Assistant Director, Writing Studio Job at Palo Alto University in Palo Alto

Palo Alto University (PAU), a private, non-profit university, founded in 1975 and located in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley, is a community grounded in values of social justice, dedicated to addressing pressing and emerging issues in the fields of psychology and counseling that meet the needs of today’s diverse society. The students at PAU reflect the diversity of the region, are engaged in their education, and are committed to improving the lives of others. The University sees diversity in its staff and faculty as very important to serving its diverse student body (or synonymous with inclusive excellence). PAU has recently been designated as an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). PAU offers undergraduate and graduate programs with online, hybrid and residential options, and has an engaged faculty who make significant contributions to their fields and prepare future leaders who make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. When you put all of this together, PAU creates a legacy of confident, competent, and compassionate professionals who are at the forefront of psychology and counseling and who move ahead in life by moving lives ahead. Palo Alto University (PAU) is dedicated to promoting mental health and well-being in our diverse community of students. We are committed to providing resources and support that empower students to achieve their educational and personal goals.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Assistant Director, Writing Studio

Department: Student Success

Reports To: Director, Writing Studio

Location: Residential Employment Status: Full-Time Compensation: $85,000 – $100,000

JOB SUMMARY

The Writing Studio at Palo Alto University seeks a dynamic and experienced professional to fill the role of Assistant Director, Writing Center. As a key member of PAU’s Student Success team, the Assistant Director will work closely with the Director of Writing to coordinate the day-to-day operations in the Writing Studio, including the management of tutorial assistance, as well as contributing to the growth of PAU’s overall learning community, which includes writing support to both students and faculty.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibility of the Assistant Director is to support the Writing Studio’s mission to empower students to become confident and effective writers in support of their academic and professional success, as well as playing a vital role in fostering a culture of writing excellence across the university community.

Program Support

• Collaborate with the Director to develop and implement strategic initiatives for the Writing Studio, ensuring alignment with the university's academic goals.

Writing Consultations and Workshops

• Maintain the daily schedule, including student cancellations and missed sessions.
• Supervise one-on-one writing consultations for students seeking ongoing writing support.
• Evaluate students referred to the Writing Studio, designing action plans for improvement.
• Conduct on-demand writing workshops for the PAU community.

Recruitment

• Lead diverse recruitment efforts for the roles of student writing coaches.
• Collaborate with the Director in conducting student hire interviews, evaluating applications and writing samples, and contributing to final hiring decisions.

Training and Development

• Provide direct supervision, training, and professional development for student writing coaches, including providing constructive feedback to tutorial staff.
• Remain apprised of best writing practices and pedagogies.

Assessment and Evaluation

• Collaborate with the Director to develop and implement assessment strategies to measure the effectiveness of writing support programs and make data-driven improvements.

Student Engagement

• Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages student engagement with writing resources and services, including the publication of social media content and the Writing Studio website.
• Other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below represent the required knowledge, skill, and/or ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Master's or Ph.D. in English or related field preferred (e.g., Rhetoric, Composition, Writing Studies, Education)
• 3+ years of experience teaching English writing courses or working in a writing center, preferably at the college level
• Proficiency in English grammar, composition, and style, along with a sound knowledge of critical analysis, methods and techniques of planning, writing, and editing is expected
• Demonstrated experience in writing center administration or related academic support services
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Excellent written/verbal communication, interpersonal, organizational, and listening skills
• Commitment to academic excellence and student success
• Sensitivity to students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with others
• Advanced skills in Word, Excel, Google Documents, Adobe Acrobat, Zoom, and Turnitin

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Qualified candidates for the Writing Studio Assistant Director position should apply with a:

• Cover letter describing qualifications for and interest in the position. PAU is committed to providing an educational environment that supports a diverse, equitable, and inclusive population. In your cover letter, please include information on how your background and experience have prepared you to be in an environment that holds equity and inclusion core to its mission and values.
• Curriculum vitae
• Writing center philosophy statement
• Writing sample

EEOC POLICY

The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the University will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities, if the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform all essential functions of the position and if it will be done without undue hardship to the University.