourage the development of new experiential learning opportunities for students within courses, on campus, and beyond, as needed, working closely with Academic Advising, the Center for Career Development, and A&S Departments and Programs as well as university offices that provide experiential learning opportunities such as Study Abroad, Student Activities, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Projects Office, and The Center for Community Services.

Detailed Description:

The Director of the Arts & Sciences (A&S) Connector will promote and complement the value of the A&S liberal arts educational experience, by supporting the integration of experiential learning for A&S students throughout their undergraduate careers. At its heart, an Arts & Sciences education enables our students to explore the connections between their learning, the world, and possible career pathways. The Director, through the work of the Connector, will help facilitate, encourage, and promote this exploration and discovery.

The Director will take the lead in creating and running the A&S Connector. The A&S Connector is a new undergraduate resource center that is a key component of the undergraduate education initiative, Arts & Sciences in Action, defined in the 2030 Strategic Plan for Arts & Sciences. The Connector is intended to serve as a physical and virtual center to support our students in navigating the diverse range of experiential learning opportunities available within A&S, across BU’s professional schools and campus offices, and in the Boston-area and world at-large. These opportunities can range from service learning and alternative spring break, in-course projects with external partners, archives and fieldwork, research internships and apprenticeships with faculty, student leadership and clubs, entrepreneurship and maker spaces, summer internships with local institutions, study abroad – and more. The Director will report to the Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and oversee an annual budget of approximately $50,000 for programming and marketing.

In establishing the Connector as a resource for students, the Director will identify and promote existing opportunities and encourage the development of new experiential learning opportunities for students within courses, on campus, and beyond, as needed. The Connector will support all A&S undergraduates, a diverse student body, across the full range of disciplines in A&S. The Director will work closely with Academic Advising, the Center for Career Development, and A&S Departments and Programs to provide students with the experiences and connections that will support and empower them in their exploration of all that their liberal arts educational experience has to offer, while propelling these students in defining and refining their academic and professional goals. The Director will also work closely with university offices that provide experiential learning opportunities such as Study Abroad, Student Activities, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Projects Office, and The Center for Community Service to encourage A&S students to make experiential learning a component of students’ academic plan. Further, this work will also include connecting with alumni for programming, mentoring/networking, and internship opportunities, as well as leveraging alumni data and stories to illustrate the opportunities and pathways available to our students.

Specifically, the Director will be responsible for:

• Developing a strategy and an operational plan for the Connector with an outline of programming, interim milestones, communications and promotion, and markers of success
• Collaboratively working across campus to create, support, and promote experiential learning opportunities offered by partner units across the University, such as the Center for Career Development and Academic Advising, Alumni Relations, CAS departments, centers, and programs, BU’s professional schools, BU Libraries, etc.
• Designing and running programming, for instance panels and information sessions that introduce students to the resources available in the Connector, the range of experiential learning opportunities available and how to find them
• Implementing structures for cataloging the full range of opportunities and experiential learning pathways available to our students
• Establishing an effective promotional and awareness building campaign for the Connector
• Establish staffing plan and manage staff; at present one administrative support position is allocated, and there is a possibility to incorporate student staffing
• Providing fiscal management of the Connector
• Measuring progress and student satisfaction with Connector resources and programming, as well as assessing areas where opportunities or resources need to be enhanced or expanded to support student experiential learning needs

A cover letter is required for consideration.

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Master's Degree preferred
• Eight years of direct experience required, with at least five years of management experience, including oversight of new initiatives, collaborating with leadership positions, and staff supervision responsibilities
• Experience administering experiential learning in an academic setting
• Proven ability to build and lead, while working collaboratively with peers to develop and maintain strong relationships
• Excellent management, technology, organizational, presentation, and communication skills
• Experience with operational standards, metrics, and assessment
• Experience with a diverse and college-aged student population; preferably, experience working with international students and their unique needs
• Commitment to establishing and maintaining an inviting and inclusive environment

Please note all newly hired staff and faculty, will need to be in compliance with Boston University’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirement within 30 days of date of hire.  You must upload your vaccine documentation or request a medical or religious exemption (instructions).  For further information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please visit the Back2BU site.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.