Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

University of Wisconsin Madison•Madison, WI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs provides strategic leadership and operational oversight in support of undergraduate student success. This role is responsible for advancing initiatives that enhance the undergraduate experience, ensuring high-quality services across student-facing units, and fostering a collaborative, student-centered culture. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs serves as a key member of the Academic Affairs leadership team, working closely with the associate dean, assistant deans, directors, departments, central administrative offices, and external partners to align programs and services with the College of Engineering (CoE) and institutional priorities. The CoE Academic Affairs is a dynamic and student-centered unit that includes student engagement and leadership including student organizations, K-12 outreach, career services, undergraduate and graduate advising, learning support, and scholarships, and student wellness. This position will directly supervise one or more functional units, ensuring effective service delivery, continuous improvement, and alignment with the COE’s academic mission.

Requirements

Minimum of 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs, academic administration, or a related area
Minimum of 3 or more years of experience leading and supervising staff, including managing multiple teams or functional units
Proven experience advancing student success initiatives that support individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, with evidence of measurable impact (e.g., retention, engagement, or satisfaction outcomes)
Experience implementing academic or student affairs policy and procedures
Experience working collaboratively across departments and administrative units in a complex organizational setting
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across diverse stakeholders
Experience using data and assessment to inform decision-making, program improvement, and strategic planning

Nice To Haves

Experience in a college of engineering or similarly complex academic environment
Understanding of the engineering profession and engineering curricula, and ability to relate to engineering undergraduates and prospective students
Demonstrated success overseeing student-facing units (e.g., advising, student engagement, student services, recruitment)
Experience with budget management, resource allocation, and operational oversight
Familiarity with student information systems, reporting tools, and assessment frameworks
Experience leading cross-functional initiatives or large-scale student experience improvements

Responsibilities

Advises and collaborates with the Dean, Associate Dean, and/or Office of the Provost on critical issues, representing the functional area of supervision at appropriate meetings and events as requested; and serves on and/or leads various program and/or university committees as directed
Serves on various university review committees, working with a wide range of constituencies including the Faculty Senate, Deans and Associate Deans, General Counsel, and University Leadership
Monitors on-going assessment and continuous improvement of academic programs and services by guiding the establishment of annual goals, ensuring progress towards goals is met, articulating challenges, and reporting on annual outcomes and achievements for programs and services
Supports special initiatives and/or grant-funded programs that require senior leadership attention with respect to program design, planning, coordination, and interaction with internal and external stakeholders
Facilitates collegial, collaborative working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, partners with administrative and academic departments to support initiatives, and gathers input from key stakeholders to support recommendations
Establishes priorities that align with the strategic directives of the assigned school or college and ensures units effectively carry out duties in a way that best supports the academic mission of the university; provides direct supervision of department /program leadership staff and monitors compliance with laws, regulations, university policies, procedures, and relevant contractual obligations
May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees