Assistant Director, Program and Student Development

James Madison University • Harrisonburg, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

At James Madison University (JMU), we’re more than just a publicly funded institution — we’re a vibrant, welcoming community located on a stunning campus where innovation, collaboration, and personal growth thrive. Our mission is to prepare students for a bright future, and we believe that starts with supporting the people who make it all possible: our employees. Student Affairs mission is to engage all students in accessible and welcoming learning, growth, and personal development opportunities and experiences. Our vision is that every student thrives. We offer staff members opportunities to learn, grow, and engage with our whole division. Professional development investment is essential and intentional for positions. This position provides strategic leadership for Community Engagement and Volunteer Center's (CEVC) co-curricular programs to advance community-engaged and work-based learning opportunities, working closely with students and ensuring effective program implementation, curriculum development, student training, and efficient, creative use of shared resources.

Requirements

• Experience facilitating learning for personal growth, professional development, community building, and social impact
• Ability to develop and deliver content using experiential learning techniques and educational learning theories
• Demonstrated skills in group facilitation, logistics, and effective communication
• Demonstrated success with independent decision-making, problem-solving, and risk assessment
• Demonstrated commitment to creating just and sustainable communities

Nice To Haves

• Experience supervising student staff or managing teams in high impact learning in community engaged settings
• Experience responding to emergent issues or serving in an on-call capacity
• Knowledge of student development and community engagement best practices

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight for academic-year co-curricular programs, including Alternative Breaks, Dukes Volunteer, and Dukes Making a Difference, ensuring alignment with established student learning outcomes and community partner priorities.
• Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Madison Community Summer Fellowship, launching as a pilot in summer 2027.
• Responsibilities include developing learning outcomes and curricula, selecting students and community partners, and facilitating weekly learning and reflection sessions.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide ongoing direction to a team of undergraduate student coordinators to ensure high-quality program delivery and continuous program development.
• Manage program budgets, resource allocation, and liability assessments with a high degree of independent authority, ensuring compliance with institutional guidelines and responsible stewardship of CEVC funds.
• Apply professional expertise and judgment to analyze student leadership trends, anticipate emerging programmatic needs, recommend strategic enhancements, and assess and mitigate associated risks.
• Design, implement, facilitate, and continuously improve the educational curriculum for CEVC student coordinators, including comprehensive fall training and weekly workshops focused on professional skills, personal development, community building, and social impact.
• Develop learning, leadership, and networking opportunities for all student leaders engaged in CEVC programs.
• Partner with CEVC professional staff to create meaningful learning experiences, co-facilitate trainings, and coordinate special project teams, ensuring alignment with CEVC’s educational goals and values.
• Support the continued growth and evolution of the Madison Community Scholars program into a more internship-like experience, matching and supporting 70+ students in paid positions across 60+ community partner organizations.
• Serve as the primary liaison to community partner organizations, offering guidance on student supervision, program expectations, and best practices.
• Collaborate with CEVC staff to facilitate effective student–community partner matches and coordinate learning workshops that enhance student development.
• Lead recruitment, selection, and placement processes for MCS participants, exercising independent judgment to ensure strong alignment with program goals and community needs.
• Represent CEVC in campus and community-based contexts, serving as a visible and knowledgeable ambassador for the department.
• Coordinate with other CEVC programs to ensure service availability, prevent duplication of efforts, and maximize collective impact.
• Participate in CEVC staff meetings and university committees as assigned.
• Build and sustain collaborative relationships with campus and community stakeholders.
• Provide informed recommendations and communicate effectively about student needs, programmatic issues, and emerging opportunities.
• Implement assessment strategies for CEVC student coordinator roles and co-curricular programs to measure student learning outcomes and community impact.
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize feedback from students and community partners to evaluate partnership effectiveness and program quality.
• Prepare and maintain reports, data summaries, and presentations related to areas of responsibility to support continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.

Benefits

• Generous Leave: Enjoy paid vacation, sick leave, parental leave, community service leave, and 19 paid holidays annually.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access high-quality health insurance options that fit your needs.
• Retirement Options: Plan for your future with retirement benefits through the Virginia Retirement System.
• Employee Well-Being: Our Balanced Dukes program promotes wellness and work-life integration through resources, events, and support.
• Tuition Waiver Program: Advance your education with our tuition waiver program for undergraduate and graduate courses taken at JMU.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed