Position Summary

San Diego State University’s Basic Needs Center is seeking a compassionate and resourceful Basic Needs Lead Coordinator to provide critical support to students facing economic crises. This role involves working directly with students to assess their needs, navigate university and community resources, and develop action plans to resolve financial hardships. If you are passionate about student success and have strong problem-solving skills, we encourage you to apply!

Key Responsibilities:

• Student Support & Advocacy: Assist students in financial crises by assessing their needs and creating tailored action plans.
• Resource Navigation: Connect students with campus and community resources to ensure access to basic needs support.
• University & Financial Aid Guidance: Help students navigate university policies and financial aid processes to find solutions.
• Collaboration & Partnerships: Build relationships with campus and community partners to enhance support services.

Why Join Us?

• Make a Difference: Directly support students in overcoming financial barriers to their education.
• Collaborative Environment: Work with a dedicated team committed to student well-being and success.
• Professional Growth: Gain experience in case management, student advocacy, and higher education administration.
• Impactful Work: Be part of a university initiative that fosters equity, inclusion, and student retention.

If you are a dedicated advocate for student success and well-versed in navigating support resources, we invite you to apply and become a crucial part of our mission!

Position Information

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• This position is designated as exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity is responsible for the coordination and development of student services and building the inclusive excellence of SDSU's staff and faculty at San Diego State University. Departments include, but not limited to, Assistant Deans for Student Affairs; Career Services; Communications Services; Counseling & Psychological Services; Cultural and Identity Centers; Center for Educational Opportunity Programs, Outreach and Success; Financial Aid and Scholarships; Military Veterans Program; New Student and Parent Programs; Office of the Student Ombudsman; Residential Education; Resource Management; Student Disability Services; Student Health Services; Student Life and Leadership; Student Rights and Responsibilities; Testing Services Office; Well-being & Health Promotion; and programming related to Inclusive Excellence.

The Student Financial Resources sub-division, within the Division of Student Affairs & Campus Diversity houses four separate student service offices - the Cal Coast Student Financial Center (CCSFC), the Financial Aid Office (FAO) and the Scholarship Office (SO), and Basic Needs Center and Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT). This subdivision focuses on delivering student-centered engagement in an environment that is transparent, highly regulated and compliance driven under the leadership of an Associate Vice President.

The Basic Needs department serves as a multidisciplinary space to house and support campus basic needs initiatives. The space serves as a wellness hub for presentations and workshops and where students can meet with ECRT case managers and community partners to receive one-on-one personalized support for their basic needs. Programming in the basic needs center will address financial wellness, nutrition and cooking education, CalFresh education and enrollment, and more. The Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT), housed within Basic Needs, aims to bridge the gap in resources for students experiencing immediate food, housing, or unforeseen financial crises that impacts student success. Using a holistic approach to well-being, ECRT supports students through crisis by leveraging a campus-wide collaboration that utilizes on and off-campus partnerships and provides direct referrals based on each student’s unique circumstances. ECRT empowers students to identify and access long term, sustainable solutions during/throughout their academic career at SDSU.

For more information regarding the Basic Needs Center, click here.

Education and Experience

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field; including or supplemented by upper division or graduate course work in counseling techniques, interviewing and conflict resolution where such are job related. Possession of the required knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience. One year in the program area to which assigned may be preferred but is not required.

A master’s degree in counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience. A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.

Key Qualifications

• Experience working in a university setting and young adult populations.
• Strong skills in research, data analysis, and applying program rules to assess and resolve student issues.
• Ability to advise students on complex matters and navigate sensitive situations with professionalism.
• Experience working with local community resources.
• Experience working with students facing immediate crisis is preferred.
• Experience working with San Diego State University and SDSU Associated Students is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary upon appointment is not expected to exceed $5,540 per month. 

Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources.

San Diego State University offers a rich benefits package that constitutes a major portion of total compensation. For more information regarding SDSU benefits, please click here.

CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,540 - $7,893 per month. 

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university.

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Apply by March 9, 2025 to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Livia Peeples at lpeeples@sdsu.edu.