Assistant Director III - FORWARD

Assistant Director III - FORWARD

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Posting Details

Come and join the Bearkat community!

Named after Texas' legendary hero, General Sam Houston, the university boasts a rich historical legacy that resonates with the spirit of Texas, which provides a balance between a peaceful, natural setting and proximity to urban amenities. With a student population of over 21,000, SHSU offers a vibrant and dynamic community. SHSU has a small town feel with large scale opportunities. Located in the Piney Woods region of East Texas and just an hour drive north of Houston, Huntsville provides area residents with a sense of community and belonging.

SHSU offers compelling options for individuals seeking a fulfilling and impactful career including a superior benefit package, competitive salaries and a flexible work environment fostering work/life balance. SHSU offers programs that support a healthy work-life balance, contributing to employee well-being and job satisfaction, as well as, professional development opportunities with our educational assistance and dependent assistance programs.

Posting Information This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.

Requisition	202600314S
Title	Assistant Director III - FORWARD
FLSA status	Exempt
Hiring Salary	This position is a pay grade 10. Please see Pay Grade Table at: https://pa-hrsuite-production.s3.amazonaws.com/116/docs/636763.pdf
Occupational Category	Professional
Department	Student Success Initiatives
Division	Division of Academic Affairs
Open Date	10/07/2026
Open Until Filled	Yes
Educational and Experience Requirement	Bachelor’s degree in related field. Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, education or similar degree preferred. Six years of experience in a related field. Two years of case management experience conducting intake assessments, service plans, and case management preferred. Additional education may be considered in lieu of experience.
Nature & Purpose of Position	Assists the director of Student Success Initiatives with various initiatives and objectives. Performs highly complex managerial work providing direction and guidance in operations and planning in the department of Student Success Initiatives.
Primary Responsibilities	Assists the director and other managerial staff by directing program activities of the FORWARD program. Provides case management and oversight for programming, referrals, and coaching of students in the FORWARD program for students with experiences in foster care including students at-risk of being unhoused. Develops relationships with external agencies to assist students with matters that could hinder their college success. Provides consultation and guidance to participants; consults with faculty and staff regarding student needs, interventions and progress; arranges workshops, presentations, documents and monitors student progress, assists with providing training for near-peers and participants, as well as monitors the academic progress of participants. Oversees the FORWARD program to ensure students receive optimal support to positively affect academic and social aspects. Collects data, provides monitoring, and supports related to student success. Provides follow-up and follow-through support services for these students. Provides reports on progress and assertively follow ups with students. Provides case management and direct service engagement related to housing, education, employment, mental health, and well-being for young adults with a history of foster care. Conducts intake and needs assessments from a trauma-informed perspective; refers participants to campus based and/or other community resources as appropriate. Follows up and tracks utilization. Develops holistic academic success plans in collaboration with youth from a trauma-informed and strengths-based perspective that prioritizes urgent needs and confidentiality. Develops and administers programming for FORWARD students and develop and maintain curriculum for the Supervised Independent Living (SIL) program to assist with student accountability and success. Collaborates effectively with campus stakeholders to coordinate workshops, campus tours, outreach, and recruitment activities. Keeps abreast of laws, regulations, and policies associated with foster, adopted, and homeless students. Collects and reports data on the FORWARD program. Serves as co-chair of the FORWARD committee and represents the program at various meetings and/or conferences. Provides task supervision of student workers and/or peer advocates. Performs other duties as assigned.
Other Specifications	Experience supporting high-need students with experiences in foster care and at-risk student populations. Knowledge of Federal and State Law and policies related to child welfare and education. Demonstrated independent decision-making and problem-solving ability. Effective interpersonal skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws. Ability to manage business functions. Represents the department to the public and key stakeholders. This position may be designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA).
Full Time Part Time	Full Time
Position Number
Quicklink	https://shsu.peopleadmin.com/postings/48859

EEO Statement

EEO Statement

Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and Smoke/Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or protected veteran status. The University takes seriously the initiative to ensure equal opportunity in the workforce and to comply with Title VII as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Sam Houston State University is an “at will” employer. Employees with a contract will have additional terms and conditions. Security-sensitive positions at SHSU require background checks in accordance with Education Code §51.215. Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Letter of Recommendation 1
4. Letter of Recommendation 2

Optional Documents

Screening Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How did you learn about this position?
   • The Chronicle of Higher Education
   • TWC - Work in Texas
   • Inside Higher Ed
   • Higher Ed Jobs
   • HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
   • SHSU Website
   • SHSU Employee
   • Other
2. If your response to the question above was "SHSU Employee" please indicate employee's name and department.

   (Open Ended Question)

3. If your response to the question above was "Other" please indicate from what source.

   (Open Ended Question)

4. * Describe how your personal & professional experience(s) has prepared you for this position and to be of assistance to the students we support.

   (Open Ended Question)