Senior Associate Director for Training and Development

American University•Washington, DC

5d•$89,803 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Associate Director for Training and Development is the senior leader for American University's Center for Student Involvement (CSI), overseeing student organizations, student organization finance, campus events, and traditions. Reporting to the Executive Director, Student Engagement & Student Center, the role leads day-to-day office management, assessment, goal-setting, budget management, policy development, student employment, operations, and program and service delivery. It advances student engagement through advising, policy development, leadership training, and strategic oversight of more than 200 recognized student organizations and signature events. The position oversees recognized student organization recognition processes and required leadership training, including policy development, revisions to the RSO Manual, and compliance with University guidelines. It directly supervises full-time professional staff and indirectly supervises other professional staff and graduate students, while managing programs and events and collaborating with university partners. The role calls for strong student development and organizational leadership skills, independent management of complex policy and event-risk issues, and regular evening and weekend work throughout the academic year.

Requirements

Master's degree or equivalent.
5–8 years of relevant experience.
Ability to welcome, value, and affirm people of all identities and experiences and support their full inclusion in the university community.
Ability to use discretion, tact, and diplomacy when handling confidential or sensitive matters with students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders.
Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including active and empathetic listening, precise writing, note-taking, editing, summarizing, and report preparation.
Ability to review work and information for completeness and accuracy, prepare for meetings and presentations, organize materials, follow up on commitments, and establish quality procedures.
Student services skills, including connecting students with services, advocating across campus, supporting student needs, and empowering students to achieve their goals.
Ability to gather diagnostic information by identifying sources, asking clarifying questions, probing for facts, and checking multiple sources.
Proficiency with standard office software, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

2–4 years of experience supervising professional staff.

Responsibilities

Lead the Center for Student Involvement and oversee student organizations, finance, campus events, traditions, office operations, assessment, goal-setting, and service delivery.
Direct recruitment, selection, hiring, training, professional development, supervision, and evaluation of professional and student staff; establish performance standards and approve personnel actions in accordance with university policies.
Support CSI programs and events, including Welcome Weeks, Involvement Fairs, and the Annual CSI Student Leader Summit.
Set the vision and approach for student engagement across undergraduate and graduate organizations, programming boards, student media organizations, and other cohorts.
Advise and mentor recognized student organizations, provide strategic guidance to student leaders, attend meetings as needed, support complex events, and facilitate inclusive dialogue and campus collaboration.
Provide leadership oversight for complex student organization events involving contracted services, vendors, travel, outdoor spaces, elevated safety considerations, large attendance, or substantial institutional coordination.
Plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate training and development for student organization leaders, student governance groups, and organization advisors on topics including inclusive event planning, advocacy, risk management, budgets, marketing, and university policy.
Create learning resources and annual development initiatives for faculty and staff advisors, and use the student organization management platform to support organizational development.
Integrate student retention, leadership, and belonging goals into CSI training, development, and community-building efforts.
Manage CSI and Student Activity Fee budgets, approve reconciliations and requisitions, oversee funding processes, and ensure fiscal responsibility and policy compliance.
Review and update RSO Manual policies and procedures, publish annual updates, develop learning outcomes and assessment practices, and prepare end-of-year reports.
Manage student organization concerns through the RSO accountability process in conjunction with Student Accountability and Restorative Practices, and serve as an administrator for the student organization management platform.
Coordinate initiatives with Student Affairs and University departments, including the Dean of Students, Risk Management, Office of Inclusive Excellence, AU Police Department, and Student Accountability and Restorative Practices.
Serve as a partner on the Student Activism Support Team, providing consultation, guidance, and resource navigation before, during, and after student events.
Convene pre-event planning meetings with organizers and campus partners to discuss goals, logistics, policies, safety, resources, communication, and potential concerns; coordinate post-event debriefs and follow-up support.
Serve on selected Student Affairs and university-wide committees and workgroups, and support major programs such as Commencement, Family Weekend, Move-In, Orientation, Student Achievement Awards, and Eagles at Night.