Student Programs Manager

University of South Florida•Saint Petersburg, FL

30d

About The Position

The SGATO Student Programs Manager reports to the Director of Student Government Advising, Training, and Operations (SGATO) and serves as the primary advisor for the Student Government on the St. Petersburg campus. Included in this role are responsibilities for providing comprehensive advising, training, and operational support for student employees and leaders across the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of Student Government (SG). This role fosters student growth through guidance, leadership development, and program support, ensuring effective operations and meaningful student engagement. The position may have added student engagement programming responsibilities as deemed appropriate. The Student Programs Manager is a member of the SGATO staff and functions on behalf of the Director when called upon. Collaboration with University personnel is extremely important to effectively serve our students and support staff. Working at USF With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts. About USF The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu. Compliance and Federal Notices This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process. Equal Employment Opportunity The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract. Student Government Advising, Training, and Operations (SGATO) is a department in Student Affairs which encompasses 3 USF campuses, led by the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students. The mission of the 13 departments in Student Affairs is to provide a safe, inclusive environment for students to achieve their goals, explore their interests, find community, develop life-long skills, and build enduring connections to USF. Student Affairs is a division within Student Success which focuses on supporting our students as they enter the admissions queue, take their first steps on our campuses, navigate their academic options, explore interests, receive a hard-earned diploma and, finally, launch their career. USF, located in Tampa, Florida is a member of the AAU and ranked among the top 50 public universities in the U.S.

Requirements

This position requires a Bachelor's degree, with at least one year of related experience.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, or related field plus and 3-5 years of experience in higher education.
Experience advising and training student government organizations in Florida.
Knowledge of leadership theory and student development models.
Basic advisory and supervisory skills, preferably with student leaders or peer teams.
Previous experience with marketing, branding, or managing social media platforms.
Excellent communication, presentation, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary advisor for Student Government on the St. Petersburg campus.
Advise and support other student leaders and employees in assigned SG entities across all three USF campuses.
Hold consistent 1:1 meetings with all supervised students to support leadership growth and professional development.
Provide advisement for the annual Activity & Service (A&S) fee budget process and develop recommendations for senior leadership.
Serve as a subject matter expert on statutes and policies pertaining to SG.
Assist the SGATO Associate Director in advising and supervising the Election Rules Commission.
Ensure student leadership practices align with SG statutes and University policies.
Support the day-to-day operations of SG, ensuring efficient communication and coordination among all branches.
Collaborate with the Associate Director and/or Director to plan and implement SG activities, events, and initiatives.
Collaborate with SGATO staff, campus departments, and student leaders to deliver and assess impactful programs and initiatives.
Coordinate travel for key SG events each year, including the annual visit to the state capitol.
Plan, support, and assess leadership trainings, retreats, and onboarding programs.
Attend weekly, bi-weekly, standing, ad-hoc, and task force meetings as assigned.
Manage and facilitate processes related to making purchases for SG.
Collaborate with Human Resources to complete administrative processes related to hiring/onboarding/extending/terminating assigned student employees.
Supervise assigned student employees, providing performance evaluations, coaching, and accountability.
Foster a positive and inclusive work environment that supports student success.
Oversee assigned SG marketing, communications, and outreach efforts, including tabling at orientation and major campus events.
Serve as an official SG marketing approval liaison with University Communications & Marketing (UCM).
Serve as the backup administrator for SG and SGATO websites, ensuring timely updates and accurate content.
Assist with department-wide outreach initiatives to promote student engagement.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

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