Job Details

Position Summary:

The Associate Director functions in a key leadership role at Mansfield Hall, embodying and promoting the organization's mission, values, philosophy, and approach. This position is responsible for, alongside the Executive Director, managing the student life team and Directors and other staff as needed. They focus on enhancing departmental and program operations with a goal of fidelity to our core value proposition, our coaching model, skillful management and assessment of support and interventions, and exceptional administrative and operational oversight. They also play a key front-facing role of representing us with families, educational consultants, vendors, and other key stakeholders.

Supervises: director/case manager/coach level staff, as assigned

Essential Functions:

Leadership and Management:

• Foster a site culture based on MH core values, commit to proactive and well-regulated coaching and supervision for both students and staff with a goal of strengthening social emotional and professional skill development and ensuring a safe and inclusive community for all.

• Supervise and develop team members (as designated), including onboarding, training, performance management, and ongoing professional development.

• Uphold and help shape policies and procedures that reinforce Mansfield Hall's mission asnd a safe, inclusive, and adaptive learning community.

• Lead cross-functional or cross-site initiatives as assigned and collaborate with leadership to ensure cohesive student support and continuous program improvement.

• Provide strategic, programmatic, and administrative support to the Executive Director; serve as site leader during absences or transitions.

• Ensure program execution aligns with budgetary goals and organizational values.

Program Management and Case Supervision:

• Ensure the highest quality and MH philosophically aligned student life and social emotional learning services to fulfill our core promise to families and students.

• Lead weekly case supervision and Student Life team meetings to ensure alignment and execution of support plans.

• Serve as a primary contact for incident response and documentation, maintaining a strengths-based and restorative approach.

• Guide effective communication and partnership strategies with families and consultants to foster transparency, student agency, and reduce surprises.

• Participate in the On-Call System, including training and supporting team response for after-hours needs.

• Manage a student caseload across Student Life, and conduct weekly 1:1 coaching sessions to support intrinsic motivation, executive functioning, self-advocacy, and pro-social communication.

• Collaborate with students to develop individualized MAPs and Student Plans, track progress, and adjust supports as needed.

• Oversee key student services, including doctor and therapy appointments, medication management, travel arrangements, and onboarding from enrollment through arrival.

• Coordinate and collaborate with Mansfield Hall staff, school officials, service providers, and other stakeholders to support students in meeting programmatic goals.

• Ensure accurate documentation and effective use of tools such as BRIEF, MAPs, CASI, Student Development Plans, and the Pathway to Independence Inventory.

• Maintain proactive and timely communication with families and referral sources, providing meaningful updates on student development and support structures.

• Represent the program in admissions, recruitment, marketing, and public-facing events.

• Provide interim case management coverage during staff absences, leaves, or transitions.

• Provide pre-arrival student support to all incoming students and their families in a timely and skillful fashion that increases each student and family's commitment to Mansfield Hall and ensures they have the necessary ancillary providers lined up (such as therapists) and appropriate supports in place from arrival day onward.

• In collaboration with the Executive Director, oversee internal admissions for both students returning residential and transitioning to and remaining in post residential services.

Social Emotional Learning & Restorative Practice

• Provide onsite modeling, consultation, and training in Social Emotional Learning and Restorative Practice so that the whole team increases capacity in these areas and can take on increased facilitation or leadership as their skill level grows.

• Oversee implementation of the Restorative Practice curriculum and support, facilitating circles related to conflict, harm, and community building and building the capacity of other staff to facilitate restorative practice through training and modeling and mentoring.

• Implement and help develop the cross-site interpersonal communication and wellness seminar curriculum and ensure consistent delivery and engagement by students.

• Cultivate partnerships with area mental health and service providers to ensure students have access to therapeutic, medication, Speech & Language, and Occupational Therapy providers in the area.

In performing their duties, our employees are expected to behave in a way that reflects Mansfield Hall's commitment to a supportive and encouraging living and learning environment. This includes effective and respectful interaction with co-workers and students alike, embracing our inclusive work and living environment, and always acting in consideration of the privacy and integrity of our students.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in education, counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, student affairs, or programs supporting diverse learners with co-occurring needs.

• Demonstrated success supervising and developing teams, managing operations, and collaborating across departments.

• Experience with direct student coaching, case management, or student development programming.

• Familiarity with program design, family systems engagement, and cross-disciplinary team coordination.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong leadership and the interpersonal skills necessary to effectively manage and motivate staff.

• Strong skills in assessment and case supervision in educational
  or therapeutic settings.

• Excellent organizational and strategic planning abilities.

• Advanced technological and communication skills for interacting with a range of stakeholders.

• Exceptional self-regulation, listening skills, and analytic and strategic thinking.

• Experience and willingness to skillfully engage in difficult conversations and manage conflict with learning and skill development at the center of resolution

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• Ability to innovate and implement best practices in academic and student life services.

• Proficiency in data-driven decision-making and program evaluation.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• Work involves standing and walking for brief periods of time, but most duties are performed from a seated position. There is potential for eyestrain from reading detailed materials and computer work. The ability to lift up to 30 pounds (office equipment, paper, etc.) is required. Deadlines, workloads during peak periods, and changing priorities may cause increased stress levels. Work normally requires finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination to operate computer keyboards at a moderate skill level. Repetitive motion injuries may occur. Mansfield Hall will provide adaptive devices as needed.

Work Environment:

• Internal: Work is normally performed in a climate-controlled office environment, where exposure to conditions of extreme heat/cold, poor ventilation, fumes, and gases is very limited. The noise level is moderate and includes sounds of normal office equipment (people, computers, telephones, etc.). No known environmental hazards are encountered in the normal performance of job duties. We operate in a flex-space work environment that by nature may include distractions and interruptions.

• External: Limited local travel may be required. Work outside the office normally takes place in similar office environments, although occasionally work may include classroom environments.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. All of the listed functions are important and are in no particular order. This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. All employees are required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.
Mansfield Hall is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workplace. People from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, women, and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.