Director, Learning Commons at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida

Job Description:

The Learning Commons at Santa Fe College (SF) is designed to support the academic success of all Santa Fe College students by offering free tutoring, success coaching, and skill-building workshops in-person and online. The Learning Commons partners with students, faculty, staff, and college departments and centers to develop sustainable, accessible and student-focused support systems.



The Learning Commons Director provides leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for all aspects of the Northwest Learning Commons and is responsible for developing and improving student support services, including tutoring, academic coaching, and co-curricular programs. The Director promotes a student growth mindset and collaborates with faculty and staff to strengthen student support services that foster personal, academic, and professional achievement. Additionally, the Director oversees recruitment and training of Learning Commons staff, manages the budget, evaluates Learning Commons services, ensures compliance with federal and institutional policies and regulations, and fosters professional partnerships to expand academic support.

Responsibilities and Duties Include:

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  Provides strategic leadership and administrative supervision for the NW Learning Commons, including oversight of staff onboarding and training, provision of student services and programs, ongoing service enhancements, operation reviews for cost-effectiveness, and budget creation and management.

  
  


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  Oversees recruitment and hiring of all full- and part-time staff in collaboration with the Learning Commons Coordinators; implements performance appraisals and evaluations; provides professional development opportunities.

  
  


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  Provides direct service to students by developing and offering success-focused programs, personalized coaching, and tutoring assistance to help them achieve their academic goals.

  
  


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  Partners with faculty and staff collegewide to develop student learning assignments and create activities that increase student success and retention.

  
  


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  Promotes the development of co-curricular assignments and ePortfolio expansion with academic and student services departments, when appropriate.

  
  


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  Develops programs and opportunities for students to develop a growth mindset and understand metacognition to support their personal, academic, and professional success.

  
  


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  Creates and implements annual plans for service offerings, cross-departmental collaborations, event attendance, and student academic success activities.

  
  


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  Oversees the development, update, and use of software related to tutoring, academic success coaching, and library services; manages access and permissions to SF accounts and student services software within areas of assigned responsibility.

  
  


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  Develops, leads and provides accurate and timely data assessments and reports of services and resource usage; recommends institutional practices to improve effectiveness of services.

  
  


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  Contributes ideas and feedback on how the Learning Commons can support the college's strategic goals and funding plans related to student learning, development and retention.

  
  


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  Create and oversee strategic partnerships for expanding tutoring and coaching services across all departments and centers.

  
  


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  Leads the completion and submission of new applications and renewals for Tutor and Peer Coaching programs.

  
  


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  Promotes innovation and best practices in Learning Commons services and outreach activities; maintains a working knowledge of nationwide trends.

  
  


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  Manages annual program budgets, monitors and reviews expenditures regularly, maintains equipment inventory records, and prepares detailed budget reports, including tutoring cost projections.

  
  


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  Collaborates with department chairs and applicable senior leadership to propose course fees necessary for the operation and expansion of tutoring services.

  
  


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  Promotes the Learning Commons to internal and external communities, presenting opportunities and activities to participate in increasing student engagement.

  
  


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  Serves on internal and external committees, including ad hoc and screening committees; represents student academic support services and the development of retention programs in academic affairs.

  
  


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  Manages escalated student and staff issues in a professional and timely manner in accordance with College Rules and policies.

  
  


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  Ensures all federal and college regulations are met related to privacy, security, and confidentiality of student information, and train all staff on FERPA and other sensitive information control.

  
  


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  Complies with all published College Rules, procedures, guidelines, and laws/regulations governing public employees, including but not limited to those related to document retention and destruction, FERPA, and confidentiality.

  
  


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  Strictly honors the privacy, security, and confidentiality of student records and other sensitive information according to appropriate state, federal, and college regulations, policies, and procedures.

  
  


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  Provides service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible, and professional engagement.

  
  


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  Performs other duties as assigned.

  
  

Reports to: Vice Provost

QUALIFICATIONS

Required: A Master's degree in areas of education or in an academic field relevant to academic skills development with two (2) years of work experience in higher education and/or in academic advisement, student support services, or a closely related area or a combination of closely related education and/or experience equal to eight (8) years. Prior supervisory experience is required.

Additional Requirements: A criminal background check will be conducted.

Preferred: A Ph.D. or D.Ed. in an appropriate field of education, or in an academic field related to academic skills development. Prior experience with both higher education teaching and student support beyond the classroom, as well as experience with diagnostic and classroom assessment, computer-based tracking and education advisement.

General Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

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  Ability to work successfully in a multi-cultural environment.

  
  


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  Adaptability to Change - able to be flexible and supportive, able to positively and proactively assimilate change in rapid growth environment.

  
  


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  Analytical Aptitude & Problem Solving - able to analyze information, problems, situations, practices and/or procedures, collect and interpret data, reason logically, establish facts, identify and define existing and potential issues, recognize the interrelationships among elements, draw valid conclusions, develop recommendations, as well as alternative courses of action, select appropriate course, follow up, and evaluate.

  
  


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  Communication - able to effectively communicate in a professional, diplomatic, empathetic, and tactful manner using preferred method and level as applicable to the job.

  
  


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  Critical Thinking & Judgement - able to make well-reasoned, sensible, and timely decisions based on careful, objective review and informed analysis of available information, considerations, and other factors.

  
  


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  Customer Service - ability to respond promptly and courteously to all questions from students and faculty, demonstrating patience and persistence when helping students with little or no computer skills.

  
  


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  Ethics - able to demonstrate integrity, professionalism, civility, and a high degree of ethics in all job-related actions.

  
  


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  Leadership - has demonstrated success as an entrepreneurial, high energy, driven, hands-on leader. Possess expertise in selecting, training, developing, coaching, mentoring, and retaining a highly motivated workforce.

  
  


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  Organization & Time Management - able to plan, schedule, and organize tasks related to the job to achieve goals within or ahead of established time frames.

  
  


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  Problem Solving - proven skills in identifying issues, determining their cause, developing creative solutions, and following through with implementing resolutions.

  
  


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  Team Orientation & Interpersonal - highly motivated team-player with ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with all levels within and external to the organization.

  
  


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  Relationship Management - able to personally provide high level of interactive service to others, building relationships and addressing identified needs.

  
  


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  Results Orientation - proven ability to set and exceed established targets.

  
  


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  Systems & Software - proficient level of knowledge of Microsoft Office and/or relevant position software programs.

  
  


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  Detail Oriented - Proven accuracy and attention to detail.

  
  


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  Multi-task - Ability to expeditiously organize, coordinate, manage, prioritize, and perform multiple tasks simultaneously to swiftly assess a situation, determine a logical course of action, and apply the appropriate response.

  
  

Application Process: All applicants must submit a completed online SF application, a letter of intent, an up-to-date resume/curriculum vitae, and unofficial academic transcripts (if applicable) to be considered for this position. Unofficial transcripts are only accepted for review purposes, official transcripts are required prior to any offer of employment being made.