Director of Student Engagement and Leadership

PRIMARY PURPOSE :

The Director of Student Engagement and Leadership leads the co-curricular programming with a focus on student development that compliments students’ academic experience, further promoting learning and success. The Director will oversee large-scale special events for the entire College, such as Orientation Weeks, Commencement Activities, support O-Launch planning, and work with faculty and staff on special projects related to student engagement. The Director of Student Engagement and Leadership will oversee several key student-centered endeavors such as orientation programs and Commencement. The Director of Student Engagement and Leadership reports directly to the Assistant Dean of Community Engagement and Belonging.

CORE DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Plans, implements, and executes all new student orientation programs in fall and spring, including Graduate Student Orientation, International Student Orientation, Transfer Student Orientation, and New Student Orientations. This includes developing a comprehensive program for each orientation in collaboration with key faculty and staff.
• Recruits, selects, supervises, trains, and evaluates Orientation Week Leaders.
• Collaborates and communicates extensively with faculty and staff members to facilitate programs that promote co-curricular learning and success.
• Collaborates with students, staff, and faculty on large-scale programming, including the BIPOC Student Summit & International Women's Day Dinner.
• Leads the Student Engagement and Leadership Office to develop creative and innovative programs that meet student needs and address current college student trends.
• Researches and develops campus-wide co-curricular programs and services that address the needs of diverse populations such as international students, first-generation college students, students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and other historically underrepresented populations.
• Manages the Owl Lounge and recruits, trains, and evaluates student office assistants.
• Serves as a liaison between the Division of Student Affairs and departmental collaborations by chairing the Student Programming Committee.
• Collaborates with the Foundation Studio and the Student Learning Center to lead and oversee Take FLIGHT, the College’s First Year Experience workshop.
• Enhances the student educational experience, including development and learning, through the gradual expansion of programs and collaborative efforts.
• Creates and maintains partnerships with area agencies for student volunteerism and academic partnerships.
• Actively markets, promotes, and assesses programs to the student community through the administrative oversight of an online student engagement platform, Owl Connect.
• Assists in updating and maintaining digital marketing, calendar of events, publications, and relevant webpages.
• Works in collaboration with Institutional Advancement and other offices on various graduating student events such as Grad Fest, O-Launch, and Commencement.
• Plans, implements, and executes the College’s Commencement / Graduation program alongside the Dean of Student Affairs and VPSA.
• Engages and leads the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership in formative and summative assessment efforts to measure student learning and success, and to further support the functionality and efficiencies of Student Engagement and Leadership as a whole.
• Supervises the Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Leadership to provide support to all programs, events, and initiatives within Student Engagement and Leadership.
• Oversees the management, marketing, and maintenance of the College’s Food Pantry.
• Collaborates extensively with key stakeholders such as Admissions, Marketing and Communications, the Office of Student Affairs, Residence Life and Housing, and various academic departments in order to deliver programs and events that are student-centered.
• Sits on various College-wide committees as appropriate.
• Reviews contracts and works with upper- level administrators to carry out various vendor contracts related to student programs and events.
• Oversees and manages the Student Engagement and Leadership budget, under the oversight of the Assistant Dean of Community Engagement and Belonging.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Must be responsive to work-related phone calls and emails during non-business hours on occasion.

REQUIRED SKILLS and EDUCATION : A minimum of Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs Administration, College Student Personnel, or other related field of higher education. Experience can be used in conjunction with education. The candidate must be able to work a flexible schedule, which will include some evening and weekend responsibilities.

PREFERRED SKILLS and EXPERIENCE :

Candidate should have experience working on a college campus within the areas of student life / student engagements and campus involvement (including student clubs, organizations, and / or leadership). Experience with new student and parent programs, student government, budget management, health and wellness programming, and large-scale event planning. Candidate should be able to demonstrate an educational understanding of student development theory and its impact on student engagement and learning. Candidate should also have a diverse knowledge of student population issues, including diversity, belonging, health & wellness, and equity, with strategies to positively impact students with a focus on leadership development.