Holistic Intervention Specialist (11 months) - 100038
- Staff, full-time (32+ hours per week)
Title: Holistic Intervention Specialist (11 months) - 100038
Position Number: 100038
Unit/Department: Student Affairs
Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience
Department Summary:
The Division of Student Affairs aims to help all students enjoy a successful and meaningful college experience. We strive to ensure that your emotional, mental, and social needs are met through health services, residence life, student involvement, and conflict response. The Holistic Intervention Specialist at Drake University supports students in crisis or facing significant challenges by providing timely intervention, comprehensive case management, and advocacy. The Specialist will coordinate with on-campus and community resources to support student well-being, safety, and success, fostering a holistic and inclusive campus environment.
Job Summary:
• Respond promptly to student crises (mental health, safety concerns, emergencies), conduct assessments, triage needs, and provide immediate support. Facilitate emergency referrals to on-campus or external resources as needed. (30%)
• Manage a caseload of students requiring ongoing support due to mental health concerns, financial hardship, housing insecurity, academic distress, or social/family disruptions. Develop and implement individualized support plans; follow up regularly; ensure continuity of care until resolution or stabilization. (30%)
• Connect students to appropriate on-campus (e.g., counseling, disability services, academic support) and community resources (e.g., housing, food assistance, healthcare, financial aid, mental health services). Advocate on behalf of students to reduce barriers to access. (15%)
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records of all interventions, case plans, referrals, follow-ups, and outcome tracking through Starfish. Comply with relevant privacy laws and institutional policies. Produce regular reports on trends, case volume, and outcomes to inform Student Affairs planning. (10%)
• Collaborate with campus partners (counseling services, residence life, academic advisors, faculty, staff) to design and deliver outreach, early-intervention, and wellness programming (e.g., mental health awareness, stress management, housing/food insecurity awareness, resource fairs). Help build a proactive campus support culture. (5%)
• Serve on student support teams (e.g., care teams, behavioral intervention / threat assessment teams), attend team meetings, contribute to action plans, and consult on students of concern. Liaise with faculty, staff, and external providers as needed. (5%)
• Assist with department initiatives, policy development, presentations, trainings for staff/students; may support supervision of interns or graduate assistants if applicable. Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)
Minimum Qualifications:
• Master’s Degree in Student Affairs, College Student Personnel, Higher Education Administration, Counseling, or other related discipline.
• Relevant work experience in higher education (student affairs), preferably in student crisis and case management.
• Ability to make timely decisions and work collectively with University stakeholders in matters related to student conduct and case management.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to effectively prioritize timely student issues.
• Ability to provide rotating on-call support on behalf of the Dean of Students Office.
• Knowledge of mental health issues, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and behavioral health.
• Strong ability to assess risk, de-escalate crisis situations, and make appropriate referrals.
• Commitment to confidentiality, ethical practice, cultural competency, and support for diverse student populations.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Provide some evening and weekend availability, especially in crisis situations or for after-hours incidents.
• Collaborate across campus departments (residence life, academic support, disability services, counseling, student conduct, etc.).
• Participate in ongoing professional development relevant to crisis intervention, student support, mental health, and equity/inclusion.
Job Duties:
- 30% - Respond promptly to student crises (mental health, safety concerns, emergencies), conduct assessments, triage needs, and provide immediate support. Facilitate emergency referrals to on-campus or external resources as needed - (Essential)
- 30% - Manage a caseload of students requiring ongoing support due to mental health concerns, financial hardship, housing insecurity, academic distress, or social/family disruptions. Develop and implement individualized support plans; follow up regularly; ensure continuity of care until resolution or stabilization - (Essential)
- 15% - Connect students to appropriate on-campus (e.g., counseling, disability services, academic support) and community resources (e.g., housing, food assistance, healthcare, financial aid, mental health services). Advocate on behalf of students to reduce barriers to access - (Essential)
- 10% - Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records of all interventions, case plans, referrals, follow-ups, and outcome tracking through Starfish. Comply with relevant privacy laws and institutional policies. Produce regular reports on trends, case volume, and outcomes to inform Student Affairs planning - (Essential)
- 5% - Collaborate with campus partners (counseling services, residence life, academic advisors, faculty, staff) to design and deliver outreach, early-intervention, and wellness programming (e.g., mental health awareness, stress management, housing/food insecurity awareness, resource fairs). Help build a proactive campus support culture - (Essential)
- 5% - Serve on student support teams (e.g., care teams, behavioral intervention / threat assessment teams), attend team meetings, contribute to action plans, and consult on students of concern. Liaise with faculty, staff, and external providers as needed - (Essential)
- 5% - Assist with department initiatives, policy development, presentations, trainings for staff/students; may support supervision of interns or graduate assistants if applicable. Perform other duties as assigned - (Essential)
Special Instructions to Applicants:
For consideration, you must apply online. Please include a resume and cover letter.
Review of Applications Begins:
A review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain open until filled.
Salary and Benefits:
At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our Drake Benefits Guide 2026. One of our popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in not one, but two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. Tuition Benefits
For faculty positions, selection will depend on the receipt of recommendation confirming the candidate's scholarly achievements and teaching abilities and/or on the candidate's satisfactory passing of a teaching demonstration if selected for an on-campus interview. For staff positions, selection will depend upon careful review of each applicant’s references, education, and, if applicable, experience.
ABOUT DRAKE
Drake University is recognized as a top private university in the Midwest. Drake is a midsize university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an increasingly diverse student body. We are deeply committed to equity and inclusion and creating a sense of belonging for all members of the campus community—faculty, staff, and students alike. More than 900 faculty and staff are part of the Bulldog pack, a close-knit group of colleagues enthusiastic about preparing students to be global citizens and leaders, challenging assumptions. Drake University is not only an outstanding institution of higher learning, it is also a wonderful place to work. We are enthusiastically committed to welcoming new ideas and people into the fold, and to retaining and rewarding stellar employees.
All positions at Drake provide opportunities to contribute to Drake University’s core mission of creating an exceptional learning environment that prepares students of all backgrounds for meaningful lives and professional accomplishments.
STRONG COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
At Drake University, we don’t just accept differences—we celebrate them, we support them, and we thrive on them for the benefit of our students, our employees, and our community. As reflected in our Core Values, we embrace a diverse and inclusive community.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Drake University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Drake University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. If you would benefit from an accommodation at any point in the recruitment process (including using our online application process), please contact Drake Human Resources (p: 515.271.3133; e: jobs@drake.edu) and let us know how we can assist you.
