Director of Student Activities & Engagement

Description

Reporting to the Vice President for Student Life, the Director of Student Activities & Engagement provides strategic vision and leadership within the division of Student Life, specifically for the areas of student involvement, campus programming, and student leadership. The Director provides leadership, supervision, and management for the Office of Student Activities & Engagement, including campus student leadership programs, student government, campus programming, and clubs and organizations. The Director is responsible for developing engagement opportunities and events with campus partners that align with the College's strategic plan, specifically to support student leadership, engagement, and belonging. The Director supervises the Coordinator and student assistants. This position will have a pulse on student life and campus climate by interacting and engaging with students in a variety of co-curricular experiences, including helping create and implement leadership development and training opportunities for student government participants, student organization leaders, and the assessment of the student experience. The Director serves on the divisional leadership team.

The Division of Student Life intersects at multiple points of a student's journey at Saint Mary's. With areas that promote students' living experiences, wellness, and engagement, Student Life accompanies students on their academic and co-curricular journey at Saint Mary's. The Division of Student Life creates a sense of belonging, offers participatory opportunities, and encourages students to contribute back their talents. Departments within Student Life include Campus Assault, Response, and Education (CARE), the Career Center, Campus Housing, Club Sports, Community Life, Center for Women & Gender Equity, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Dean of Students, Family Programs, Intercultural Center, Public Safety & Transportation, Residential & New Student Experience, Recreational Sports, Student Activities & Engagement, Student Disability Services, the Student Health Center, and Veterans Services.

Leadership and Oversight of a Comprehensive Student Activities and Student Leadership Program: 

• Provide strategic vision and leadership for a comprehensive student   activities and leadership program. 
• Enhances campus life by providing student leadership opportunities that lead to   greater engagement on campus. 
• Provides strategic oversight and evaluation of  a comprehensive activities calendar, with an emphasis on night-time and weekend programming. 
• Supervises Coordinator of Student Activities. Develops  intentional strategies linking student leadership to student activities and engagement, with consideration of providing holistic support of students. 
• This position is expected to support professional staff from across  the division in their work with student government, student clubs and organizations (including student media), and student programming bodies to develop and support an innovative student activities and programming model that meets the needs of a diverse student population, creates a sense of belonging, aids in student retention and persistence, and aligns with current trends in the field. 
• The   Director serves as the primary advisor to student government, providing  support and guidance for all Associated Students meetings, the development  and maintenance of all governing documents, student leadership development and training, and special projects and events related to the representation and governance of students. 
• The position supports the work of student government in representing students and   developing student success programs and initiatives, in collaboration with other campus departments. 
• The Director assists with the coordination and implementation of student government retreats and trainings, in collaboration with student government leadership. 
• Working in partnership with students, the role develops and implements strategies and processes around supporting budget allocation, fostering student activism, identifying student needs, and creating opportunities for flourishing student participation.     

Development & Implementation of Campus Student Leadership Program

• The Director is responsible for the planning, implementation, and  assessment of campus-wide student leadership initiatives and student   leadership programs. The position executes programming that supports student   leadership development including, but not limited to, involvement fairs,   leadership conferences, leadership retreats, club & organization   orientation, Associated Students training, and leadership celebrations. The   position specifically supports the development and implementation of student leadership initiatives including the development and implementation of a   1-unit undergraduate leadership course. 
• The role manages, in partnership with   their staff, the logistics and operations of events sponsored by student   organizations and serves as the department’s professional staff   point-of-contact to campus partners for student leadership.
• Spearhead  programming and leadership development for campus student leadership, including student leadership conferences, workshops, and celebrations. In partnership with department staff and the Associated Students, assist and help coordinate Involvement Fairs and Student Organization Orientation.   
• Assist with the development, implementation, recruitment, and teaching of a   credit-bearing leadership course. Evaluate non-credit bearing leadership opportunities (i.e., first year life skills).  

Management & Leadership: 

• Recruits, selects, trains, and supervises professional staff along   with student employees including paid student leaders (student government,   programming bodies, etc.), and student employees. 
• The position manages and ensures a streamlined and effective   administrative process of all aspects of the departments including oversight   of multiple budget lines, student organization management, student leader recruitment, and program evaluations. Working closely with Associated Students (student government), the Director monitors the registration process for student organizations, develops ongoing training for student leaders, approves events with alcohol, contracts, speakers, demonstrations, assessment of programs and events, etc. The position serves as student organizations'   (clubs, student media, programming bodies) advocate and serves as the point-of-contact for the College to student groups. 
• Assist in advising groups and organization advisors of campus policies and practices as related to event planning and other organization functions by providing resources in the form of orientations, handbooks and other written materials. 
• Provide workshops, trainings (e.g. compliance, bystander intervention), and individual consultations as needed. Assist student organizations in meeting Associated Student expectations. Oversee the   third-party campus platform for assessment and engagement. 

Signature Campus-Wide Community Events and Collaboration:

• Responsible for the oversight of annual campus-wide signature engagement opportunities and events that aligns with emphasis on providing support for student success, engagement, and enlivenment with the campus community. 
• Convenes campus partners such as staff, faculty, students, Christian Brothers, alums, and community members into event planning groups for goal setting and implementation of events and experiences. 
• Partners with the Town of Moraga for student-centered advocacy and programming. 
• Utilizing the campus enhancement fee, develops and implements large, pillar events twice per semester. 
• Position will explore possibility of developing Greek Life on campus. 
• The Director is a highly collaborative professional working closely on the development and implementation of programs and initiatives with a variety   of campus and community constituents within Academic Affairs, Enrollment and   Admissions, University Advancement/Alumni, Athletics, Student Success, Mission and Ministry, Facilities, food service, Business Office, Instructional Technology, the Town of Moraga and all offices within the  Division of Student Life.
• Participate in college-wide decision-making and policymaking by participating in campus committees such as First-Year Experience, Enrollment Group, Student Engagement Committee, and Transfer Committee.

Fiscal Responsibility and Assessment: 

• Provide leadership and direction to ensure department expenses are  managed according to the goals and objectives set forth. Oversee, manage, and monitor multiple budget lines for the office including all budgets for Associated Students and student organizations. 
• Ensure appropriate allocation  and usage of student activity fees. 
• Develop opportunities for fundraising and revenue generation from partnerships with external groups and student advocacy.
• Develop assessment strategies for departmental programs and events.  
• Utilizes assessment methods to adjust programmatic efforts and procedures to meet current needs of students. Integrates and advocates for diversity and belonging to be infused in the overall programming and development of leadership initiatives for department.

Participate in college-wide programs, activities, and training as needed. Participate in both

division and College committees as assigned. Serve as instructor for leadership courses.

Work in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, and culturally diverse campus environment and

must develop effective relationships within the Division of Student Life and with other

areas of the College.

Evening and weekend hours are expected and required.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience: Minimum five (5) to ten (10) years in higher education with progressive growth.

Skills/Abilities:

• 5-10 years of administrative experience preferably in a college setting with progressive responsibility in Student Affairs.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, oral communications, and facilitation skills along with well-developed advising and listening skills.
• Strong writing and computer skills required.
• Experience working closely with students, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated ability to speak effectively in public.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trends and best practices in the student activities and student leadership fields, working collaboratively with students, staff, and faculty in a wide variety of College committees, departments, and/or student organizations to develop and implement programmatic initiatives.
• Experience dealing with confidential issues, disciplinary processes.
• Must have experience developing and managing budgets and student fees.
• Knowledge of student development theories and practice in student affairs programs/departments.
• Demonstrated leadership ability where innovation, creativity, and sound judgment have been applied.
• Frequent interaction with students and staff and evening and weekend hours are required.