Director of Student Leadership

Highlands College • Birmingham, AL

13h • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Student Leadership provides vision, structure, and oversight for the student leadership ecosystem at Highlands College. This role is responsible for designing and implementing a clear, scalable leadership pathway that equips students—particularly upperclassmen—to lead, serve, and influence others with integrity, discipline, service, and excellence. Serving as both architect and mobilizer, this leader develops standardized leadership opportunities across campus while activating students to serve through Student Leadership Teams, Student Council, mentorship, outreach initiatives, and institutional events. This role ensures students are intentionally trained, equipped, accountable, and actively contributing to the culture and mission of Highlands College.

Requirements

• 2+ years in student engagement, student life, campus ministry, or a related role.
• Experience in leadership development, student leadership, ministry, or related field.
• Experience leading teams, mentoring individuals, or developing others.
• Experience designing or implementing programs, systems, or initiatives.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to develop, coach, and multiply student leaders across multiple leadership environments.
• Ability to prioritize, manage time, and drive execution in a fast-paced environment.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to build and implement systems and structures that create consistency and scalability.
• Skilled in collaboration and cross-functional partnership with campus departments.
• Function as a direct report to the Executive Director of Character Formation, maintaining alignment with VP and HC leadership.
• Lead and develop student leaders across all leadership environments, ensuring clarity, accountability, and growth.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with department leads to align and execute student leadership initiatives.
• Communicate clearly and persuasively, tailoring information to diverse audiences.
• Recognize progress and celebrate wins that align with mission and culture.
• Plan strategically, mobilize students, and drive execution of leadership initiatives that support the mission and growth of Highlands College.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with higher education, ministry environments, or student development preferred.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement a clear, multi-year student leadership development pathway.
• Recruit, train, and support student leaders across all leadership environments.
• Standardize leadership structures, expectations, and accountability across departments.
• Equip students to lead through service, mentorship, and influence.
• Develop and maintain leadership training, resources, and development opportunities.
• Ensure students serving in leadership roles are trained, supported, and held accountable.
• Track and report student leadership engagement, participation, and ministry training hours.
• Partner with Character Formation leadership to strengthen student leadership culture and alignment.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with campus departments to ensure leadership opportunities are integrated and effective.
• Identify gaps and proactively develop new leadership opportunities to support student growth and institutional needs.
• Develop and oversee structured Student Leadership Team pathways that support Highlands College departments.
• Partner with departmental leaders to build strong student leadership pipelines that enhance execution, ownership, and campus culture.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and oversight for Student Council officers and pillar representatives.
• Ensure student leaders represent the student body while reinforcing institutional priorities, alignment, and culture.
• Design and manage intentional leadership roles for upperclassmen that provide meaningful opportunities to lead, mentor, and contribute to the student experience while gaining ministry training hours.
• Develop and oversee a structured mentorship model that connects upperclassmen and underclassmen.
• Ensure mentorship relationships are intentional, consistent, and aligned with Character Formation outcomes.
• Oversee recruitment, placement, and development of Character Formation summer serve opportunities.
• Ensure students gain meaningful leadership and ministry experience while supporting departmental initiatives.
• Mobilize and coordinate students to serve across key Highlands College initiatives and Character Formation events, including campus life, outreach opportunities, Expedition, and the HC Half Marathon.
• Collaborate with the Church Life Team to align student leadership and service opportunities within church ministry environments, ensuring continuity between Highlands College and Church of the Highlands.
• Participate in ministry at Church of the Highlands and Highlands College by leading small groups.
• Affirm and uphold the Statement of Faith and the Core Values and DNA of the College, exemplifying all by word and lifestyle.
• Support other areas of the Character Formation department as needed.
• Serve on cross-functional teams or task forces as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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