Staff & Administrative Opportunities

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of the Director of Admissions, this position supports the mission of the Seminary and the Admissions team by implementing programs to identify, recruit, and enroll prospective students.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Build relationships and assist prospective students throughout all phases of the enrollment cycle.
2. Schedule and conduct recruitment visits to campuses, churches, and conferences nationally in accordance with the overall recruitment strategy. Work to identify key recruiting sites on a national scale, and plan travel to selected schools.
3. Meet with prospective students who visit the campus and respond to questions from phone and email inquiries.
4. Work with the Admissions Office staff in coordinating the efforts of recruitment and admissions, with special concern for the efficient use of technical tools needed to accomplish that task (including the admissions modules of the CAMS system, Hubspot, Excel, web, email, etc.).
5. Assists in “transition services” for incoming students.  This includes identifying off-campus housing, as well as other opportunities that assist students in making the transition to the South Hamilton campus.
6. Assist in planning and implementing recruitment /enrollment management events.
7. Submits formal and informal reports to the Director of Admissions and the Executive Director of Enrollment as required to apprise him/her of recruitment projections, status of inquiries, status of applicants, travel schedules, effectiveness of recruitment events and activities, and other matters related to the recruitment and admissions process.
8. Assists in the management and reviewing of special scholarships, including the Merit-based Scholarships, International Student Scholarships, the Partnership Program, the ISBCE Scholar Program, and other scholarship awarding.
9. Provides other appropriate related services as required or requested.

Required Competencies

• Customer service experience
  • Demonstrated ability to relate effectively with diverse populations.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills manifested in a confident, warm, outgoing manner.
  • Excellent written and oral communication and listening skills.
  • Understanding of the academic, personal, and spiritual capabilities required for theological training.
  • Demonstrated ability to relate effectively with diverse populations.
• Administrative experience
  • Highly organized and able to manage multiple tasks at once
  • Keen attention to detail and accuracy
  • Capable of functioning effectively within a customer-focused, collaborative environment
  • Ability to handle confidential information and treat it with the security and respect required to uphold FERPA regulations.
  • Comfortable working independently and as a part of a team.
• Technological experience
  • Experience using a Customer Resource Management (CRM) system or database software; ability to efficiently use CAMS and/or Hubspot is a plus.
  • Competency in personal computing (including typing) required.
• General requirements
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
  • Be available for travel 30-50% of the time
  • The ideal time commitment for this position would be a minimum of two years.

Education and Experience

• Previous education/experience
  1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required.
  2. Consultative sales, retail, marketing, restaurant server, or event planning experience helpful.
• Institutional knowledge
  1. Understanding of the academic, personal, and spiritual capabilities required for theological training.
  2. Gordon-Conwell alumni and/or students near the completion of their Gordon-Conwell degree preferred.

Overview: Under the broad supervision of the Chief of Staff, the Director of Human Resources is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of human resource programs and services for staff in support of Gordon-Conwell’s overall mission and strategic plan. This leadership responsibility spans all campuses and programs, and includes, but is not limited to legal and regulatory compliance, employee relations, compensation, recruitment, orientation, performance management, and HR policy development. This individual will supervise two direct reports, with responsibility for payroll, benefits and records management. In carrying out this role, they will support the alignment of all human resource systems and services with the Seminary’s strategic objectives and core organizational values.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership: Provide leadership and direction to the HR staff for all HR operations. Directs and manages activities and strategy as needed relating to payroll, organizational development, training, coaching, recruitment and staffing, compensation and benefits, customer-service strategies, employment law, performance management, and employee relations.
• Management: Supports management by providing human resources advice, counsel, and decisions; analyzing information and applications. Supports management by providing human resources advice, counsel, and decisions; analyzing information and applications.
• Strategy: Develops organization strategies by identifying and researching human resources issues; contributing information, analysis, and recommendations to organization strategic thinking and direction; establishing human resources objectives in line with organizational objectives. Implements human resources strategies by establishing department accountabilities, including talent acquisition, staffing, employment processing, compensation, health and welfare benefits, training and development, records management, safety and health, succession planning, employee relations and retention, AA/EEO compliance, and labor relations.
• Finance: Works with the leadership team and develops human resources operations financial strategies by estimating, forecasting, and anticipating requirements, trends, and variances. Support Finance in the annual budget process with preparatory reports, salary increase reports, aligning monetary resources, measuring and analyzing results.  Establish short-term HR goals, budgeting for HR expenses, and networking with outside peers and organizations when needed to achieve goals.
• Recruitment: Manage full life-cycle recruitment (post, source, pre-screen, schedule, background, references, offer, onboarding, etc.). for exempt & non-exempt staff positions with an emphasis on being proactive in recruitment and communication efforts with hiring managers and candidates. Complete the hiring process within defined metrics to minimize overall time-to-start. Develop appropriate marketing/sourcing strategies, shape roles and responsibilities of the hiring team, and ensure an effective and efficient recruitment lifecycle while minimizing cost-per-hire. Expand reach to a larger, more diverse pool of qualified Christian candidates for faculty and staff openings. Enhance an adequate and up-to-date web presence for the HR function to better inform and serve prospective candidates. Provides materials and information to candidates and responds to questions and inquiries regarding regular staff, temporary, casual labor and student employment at the Seminary. In conjunction with the director and hiring managers, selects final candidates and prepares offers of employment for approval. Trains hiring managers on interview skills, in compliance with local, state and federal law.
• Compensation: In partnership with the Chief of Staff and CFO, manages the development, implementation, and administration of compensation programs. Monitors the effectiveness of existing compensation practices and recommends changes that are cost-effective and consistent with compensation trends and corporate objectives. Provides expert guidance and recommendations to hiring managers on pay decisions, policy interpretations, and job evaluations. Oversees the participation in salary surveys and monitors salary survey data to ensure corporate compensation objectives are achieved.
• Employee Assistance: Provides information and assistance to employees on various employment policy matters, programs and services. Listens to employees and handles or refers employee relations matters as they arise and as appropriate. Attends and participates in employee disciplinary meetings, terminations, and investigations.
• Compliance, Reporting and Records Management: Maintains compliance with and has a strong working knowledge of all federal, state and local employment laws and regulations including, but not limited to the FLSA, FMLA, OSHA, ADEA, COBRA, and ADA.  Stay abreast of employment legislation developments and ensure institutional practices and policies are in conformity with these statutes and maintain legal compliance.  Report and file necessary governmental and agency reports, reporting for accrediting bodies and more.  Generates an array of HR reports–such as ATS report, IPEDS, OSHA, workers’ compensation reports, applicant tracking and statistical reports, and other reports as requested.
• Performance: Maintain consistency and fairness in performance management and job evaluation.
• In partnership with Student Financial Services and Student Life Services, co-administers our Community Work-Study program with Hamilton-Wenham schools.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

Key Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills required for effective interaction with members of administration, faculty, staff, students, and the general public; Must be service-oriented and able to work proactively and with a team approach.
• Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.
• Must demonstrate courage to speak their mind on critical and often sensitive issues, and work through conflict in keeping with the Community Life Statement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proficient use of MSOffice Suite, HRIS systems, database management.
• Able to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality; possess sound judgment.
• Thorough understanding and working knowledge of state and federal employment laws and regulations, as well as a thorough understanding of the human resources policies and procedures of the Seminary.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines. Must be flexible and able to handle many tasks simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; detail-oriented.
• Keeps job knowledge current by participating in conferences and educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks and participating in professional organizations.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required; Masters or law degree highly preferred.
• At least ten years of human resource management experience required, with strategic, talent management, and/or business development experience highly preferred.
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP strongly preferred.
• Proven skills and past experience in all facets of human resource management especially in the areas of recruitment, interviewing and selection, compensation management, and compliance.

Position Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the EDO, this position supports the mission of the Seminary, the DMin Program and Cohort Based Education. The Student Services Coordinator (SSC) will support the logistical needs of classes held by and for the DMin & CBE Programs. Strong preference for a qualified candidate who is bilingual (English/Portuguese, with possible other Spanish, Korean, Mandarin combinations considered). Qualified candidates will also be able to affirm and support the mission and vision of the seminary.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Student Services Coordination: Communicate and facilitate with other on-campus offices to meet cohort and individual student needs – student accounts, dining services, media services, maintenance, registration (as related to classroom usage), library, IT, faculty, etc., for all campuses as necessary. Prepare materials for residency or class weeks – for students and faculty, for all campuses. Assist students and faculty during residency or class with various needs. Assist with orientation on all campuses as necessary and requested by EDO. Create Photo IDs for new students. Manage inventory necessary for residency or class (food, paper goods, classroom needs, check requests).  Supports the full structure of the DMIN & CBE in researching and establishing teaching sites for off-campus DMIN & CBE classes. Provides seminary support and acts as a liaison between sites and seminary (administration, students), paying attention to how operations conform to seminary and accreditation requirements. (30%)

2. Student Learning Platform Coordination: In coordination with EDO & HMP CBE Manager, design and manage orientation instruction for students in all appropriate languages. Connect with students and mentors/instructors on a regular basis to verify ability to use learning management & student records platforms. Maintain information on the current learning platform and communicate with students regarding details of residency or class – accommodations, schedule, meal arrangements, submission of required forms for residency, etc. in all appropriate languages. (30%)

3. Student Registration Support: In coordination with DMIN & CBE management, assist with student registration tasks. These may include, but are not limited to running degree audits, registering students for courses, requesting stipends related to student work. (20%)

4. Prospective and Current Student Hospitality: Create and maintain a warm, inviting, and informative environment for prospective and current students at every point of contact, whether social media, a campus visit, external recruiting event, on-site or off-site classes. Ensure that all aspects of contact with students are conducted with a professional, welcoming demeanor and a focus on building a web of relationships between prospects and current students, and other members of the seminary community (e.g., faculty, key staff, current students, alumni, other prospective students, etc.).  Assist MAM in the development of language-appropriate materials to facilitate points of contact. In collaboration with the EDO, seek to sustain culture of hospitality into faculty and staff, ensure all prospective, new, and continuing students are welcomed and feel a part of the Gordon-Conwell community. (20%)

5. Perform other duties as necessary.

Required Competencies

• Relationship Building and Leadership: Proven track record of building relationships across departments and outside the organization to ensure positive outcomes. A warm, welcoming, hospitable spirit that puts guests. Proven ability to collaborate within a team environment.  Well-developed leadership skills and administrative and organizational abilities.
• Communication and Interpersonal Effectiveness: Strong preference for bilingual (English-Portuguese; Korean, Mandarin, Spanish as other possibilities). Must have strong written and verbal communication skills and be able to communicate in a manner that allows information to flow freely and smoothly in order to perform job responsibilities in a timely fashion.
• Strategic and Creative Thinking: Demonstrated ability to implement long-term and short-term strategies to accomplish department and institutional goals. A talent for creative thinking and problem-solving.
• Knowledge and Discernment: Understanding of the academic, relational, and spiritual dynamics related to theological education and training. Understanding of a variety of cultures and their ethos; the ability to act as a liaison and advocate for both the student and the seminary.

Education and Experience

• Preference of a minimum of three years of previous experience in higher education enrollment management, or relevant experience in another field. Successful team participation is required.
• Strong proficiency with student information systems (preferably CAMS) as well as Microsoft Excel and Word. Knowledge of graphic design programs desired.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Preference for a theological master’s degree.