Basic Needs Coordinator

Basic Needs Coordinator

The Basic Needs Coordinator oversees government and nonprofit resources, provides direct support, and coordinates services for students experiencing challenges with food, housing, finances, and other basic needs within the CARE (Compassionate and Responsive Educators) System. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Students (CARE System), the Basic Needs Coordinator facilitates access to campus and community resources, coordinates referrals and interventions, and collaborates with partners to reduce barriers to student success. Through the implementation of basic needs programs and services, participation on the Student Well-Being Team, crisis response, participation in the 24/7 on-call Dean of Students Office rotation, and outreach and assessment, the Basic Needs Coordinator supports students' holistic development in alignment with Santa Clara University's Jesuit mission and commitment to cura personalis.

The Basic Needs Coordinator position is a full-time, 12-month, three-year fixed-term position ending June 30, 2029, and requires flexibility of work hours, including work performed on weekends and evenings.

The Basic Needs Coordinator serves in the Dean of Students Office's 24/7 on-call rotation. On-campus housing is available (optional) and can be discussed during the interview.

Leadership and Program Implementation

Develop, organize, lead, and evaluate all basic needs functions and activities for the campus and serve as the primary campus contact for all services, programs, policies, and protocols designed to meet student basic needs.

Oversee the development and implementation of resources, programs, events, and services to support and address students' basic needs, including, but not limited to, food, housing, and financial insecurities.

Direct the Food Insecurity and Bronco Pantry Program, including logistics, intake, fundraising, assessment, and referral responsibilities.

Serve on the Student Well-Being Team and provide timely communication and response regarding student well-being matters as they relate to basic needs resources.

Student Support, Education & Outreach

Assist students in accessing a network of support that includes on- and off-campus resources, ensuring effective advocacy, referral, and collaboration with such units as Counseling and Psychological Services, Drahmann Advising and Learning Resources Center, Financial Aid, Auxiliary Services, etc.

Provide holistic support for students by addressing food, housing, and financial insecurities. Direct students toward academic and mental health resources as appropriate to their needs.

Provide assistance with processing requests for gift funds, including, but not limited to, the Ivancovich Family Student Life Fund and Food Insecurity Gift Fund.

Effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders in support and development of the on-campus basic needs initiatives.

As funding allows, distribute emergency funding to help address students' financial concerns.

Participate in the development and implementation of departmental trainings conducted by the Dean of Students Office, such as Residence Life, New Student Programs, Faculty Development, etc.

Program Development, Strategic Planning, and Assessment

Convene and facilitate the cross-functional Basic Needs Committee.

Lead the implementation of an integrated Basic Needs Action Plan involving multiple departments/units on campus.

Partner with faculty and students to conduct robust research assessing student basic needs across the university to understand gaps in unmet student basic needs and develop innovative responses.

Lead and manage all efforts to collect, evaluate, and analyze data to support the impact and growth of each function, program, or service.

Prepare comprehensive annual reports based on findings, as requested. Provide reports to interdependent units to sustain effective collaboration and shared accountability.

Policy and Procedure Development, Interpretation, and Implementation

Develop, initiate, coordinate, review, recommend, interpret, and administer policies and procedures for the basic needs program that are effective, efficient, and conducive to the personal, social, physical, spiritual, cultural development, and general well-being of students.

Serve as a university employee who is compliant with Title IX, Violence Against Women Act, Campus Sexual Assault Victims' Bill of Rights, Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act, Clery, FERPA, Financial Aid compliance and other related legislation.

External Relations

Establish and maintain local and regional collaborative relationships and partnerships with business entities, community organizations, and educational agencies to support students and secure resources pertaining to students' basic needs.

Be the designee for basic needs governmental partnerships, working collaboratively and effectively to expand existing programs (i.e., CalFresh initiatives) to benefit students experiencing basic needs insecurities.

Collaborate and partner with the Division of Student Life, University Relations, and other university leadership for duties related to donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship.

Dean of Students On-Call Rotation

Serve as a member of the On-Call Team that provides 24/7/365 coverage for the purpose of providing response (sometimes in person), support, direction and communication to parents of students and university leaders when critical incidents happen on or off campus. Critical incidents are: medical hospitalizations due to alcohol/drug use, accidents or health conditions, mental health crisis, including suicide attempts, involuntary and voluntary hospitalizations for psychiatric services, assaults, including sexual misconduct, missing student, and death of a student.

Contribute to the regular review, assessment, and updating of on-call protocols and policies to ensure clear, consistent, and effective responses to student safety, well-being, and conduct concerns in alignment with institutional priorities and best practices.

Provides Work Direction

• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises and evaluates student employees (undergraduate and graduate).
• Provides direction and oversight of SCU community volunteers.

General Guidelines

• Recommends initiatives and implements changes to improve quality and services.
• Identifies and determines cause of problems; develops and presents recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices.
• Maintains contact with customers and solicits feedback for improved services.
• Maximizes productivity through use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives.
• Researches and develops resources that create timely and efficient workflow.
• Prepares progress reports; informs supervisor of project status; and deviation from goals. Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all operational functions.
• Prepares and submits reports as requested and required.
• Develops and implements guidelines to support the functions of the unit.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfy each essential duty. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred. This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree required. A master's degree in higher education administration, college student services, social work, education, counseling, food systems, or related fields is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience addressing student well-being issues, student basic needs, or equivalent experience in a non-educational setting is required.
• Minimum of 3 years of work in an academic setting; counseling, student life, social work, and development preferred.
• Proficiency in Maxient case management software preferred.

Knowledge

• Understanding and support of the Jesuit tradition of education and a commitment to the fundamental values of service to others, community, and diversity, as well as a commitment to and demonstration of skills, knowledge, and awareness to serve the unique needs of the diverse campus community of Santa Clara University.
• Familiarity with food security/food systems and knowledge of diverse and broad basic needs programs, services, and resources.
• Knowledge of federal, state, local and community resources and relevant guidelines, including Second Harvest Food Bank and CalFresh Healthy Living (SNAP-ED).

Skills

• Competency and experience in working with students of different cultural, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds with special sensitivity to how personal experiences affect the transition into the University environment.
• Commitment to exceptional customer service, both internal and external to the university.
• Organizational skills, including time management, multitasking, and project completion.
• Evidence of strong analytical and problem-solving skills; utilization of data to optimize efficiencies and measure outcomes and utilization of technology, database management, social media, and digital communication within an operational context.
• Oral and written communication skills, including experience in delivering workshops and speaking to groups of various sizes.

Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to complete projects of varying complexity from inception through implementation and assessment with minimal