Vice President Student Development and Dean of Students

At Holy Cross, we are focused on creating a world‑class workforce by attracting and retaining employees dedicated to fostering a culture of professionalism, pride, mutual trust, and respect—a culture that values appreciation and recognition and empowers each of us to flourish individually and collectively. We seek candidates who are inspired by our mission and values and who are eager to make a meaningful difference on our campus.

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College of the Holy Cross
• Full Time
• JREQ‑000256

The Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students (VP/Dean) serves as the College's chief student affairs officer and a member of the President's leadership team. A servant leader, the VP/Dean provides visionary, mission‑driven leadership for the Division of Student Development and advances a comprehensive philosophy of student learning, formation, and engagement that reflects the values and traditions of Jesuit Catholic higher education in our liberal arts residential context.

Reporting directly to the President, the VP/Dean is responsible for divisional strategy, culture, resource stewardship, policies and systems, and institutional collaboration to ensure an integrated, student‑centered, transformational living and learning experience. The VP/Dean serves as a key advisor to the President and leadership team colleagues on student life, campus climate, student wellbeing, and community standards, and leads the alignment of student development priorities with the College's strategic plan, goals and long‑range financial framework.

• Serve as a member of the President's leadership team, contributing to and aligning as a division with institutional strategy, long‑range planning, financial sustainability, and cross‑divisional collaboration.
• Articulate and advance a holistic vision of student development consistent with the characteristics of Jesuit Catholic higher education, the College's strategic plan, goals and priorities, and mission.
• Lead divisional strategic planning, assessment, policy/process development and continuous improvement. Design and implement a comprehensive, outcomes‑based assessment framework that defines clear KPIs, benchmarks performance against peer and aspirational institutions, and leverages dashboards and advanced analytics to monitor progress, inform data‑driven decisions, and ensure transparency and accountability for results.
• Provide executive leadership and accountability for the Division, setting vision, priorities, and performance expectations consistent with institutional processes, policies and strategy.
• Oversee divisional organizational design and talent strategy to maximize impact. Evaluate and align the Division's structure, staffing levels, and role clarity to student needs and strategic priorities; streamline and standardize processes; and leverage technology, shared services, and other innovations to improve effectiveness, efficiency, service quality and student outcomes without headcount growth.
• In support of holistic student learning and formation both inside and outside of the classroom, partner closely with senior administrative leaders, faculty and staff outside the Division of Student Development to advance the overall student residential experience.
• Lead divisional change management efforts in alignment with institutional strategic priorities and long‑range financial planning.
• Provide executive oversight of divisional budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation, ensuring alignment with institutional guardrails and responsible stewardship of resources.
• Lead ongoing professional development for the Division of Student Development to ensure staff are prepared to meet students' changing needs, engage with and provide an inclusive environment for a diverse student body, and educate effectively in our Jesuit Catholic, liberal arts context.
• Provide executive oversight of student conduct and community standards. Establish and ensure consistent development, education, and implementation of related policies and processes, and serve as an appellate officer when appropriate.
• In…