Basic Needs Specialist

The University of New Mexico is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive campus environment where every student can thrive. As part of this commitment, we are seeking a compassionate and resourceful Basic Needs Specialist to join our team. This role reports to the leader of the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center within the Dean of Students Office and is closely tied to the student well-being work done in the Division of Student Affairs. This role is vital in ensuring that students have access to essential resources such as food, housing, transportation, and emergency support-key components that directly impact student success, retention, and overall well-being.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong ability to relate to and support students from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, demonstrating cultural humility, empathy, and an understanding of the unique challenges faced by historically marginalized populations. We desire candidates with experience in functionally operating a food pantry; including inventory management using industry tools like PantrySoft, managing donations and distributions, volunteer coordination and supervision, program assessment and community partnership development. The Basic Needs Specialist will play a central role in connecting students to campus and community resources, coordinating basic needs programs, promoting the availability of basic needs services de-stigmatizing the use of basic needs resources, and advocating for policies and services that reduce barriers to academic achievement.

The successful candidate will ideally have the following:

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience providing direct support services or case management in an educational or community-based setting.
• Knowledge of issues related to food insecurity, housing instability, and access to basic needs.
• Ability to promote a culture of care and reduce stigma around accessing basic needs services through inclusive, respectful, and nonjudgmental engagement.
• Coordinate the overall promotion of basic needs supports on campus including:
• Monitors and updates designated web pages,
• Develops written materials to support access to basic needs services and resources; and,
• Coordinates and/or attends activities and events on- or off-campus as a representative of the college in relation to its basic needs program area.

May serve as a confidential resource in working as a member of a team on confidential advocacy issues in the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center.