DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION & EDUCATION

Niagara University | Student Affairs | Full-Time, Exempt

ABOUT NIAGARA UNIVERSITY

Niagara University is a liberal arts university steeped in the Catholic and Vincentian traditions, with nearly 4,300 students. Located a few miles from Niagara Falls, New York, the University offers a close-knit, mission-driven community committed to academic excellence, service, and the dignity of every person.

POSITION SUMMARY

Niagara University seeks an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking Director to lead the Office of Violence Prevention & Education (OVPE). The Director will shape and coordinate the University's comprehensive efforts to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking (DVDVSAS), and related forms of gender-based violence. The position oversees OVPE staff, operations, programming, communications, assessment, budget, and applicable U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Campus Program grant activities. The Director works across the University and with community partners to advance evidence-informed, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, accessible, and coordinated prevention and response practices. As a Student Affairs leader, the Director also serves in the rotating Administrator On-Call schedule for critical student situations after hours and on weekends.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for OVPE and serve as the University's central coordinator for DVDVSAS prevention and education.
• Supervise and develop professional and student staff; establish priorities, work plans, and performance expectations; and manage the office budget and resources.
• Design, deliver, and assess a comprehensive prevention and education strategy for students, faculty, and staff, including bystander intervention, consent, healthy relationships, social-norms change, resource awareness, and population-specific initiatives.
• Lead the campus Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT), serve on the Niagara County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), and build strong relationships with victim-service providers, law enforcement, health professionals, and other community partners.
• Administer related grant activities, including strategic planning, required training and travel, records, budgets, data collection, reporting, and coordination with technical-assistance providers and University offices.
• Collaborate with OVPE Faculty Fellows, the Office for Title IX and Civil Rights, Campus Safety, Dean of Students, Residential Living, Health and Counseling Services, faculty researchers, and other partners to strengthen prevention, referrals, training, and coordinated response while maintaining appropriate role clarity and reporting obligations.
• Develop engaging campaigns, workshops, mandatory and ongoing education, digital resources, and communications; maintain the OVPE website and programming calendar.
• Use data, learning outcomes, program evaluation, and current research to measure effectiveness and continuously improve programs and institutional practices.
• Serve on the Students of Concern team and other University committees or initiatives as assigned.
• Participate in the rotating Administrator On-Call schedule, including evenings, overnight hours, weekends, holidays, and academic breaks; provide timely consultation, coordinate notifications and follow-up, and report to campus when circumstances require.
• Maintain discretion and confidentiality, fulfill applicable reporting and documentation requirements, and perform other duties consistent with the role.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in higher education, public health, counseling, social work, psychology, criminology/criminal justice, education, or a related field.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in gender-based violence prevention, prevention education, victim services, public health, student affairs, or a related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of primary prevention, trauma-informed and survivor-centered practice, coordinated community response, culturally responsive programming, and accessibility.
• Experience leading programs or projects, supervising staff or student employees, and collaborating effectively across organizational and community partners.
• Experience with program assessment and with budget and/or grant administration.
• Excellent written, oral, facilitation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to respond to sensitive and critical situations with sound judgment, calm, discretion, and appropriate urgency.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends, travel as needed, participate in the Administrator On-Call rotation, and report to campus after hours when required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Higher education experience.
• Experience administering an OVW Campus Program grant or a comparable federal or state grant.
• Experience leading a CCRT, SART, or comparable multidisciplinary partnership.
• Working knowledge of the Clery Act/VAWA, Title IX, New York Education Law Article 129-B, and related higher education requirements.
• Experience with campus-wide campaigns, bystander-intervention programs, mandatory education, and program evaluation.

POSITION DETAILS

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references through Niagara University's online employment portal. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS

Niagara University affirms its commitment to equal opportunity and non-discrimination and recognizes its responsibility to provide all employees an environment free of discrimination and harassment based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, pregnancy-related condition, ex-offender status, military status, veteran status, disability, or any other category protected by law. The University also prohibits actual or attempted reprisal or retaliation against an employee who raises a sincere and valid concern regarding harassment or discrimination.

Individuals who need reasonable accommodations under the ADA to participate in the search process should contact the Niagara University Human Resources Office at 716.286.8690.