Director of Belonging

Fort Lewis College•Durango, CO

2d•$76,500 - $79,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Student Belonging will provide leadership in college-wide strategies that build community and student belonging. This position develops and implements innovative programs and services that promote student engagement and connectedness, provide leadership development, increase student retention, and advance the educational value of the co-curricular experience. The Director supervises new student orientation, advises student government, and provides high-level direction for the institution's identity-based communities. This role requires a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, coupled with excellent leadership and collaboration skills.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
Demonstrated experience hiring, supervising, and evaluating and full-time professional staff and student employees
Skills, knowledge, and a minimum of two years of experience working with or focused on the needs of diverse populations, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), Latinx, LGBTQIA2S+ students, and/or first-generation students, preferably on a college campus
A minimum of three years of experience supervising professional staff
A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities
Familiarity with scholarship research in areas of college student development, student engagement belonging, and high-impact student practices
Demonstrated commitment to assessment and evaluation with a focus on continuous improvement
Demonstrated skill in the management of complex budgets
Demonstrated strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
Experience using Microsoft Office products, such as Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Excel

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university
Knowledge of and experience in working with minority student institutions, specifically NASNTI and HSI
High-level knowledge of principles and procedures for student development
Experience working with student government and Robert’s Rules of Order
Direct experience supervising professional staff in a higher education setting
Ability to communicate in more than one language that is common to our student body (English, Spanish, Navajo, etc.)

Responsibilities

Provide vision, leadership and operational oversight to the Belonging Team, which includes the following centers: Student Involvement Center, El Centro de Muchos Colores, the Environmental Center, the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, the Native American Center and the Black Student Resource Center, with varying staffing structures, capacity and operational needs across centers
Lead Student and Family Orientation programs in partnership with Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, ensuring experiences that foster meaningful connections, inclusivity, and a strong sense of belonging within the campus community.
Oversee administrative processes and governance structures related to the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College (student government), ensuring alignment with institutional policies, strengthening student leadership and compliance practices, and support and supervise processes related to the Financial Allocation Board to ensure fair, transparent, and values-aligned allocation of student resources.
Oversee administrative processes and manage center budget accounts to ensure programs and funding are implemented in alignment with college policies and procedures.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the development of student programming, ensuring coordinated implementation and accountability for tracking student participation to measure progress towards student belonging, retention, and success in alignment with the college’s strategic plan
Hire, supervise and mentor professional and student staff in developing inclusive leadership practices, strengthening intercultural communication, and cultivating the skills needed to foster belonging and community across campus.
Lead assessment strategies for the Belonging Team, utilizing data to evaluate student belonging, satisfaction, learning, and retention serving as the team’s liaison to the Student Affairs Assessment Committee.
Establish direction and provide oversight for the planning and execution of major annual campus wide events—including Welcome Week, heritage months, and cultural events—ensuring cross-campus coordination, clear accountability, and inclusive, high-impact outcomes related to connection and belonging.
Guide and ensure alignment of campuswide training efforts with institutional priorities for student belonging, working in partnership with campus departments and subject matter experts, including the Reconciliation Department, to promote consistency in learning outcomes and inclusive practices.
Execute contract negotiations, goal setting, and assessment of key campus contracts and partnerships, including the Durango Transit and Skyhub.
Engage in key campus committees and partnerships – including Diversity Affairs, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, Athletics, and Institutional Research - ensuring the perspectives and priorities of the Belonging Team inform institutional practices that shape student experience and inclusion.
Maintain knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 508. Produce and remediate digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards.
Perform other duties as assigned