Associate Vice President of Student Affairs

Principia The • Elsah, IL

1d • $130,000 - $148,700 • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs (AVP-SA) provides strategic and operational leadership for a well-rounded, mission-aligned student experience at Principia College. The AVP-SA oversees Spiritual Life, Athletics, and Student Life, and coordinates with the Community & Belonging Office, to ensure these areas work in close coordination to foster a safe, student-centered, inclusive campus environment that supports student wholeness, belonging, character development, and authentic spiritual engagement.
The AVP-SA is responsible for the development, implementation, and assessment of student affairs strategy, policies, and programs that respond to the needs of a diverse domestic and international student body. The AVP-SA partners closely with Academic Affairs, Enrollment Services and campus administrative units—including Legal, Campus Security, Facilities, Human Resources, and Business & Operations—to align student success efforts, strengthen community standards and care processes, and ensure effective coordination during complex or high-impact situations.
A successful AVP-SA is a visible campus leader who builds trust with students and colleagues, leads with clarity and compassion, and ensures that the student experience is consistent with Principia’s educational purpose and Christian Science-based character education.

Requirements

• Student of Christian Science; member of Christian Science Church and/or Organization, and completed Christian Science class instruction. If not currently a class-taught member of a Christian Science church, both required within one year of start date
• Master's degree; advanced degree preferred
• 15+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in student affairs, higher education administration, or equivalent experience, including oversight of budgets, personnel, and multiple functional areas
• Demonstrated success working with diverse young people, including support for personal growth, well-being, and community standards
• Knowledge of higher education governance and structure, mandatory reporting requirements and protocols, physical and mental health considerations, and student privacy issues preferred
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across divisions (academic, athletics, student life, and administrative functions)
• Computer literate; working knowledge of Microsoft systems, learning management systems, and customer relations software tools
• International experience preferred
• Evening and weekend availability is required; campus presence and visibility are key expectations of this role

Responsibilities

• Provides vision, strategic direction, and operational leadership for Student Affairs, ensuring alignment across Spiritual Life, Athletics, Community & Belonging, and Student Life
• Develops and implements shared student experience priorities, structures, and communication practices that strengthen coordination across units
• Establishes annual strategic goals, success metrics, and assessment practices for Student Affairs; uses data and feedback to drive continuous improvement
• Serves as a visible, engaged campus leader who builds relationships with students and advances a thriving campus community consistent with Principia’s mission
• Hires, manages, coaches, and evaluates senior leaders within Student Affairs; supports professional development, succession planning, and performance accountability
• Fosters a culture grounded in professionalism, collaboration, and care for students, with clear expectations and consistent follow-through
• Ensures division-wide training and readiness for policies, compliance requirements, crisis response expectations, and student support best practices
• Ensures delivery of effective, student-centered programs and services that support wholeness, spiritual growth, leadership development, belonging, and engagement
• Provides executive oversight for student conduct and community standards processes, ensuring consistency, fairness, and alignment with Principia values
• Partners with Student Life leadership to strengthen residential life culture, student government, extra-curricular learning, orientation, and campus events
• Supports the holistic student-athlete experience by partnering with Athletics leadership to align athletics culture, expectations, and practices with academic and well-being priorities
• Provides strategic support and oversight for Spiritual Life, ensuring campus spiritual programming and care are integrated with the broader student experience
• Encourages authentic spiritual engagement and ensures Student Affairs practices reflect Principia’s educational purpose and Christian Science-based character education
• Effectively coordinates with the Community & Belonging Office, strengthening inclusive practices, education, and community culture
• Ensures the Student Affairs team effectively coordinates to promote respectful dialogue, constructive engagement across differences, and a culture where students experience belonging and mattering
• Works closely with Legal, Campus Security, Human Resources, Facilities, and Business & Operations to ensure compliance with relevant laws, professional standards, and institutional policies
• Provides oversight and accountability for mandatory reporting policies and procedures; ensures consistent training and execution across Student Affairs
• Works closely with senior leadership in Student Affairs to coordinate student-centered crisis response and emergency decision-making, including situations involving physical health, mental health, safety, and community disruption
• Maintains appropriate documentation, reporting, and records management practices for sensitive student matters
• Provides oversight of Student Affairs budgeting and resource planning in coordination with Athletics, Spiritual Life, and Student Life leaders; supporting Community & Belonging initiatives as necessary
• Ensures effective operational systems, policies, and communication structures across the division
• Represents Principia College in student affairs-related forums, including alumni, parent groups, community organizations, and professional networks, as appropriate
• Participates in college/institution-wide committees as assigned by the College President
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Benefits

• 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded)
• Relocation reimbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles
• Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• Paid time off
• 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive