• Job Description

  Req#: 4247274
  BTC is a premier higher education institution working to provide student-centered, high quality professional technical education throughout Whatcom County and is the only technical college serving northwest Washington State. The College is uniquely positioned to offer exceptional training and educational opportunities to area residents and employers. Founded in 1957 as Bellingham Vocational Institute, it has continued to offer high-quality education in a supportive, student-first environment. BTC has been serving its region with workforce education degrees and certificates to approximately 6000 students per year. The college provides professional technical programs and courses, adult basic education, English Language Acquisition programs, academic courses, community education, a few direct transfer degree opportunities, and two Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degrees. BTC works closely with regional employers and other partners to develop programs and train students to fill regional workforce demands and support economic development.
  
  Bellingham Technical College (BTC) invites applications for one full-time Assistant Director of Student Diversity, Outreach and Retention. This position is anticipated to start about March 1, 2024. This is a professional exempt position, non-represented, and is not eligible for overtime. This position reports to the Executive Director of Student Access and Success.
  
  The Assistant Director is responsible for developing and conducting regular outreach services and engagement activities that support increasing the enrollment and retention of diverse students. This position will develop, implement, and evaluate Bellingham Technical College’s (BTC) recruitment and retention strategies for students of historically underrepresented backgrounds. The Assistant Director will collaborate internal partners, higher education institutions, high schools, community organizations and others to increase recruitment and retention of a diverse student body at BTC.
  
  Bellingham rests in the scenic northwest corner of Washington State where the Cascade Mountains meet the Salish Sea. The city is also linked by the I-5 corridor to the world-class resources of the metropolitan areas of Seattle to the south and Vancouver, Canada to the north. Bellingham and Whatcom County have experienced steady growth that has not only stimulated the area's economy but also created a greater awareness and appreciation of its cultural diversity. The region is rooted in Indigenous life and history. Bellingham is located between and on the accustomed lands of the Lhaq’temish or Xwlemi (Lummi) Nation, and of the Noxws’a’?aq (Nooksack) Tribe of the Coast Salish people whose members continue to shape its future. The Bellingham area is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with dozens of parks, miles of trails, and numerous lakes and rivers for recreation. Whatcom County has nurtured a balanced mix of small business, agriculture, manufacturing, and heavy industry that includes family farms, boat-builders, refineries, aerospace companies, and more. The city of Bellingham, including the Fairhaven Historical District, has a thriving business community and a vibrant downtown culture. Local events include the Bellingham Farmers Market, Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival, Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival, Lummi Stommish Water Festival, Downtown Art Walk, Greek Festival, Bellingham Pride Parade, and the world-renowned Ski-To-Sea race. With Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College, and Northwest Indian College also calling Bellingham home, higher education has a strong presence in the community.
  • Demonstrate cultural competence, including awareness and understanding of historically underrepresented populations, and create an educational and work environment that affirms commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (DEI);
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including marketing, instruction and student services, to develop and implement of an annual recruitment plan to attract, engage, and optimize admission of new students; assess effectiveness of recruitment tools and events;
  • Establish and maintain a culturally appropriate student outreach program to ensure both perspective and current students to enroll and persist at BTC;
  • Develop, coordinate and deliver in-person and virtual recruitment and outreach programing including information sessions, campus tours, and related recruitment efforts;
  • Design, develop, and evaluate strategies for assessing and strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus for all students;
  • Collaborate with the college community to ensure college policies, procedures, and practices are equitable for all students with the goal of closing equity gaps;
  • Support the development, implementation, and evaluations of student professional development/training to promote cultural understanding and competency in support of anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion;
  • Collaborate with both internal and external partners including the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Director of Student Life to bring learning, training, speakers and/or diversity events and programs to the College;
  • Collaborate and build relationships with local community groups and resources to promote BTC and recruit diverse students; Collaborating with high school counselors and community partners to promote a pathway to higher education for historically underrepresented and marginalized populations;
  • Manage outreach budget and monitor expenditures;
  • Support the College’s bias incident policies and procedures in coordination with different institutional structures and committees that address hate crimes and incidents, conduct, and behavioral concerns;
  • Serve as the College Representative to the Washington State Multicultural Student Services Director’s Council (MSSDC) and appropriate outside organizations;
  • Oversee hiring, training, coaching, supervision, and evaluation of outreach and admissions specialists, and other assigned staff, in accordance with agreements, laws, and college policies and procedures;
  • Promote and enhance data-informed practice under a continuous improvement model; using an equity framework for assessment, evaluation, recommendations;
  • Utilize data to analyze opportunities to engage prospective and newly onboarding students, monitor retention trends, and inform recruiting and retention best practices and activities; working collaboratively with colleagues in both student services and instruction;
  • Regularly integrate learning from professional development;
  • May be delegated authority to act on behalf of the Executive Director;
  • Participate in meetings and committees as requested and assigned including the Student Services Leadership Team;
  • Perform other related duties as required.
  Minimum Qualifications:
  
  • Bachelor’s degree; AND
  • At least three years of full-time experience in academic/career or counseling, case management;
  • OR an equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the applicant with knowledge and skills to perform the job will be considered;
  • Knowledge of and experience in addressing matters such as, but not limited to: recruiting and retaining diverse students; creating welcoming environments for all people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, non-native English speakers, immigrants, and people of varying abilities; addressing inequities and conflicts related to race, power, white privilege, institutional racism, and implicit bias.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience;
  • Experience working with and on behalf of underrepresented and marginalized groups;
  • Proven ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
  Preferred Qualifications:
  
  • Experience leading successful teams;
  • Experience in working in higher education;
  • Budget management experience with demonstrated fiscal responsibility;
  • Demonstrated use of data for continuous improvement;
  • Proven experience developing and leading events;
  • Multilingual with fluency to speak another language(s).
  Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below represent the characteristics and performance expectations of the position. Applicants do not necessarily need to enter the position with all of these knowledge, skills, and abilities.
  
  
  • Ability to design, deliver, facilitate, and assess culturally responsive, equitable, and engaging outreach, student programs and services;
  • Ability to design, deliver, facilitate, and assess culturally responsive, equitable, and engaging programs and services;
  • Ability to provide professional development and training to adult learners;
  • Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, particularly those which are underrepresented in higher education and to actively engage in work that supports student learning, development, retention, and recruitment in an equitable and inclusive college environment;
  • Knowledge of issues of concern to BIPOC as well as the importance of intersectional identities;
  • Ability to clearly explain and act in accordance with the terms of FERPA regulations for protection of student records;
  • Strong oral/written communication skills;
  • Awareness of current DEI-related laws, rules, regulations, research, best practices and trends;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills demonstrating cultural humility to effectively and sensitively work with students, staff, faculty, and community partners;
  • Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, including active listening skills, strong group presentation skills, respect for confidentiality of student advising sessions, and effective representation of the office and the College with external groups;
  • Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative and collaboration as a part of a small and innovative team;
  • High level of confidence and adaptability with technology;
  • Ability to work occasional evenings and/or weekends;
  • Ability to travel occasionally.
  Physical Work Environment:
  This position interacts directly and frequently with employees, students and community members. This position requires frequent use of computers and exposure to terminal screens; frequent oral, written and auditory communication with others; working in an open office environment with frequent interruptions and distractions; and working with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Ability to travel and work weekends and evenings when appropriate or needed is required.
  
  Compensation & Benefits:
  The salary is $6,169 per month ($74,028 per year).
  
  This position receives 8 hours per month of sick leave, 16 hours per month of vacation leave, 24 hours of personal leave per calendar year, and 12 paid state/college holidays per calendar year. Benefits also include a Washington State insurance package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability; a retirement benefits package, with choice between the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Plan 3 or the State Board Retirement Plan (SBRP) 401A plan TIAA. Additional optional benefits include ability to participate in a medical Flexible Spending plan, Limited Purpose Flexible Spending plan, or Health Savings Account; Dependent Care Assistance; discounts for automobile and homeowner insurance, tuition waiver; two voluntary investment (not matched) programs - TIAA (403b) or the State Deferred Compensation (457) plan. Employee Assistance Program (EAP); up to 21 days of military leave; up to 5 days of paid bereavement leave, paid civil/jury duty, ability to participate in a shared leave program; and up to 2 days of unpaid holiday for reasons of faith or conscience.
  
  Work Schedule:
  Work schedule will vary but is generally Monday through Friday, during the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday, about 40 hours per week; however, schedule may vary including working more than 40 hours as needed. The position will be expected to work onsite full-time with possibility of remote work in the future. Some regional travel may be required.
  
  Application Procedures and Deadline:
  Required application materials must be completed and submitted online at http://www.btc.edu/jobs and received by 5 p.m. on January 4, 2024, for priority consideration. Application materials received after this date and time may be considered until the position is filled. More information about Bellingham Technical College is at www.btc.edu or contact the Human Resources Office at (360) 752-8354. You will be contacted if selected for an interview. At this time, BTC is not sponsoring H-1B Visa's.
  
  Required Application Materials:
  
  • Current resume or Vitae of education, experience and other relevant achievements
  • Cover letter to Human Resources addressing how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications (no more than two pages, single sided)
  It is recommended you print off and review the position announcement and application process requirements prior to final submittal of your application. Be sure the work history and education fields of the online application are complete, and that a resume and cover letter are attached. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Official transcripts of any degrees used to satisfy the minimum qualification requirements will be required upon hire, but not as part of the application process.
  
  Initial interviews are expected to be held between February 5-9, 2024. Finalists may be asked to return for additional interviews.

• About the company

  Bellingham Technical College is a leading educational institution and the only technical college in northwest Washington State. We educate a diverse population of over 8,000 students in 37 associate programs and 51 certificate programs. Program...

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