2627-119 - Manager, Office of Black Student Success and Community Engagement (CL7) - (DESIGNATED) - Central Office

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The Opportunity

As the Manager, Office Black Student Success and Community Engagement:

• You will provide strategic, culturally responsive leadership to advance African Nova Scotian and Black student success, retention, and belonging across the College. Grounded in an understanding of the historic African Nova Scotian communities, you oversee a team dedicated to supporting the academic and career pathways of Black learners, with particular emphasis on African Nova Scotian (ANS) students and communities.
• You will serve as a primary institutional resource on the ANS/Black student experience, ensuring that programming, supports, and initiatives honor the rich legacy, history, and cultural significance of African Nova Scotian communities while fostering Black Excellence throughout the student lifecycle.
• Additionally, as a member of NSCC's Senior Leadership Forum, you work closely with leaders and other key roles across the College with accountability for the development, coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of NSCC's Anti-Black Racism Strategy.
• The Manager acts as the central liaison between the College and ANS/Black communities, advising college leaders, co-designing community-engaged strategies, and working with Executive to support planning and actions related to the Black Community Council to strengthen trust, collaboration, and shared outcomes.
• You will work closely with the Manager, Office of L'nu Student Success, to build a cohesive joint team, honoring the interconnected dimensions of identity and experience, and to maximize synergies across the work of the four Community Coordinators and other roles within the Offices.
• Grounded in intersectional awareness, through the Office of Black Student Success, you will provide leadership support to the International Student Community Coordinator, fostering a welcoming and inclusive experience for international students, as well. Recognizing that many international students - particularly racialized international students and those from equity-deserving groups - face intersecting barriers related to identity, safety, belonging and well-being, you will actively support approaches that help international students navigate college within unfamiliar academic, cultural and social systems. This role acknowledges the heightened need for culturally responsive mentorship, community building and coordinated supports that address immigration-related stress and adjustment to new norms, while enhancing persistence and holistic success for international students.

Qualifications and Occupational Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in African Nova Scotian (ANS)/Black educational settings, student supports, community engagement, or educational leadership.
• Post-secondary education in a related discipline, including ANS/Black studies, Social Sciences, Business, Education, etc. and/or related work experience in the areas of ANS/Black education, policy, programs, or strategies.
• Lived experience as a member of the ANS/Black community.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with ANS/Black students, communities, and organizations.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and assess culturally responsive programs that support ANS/Black students.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, Anti-Black Racism and social justice with an understanding of Africentric values and principles, as well as knowledge of federal policies and programs affecting international students.
• Experience supervising and coaching staff, managing budgets, and leading strategic initiatives.
• Experience engaging with community councils, advisory groups, and leadership tables.
• Experience successfully developing and implementing large-scale strategies and turning strategy into action by mobilizing relationships through cross-functional teams.
• You are familiar with and comfortable using computer applications such as the Microsoft Office Suite, including email.
• You are comfortable working in a digital environment; you take responsibility for acquiring knowledge about advancing technology; and you are committed to using technology to create an exceptional student experience.

Relevant Skills and Knowledge

• Deep understanding of the historical and contemporary experiences of African Nova Scotian (ANS)/Black students and communities, including systemic inequities and cultural strengths.
• Strong knowledge of ANS/Black education frameworks and related commitments, and trauma-informed, culturally safe practices.
• Extensive knowledge of ANS/Black ways of teaching, learning, and knowing, as well as an understanding of the key issues and barriers facing international students and supports required for international students.
• Knowledge of regional impacts, relevant legislation and cultural frameworks are necessary to do this work, including deep understanding of the related cultural, social, political, economic, and historical contexts. You use collaborative approaches to support the development and delivery of quality programming and services that are culturally responsive to students and communities with a goal of improving retention and graduation rates for ANS/Black students.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to work respectfully with community leaders and elders.
• Collaborative leadership skills with the ability to partner across departments and work effectively within a complex post-secondary matrix environment
• Ability to work with limited direction within a complex and ever-changing environment to drive solutions and achieve objectives; able to lead and progress through ambiguity and organizational change.
• Demonstrated fiscal acumen with the ability to effectively manage an operating budget and other resources.
• Your superb and collaborative leadership skills enable you to partner across departments and work effectively within a complex post-secondary matrix environment.
• You are an excellent communicator, facilitator, and are adept at conflict resolution.
• You possess strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
• You demonstrated commitment to equity, Reconciliation, and social justice principles.
• You have demonstrated an understanding of relevant privacy laws and discretion related to dealing with confidential information.
• You have demonstrated strength in supervising, managing, and leading a team.
• You are known for your ability to direct, influence, and manage several functions simultaneously with a demonstrated practice of promoting collaboration and collegiality.
• You are dedicated to life-long learning and view challenges as opportunities for learning and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work flexible hours to attend community or student events, as needed.

We value Diversity and Inclusion

The College values diversity and inclusion and is committed to employment equity. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates including Mi'kmaq, Aboriginal/Indigenous Persons, Black/African Nova Scotians, members of racially visible communities, persons with disabilities, persons of a minority sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and women. Applicants from these communities wishing to self-identify may do so by completing the online questionnaire within the application.

NSCC is organized into six campus regions and one stand-alone campus. Each region and stand-alone campus is led by a designated Principal and regional management team which supports NSCC's commitment to accessible, high-quality education across the province.

• Eastern Region: Includes Pictou Campus, Strait Area Campus, and Wagmatcook Learning Centre
• Northern Region: Includes Truro Campus, Cumberland Campus, and Amherst Learning Centre
• Metro Region: Includes Akerley Campus and IT Campus
• Southwest Region: Includes Lunenburg, Shelburne, Burridge Campuses, and Digby Learning Centre
• Valley Region: Includes Kingstec Campus, Annapolis Valley Campus, and the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS)
• Sydney Waterfront and eCampus Region: Includes Sydney Waterfront Campus and eCampus

Stand-Alone Campus:

• Ivany Campus

Candidates selected for interviews will be expected to provide at least three recent, occupational references. The successful candidate will be expected to provide official transcripts to show proof of academic achievements.

NSCC is committed to the full inclusion of all applicants. As part of this commitment, NSCC will ensure that applicants are provided reasonable accommodations, as required. If accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact Nikki Berrigan, HR & Talent Consultant at [email protected]. Our Employee Workplace Accommodation Policy can be found here.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept late or paper applications.