Director of Student Engagement & Belonging - Student Activities

University at Albany • Albany, NY

20h • Onsite

About The Position

The Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment advances the University's commitment to excellence by providing students with inclusive, innovative, and impactful educational experiences to learn, lead and thrive today and throughout their lives. The departments within the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment provide essential programs and services dedicated to helping the 18,000 plus students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs at the University succeed. The Director of Student Engagement & Belonging serves as a visionary leader dedicated to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive campus environment. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President & Dean of Students, this role provides strategic leadership and oversight for a comprehensive portfolio of student engagement programs, services, and facilities, including student activities, orientation, fraternity and sorority life, intercultural student engagement and Campus Center operations. The Director plays a pivotal role in advancing belonging and inclusive initiatives while strategically managing programs, facilities, and resources that promote student engagement, leadership development, retention, and success. Through collaborative partnerships across the University and the broader community, the Director ensures that student programs and the Campus Center serve as integral components of campus life, enriching the educational experience and fostering a strong sense of community for all students. The programs and services within Student Engagement & Belonging are supported by the University's 300,000+ square-foot, four-floor Campus Center, which serves as a central hub of campus community life and provides a gathering place for students, faculty, staff, and visitors, as well as opportunities for involvement in formal and informal activities. The Director provides strategic oversight of the Campus Center facility and its operations, ensuring that spaces, programs, services, and resources effectively respond to the social, recreational, cultural, inclusive, and educational needs of students. The Director oversees a comprehensive portfolio of co-curricular experiences, including student leadership development, student activities, orientation, and engagement initiatives designed to enhance students' sense of belonging, connection, and participation in University life while supporting overall retention and success. The scope and complexity of these programs, services, and facility operations are comprehensive and significant, requiring strong organizational, financial, administrative, and collaborative leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor's 's degree from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization.
• 8 - 10 years of full-time professional experience in student personnel, student affairs, or a related field.
• An understanding of the evolving needs and experiences of a diverse student population and the ability to develop and implement programs and initiatives that promote belonging, engagement, leadership, and student success.
• Ability to lead a large diverse team effectively contributing to a positive working environment.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role.

Nice To Haves

• 11 to 15 years of progressive experience in the management and administration of student engagement activities.
• Master's degree in student personnel or related field from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing large scale programs and events.
• Professional experience working within higher education.
• Professional supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a visionary leader for the following units: Student Activities & Orientation; Fraternity and Sorority Life; Campus Center Management; Intercultural Student Engagement
• Lead and manage direct reports providing guidance, support, and performance feedback to assure goals, programs, activities, and personnel practices are consistent with and contribute to the University's mission.
• Lead employees for maximum performance and dedication, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
• Complete performance management feedback and goals timely and per requirements, offering constructive feedback and developing improvement plans.
• Support the Associate Vice President & Dean of Students in the planning, administration, and leadership of the units above with a focus on creating an environment that contributes and/or leads to the retention and success of the student population.
• Oversee a new student orientation program to ensure that entering students and families experience a seamless transition to the University at Albany.
• Maintain relationships with various campus partners to ensure continuity and synergy among all programs for new students and their families where applicable.
• Oversee a fraternity and sorority life program, inclusive of IFC fraternities, NPHC organizations, and LatinX organizations.
• Support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for all students, student employees and professional staff under their vision and supervision.
• Serves as a strong proponent for student learning and success by promoting University & Divisional learning outcomes and program assessment.
• Remain abreast of current issues and best practices in higher education, specifically in areas of student leadership development.
• Supports the system of internal controls developed by the University.
• Upholds all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Play a key role in the implementation of the Division's strategic plan.
• Serve as co-lead, Designated Public Forum Event Response
• Represent and act on behalf of the Dean of Students in his/her absence
• Assume fiscal responsibility for all accounts associated with the units that comprise Student Engagement & Belonging.
• Provides leadership in the areas of planning, human resources, policy development, operational, facility, and budgetary aspects for all reporting units.
• Prepare financial reports/engage in the budget review process for the areas that serve as direct reports.
• Create, and develop sustainable systematic initiatives and opportunities to increase student retention with the goal of increasing student sense of belonging, involvement in campus activities and well-being - all of which according to National research have been correlated to fostering student retention, growth, persistence, and graduation rates.
• Maintain, grow and develop "major" events which have a large-scale impact for the entire campus community.
• Provide leadership over the Great Dane Welcome Experience which typically encompasses over 100+ events in the first six weeks of the semester.
• Responsible for or provide support to cornerstone campus "traditions" such as Welcome Week, Convocation by Candlelight, Great DaneTopia, President's Student Leadership Awards and Senior Week.
• Advance a vision for building community among a diverse population of students, faculty and staff members that contribute significantly toward a sense of belonging, and the evolution of a socially just campus.
• Collaborates with campus partners to provide ongoing risk assessment, reduction and management for student activities, fraternity and sorority life and student sponsored campus events.
• Oversee the advisement and support of the undergraduate and graduate student governments.
• Assists in managing the undergraduate student government including but not limited to: risk management, fiscal management, and student leadership and development.
• Coordinate custodial efforts for the almost $3,000,000 in activity fee monies provided to undergraduate and graduate student governments.
• Serve as the campus advisor and designee to the undergraduate student government to ensure compliance with the Board of Trustees guidelines and provide timely advisement, coordination of training, and support to all three branches of government: Executive, Senate, and Judicial.
• Serve as campus advisor and designee to the student run radio station WCDB.
• Support, advise and manage student government initiatives and programs including major campus traditions and events such as Block Party, Parkfest, and Cultural Carnivale.
• Supervise and support the Campus Center staff in providing the following services: room reservations, information desk, campus technical services, management of the Great Dane Game Den.
• Work with campus leadership to develop a "master plan" for the maintenance and refurbishment of the Campus Center facility. This includes the purchasing of equipment and furniture as needed.
• Serve as the liaison between physical plant, dining services and tenants that provide business services, in relation to maintenance requests and maintenance billing.
• Other Reasonable Duties as Assigned

Benefits

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• The University will not seek, request, or rely upon an applicant's wage or salary history in determining whether to interview, hire, or establish compensation for an applicant.

What This Job Offers

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