Director of First Generation and Limited Income Services

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Job Category:

Employment Type:

Job Profile:

Job Summary:

The Director of First Generation and Limited Income Services will oversee the development of strategies across the University of Wisconsin-Madison to support first-generation and limited-income students. This role includes supervising a dedicated team of full-time staff focused on these initiatives. The director will act as a central convener, bringing together institutional resources, partnerships, and programs to enhance student success and foster a sense of belonging.

The director will guide the creation of cohort-based experiences, pre-arrival programs, mentorship models, peer networks, and initiatives that address the hidden curriculum. They will also serve as a referral resource, connecting students to relevant campus services and support systems. All efforts will be developed in close collaboration with academic departments and campus stakeholders to ensure holistic, responsive, and student-centered support throughout the student journey.
 

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Develops and audits the budget

• Develop assessment strategies that consider campus-wide inventory of FGLI-related services, supports, and initiatives to identify gaps, reduce duplication, and promote visibility.

• Directs strategic planning initiatives and establishes objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative and staffing resources, and alignment with the strategic plan

• Serves as the liaison by collaborating with internal and external stakeholder groups and providing organizational information

• Coordinate cross-functional working groups with academic departments, financial aid, advising, and student life to align institutional practices with the needs of FGLI students.

• Serve as a strategic thought partner in institutional planning efforts related to access, retention, and student flourishing, ensuring FGLI perspectives are integrated into broader student success frameworks.

• Shape institutional strategy for supporting first-generation and limited-income students by aligning departmental goals with broader university priorities related to access, retention, and student flourishing

• Develops operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and objectives

• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

Department:

Student Affairs, Student Success and Belonging

Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is led by the vice chancellor for student affairs. Our staff is dedicated to serving students and helping them succeed in and out of the classroom in areas including health and well-being, student success and belonging, leadership and engagement, and student advocacy. Student Affairs includes departments led by the dean of students, departments that provide identity-based spaces and leadership resources, the Wisconsin Union, University Health Services, and University Recreation and Wellbeing.

Compensation:

The expected minimum starting salary for this position is $100,000.00 annually. Actual pay will depend on experience and qualifications. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf 

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to build trust and rapport with students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those navigating college as the first in their family
• Familiarity with national trends, research, and promising practices in first-generation student success
• Experience designing and implementing student-centered programs, including cohort models, mentorship initiatives, or pre-arrival programming
• Strong understanding of institutional structures and the ability to collaborate effectively across academic departments and campus units
• Demonstrated ability to supervise professional staff and manage complex projects or initiatives
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills
• Commitment to fostering student belonging, development, and success through responsive and student-focused practices
• Demonstrated success building relationships and collaborating across multiple constituents and stakeholders working towards a shared purpose

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience working directly with first-generation college students in a higher education setting
• Deep understanding of the challenges and barriers commonly faced by first-generation and limited-income students, including academic, social, financial, and cultural factors
• Experience developing programs or initiatives that address the hidden curriculum, foster belonging, and support transition and persistence for first-generation students
• Experience or background in need-based aid and basic needs initiatives 

Education:

A Bachelor's Degree in a related field is required.

A master's Degree is preferred, particularly with a focus on postsecondary education, student development, or organizational leadership.

How to Apply:

To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply Now" button. As part of your application, you will need to upload the following documents:

1. A current resume.
2. A cover letter that addresses your experience and qualifications relevant to this position.

The application reviewers will use the materials you provide (resume/cover letter) to determine which qualified applicants will move forward in the recruitment process. Please ensure that your application is completed and submitted by the deadline to be considered for this position.  Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Contact Information:

Angel Cartagena, hr@studentaffairs.wisc.edu , (608) 890-2570

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. 

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.