Director for Student Engagement and Leadership

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial socio-economic and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Director for Student Engagement and Leadership position. The Director for Student Engagement and Leadership is a full-time year-round position starting at $90000 - commensurate with experience. Given Amhersts distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

Under the leadership of the Associate Dean of Students for Equity and Engagement and the Chief Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students (CSAO/DOS) the Director for Student Engagement and Leadership will oversee the Student Engagement and Leadership Office and supervise a team of professional and student staff within the Office of Student Affairs at Amherst College. Including the Associate Director for Engagement and Leadership and the Associate Director of New Student and Family Programs. The Director will make strategic decisions and steward a vision and resources in ways that further Amherst Colleges commitment to providing all students with a transformative and unparalleled experience. The director oversees departmental operating accounts totaling over $350000 and the AASs account totaling over $1.2 million in student fees annually.

They will imagine and execute new possibilities for student engagement and community building service student leadership and develop systemic ways to develop implement and assess successful student-centered policies practices and initiatives. The director is responsible for ensuring that the office creates programs and productions that build community foster a sense of belonging center wellbeing and facilitate campus-wide discourse via organizational and leadership programs the arts and multiple student media publications and platforms. The director is responsible for the oversight of a diverse and exciting assemblage of programs services and spaces. Including the Student Affairs identified spaces New Student Orientation serves as the direct advisor to the Association of Amherst Students (AAS) WAMH 89.3 FM radio station Olio yearbook Amherst Student Newspaper and Campus Activities Board. Additionally supports advises and provides training and leadership development for student leaders and over 100 student groups. This position will serve as a key collaborator with a broad range of College offices.

Amherst College has a commitment to diversity equity and inclusion. The Director for Student Engagement and Leadership must be able to take appropriate actions to support the Colleges efforts to create a respectful inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all. The Director for Student Engagement is required to work in person occasionally late nights and weekends as needed.

All employees are expected to participate in the Colleges efforts to create a respectful inclusive and welcoming work environment. All staff within the Office of Student Affairs are expected to support the initiatives and processes of colleagues across the division.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Leadership and Management Responsibilities

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the Student Engagement and Leadership Office

• Develops and implements the overall strategic vision of the office

• Hires on-boards and supervises the team of professional and student staff who work for the office

• Provides strategic support to a team that sees student organizations as key to leadership development and the Colleges mission

• Initiates all aspects of organizational planning for the Student Engagement & Leadership Office in concert with Student Affairs

• Serves as a campus leader and subject matter expert regarding topics of student engagement student activism student leaders/organizations campus climate and protest response and regularly provides consultation and guidance related to issues management on these topics

• Conducts organizational design analysis and planning to optimize individual and organizational effectiveness and develops staff training and development programs

• Oversee the operating budget for the Student Engagement and Leadership Office the allocation and spending of the Student Activities Fee Keefe Campus Center and Powerhouse operating budgets and other gifts or endowments specific to Student Engagement and Leadership

• Create long-term and short-term plans and evaluation of student engagement strategies and programs

Student Organization Engagement and Leadership

• Establishes effective working relationships with individuals and departments to facilitate the dissemination of information and promote supportive and helpful relationships with students staff and faculty while recognizing the need for sensitivity to a diverse student population

• Develops and executes on innovative and creative ideas to promote and support leadership engagement student development and sense of belonging amongst the student body

• Encourages student entrepreneurship and supports engagement efforts that promote innovation initiative and leadership development across student organizations and programs

• Establishes and maintains strong relationships with students student leaders student activists and student organizations and contributes to a vibrant and welcoming campus experience for all students by being involved visible and engaged in all aspects of campus and student life

• Centers equity access and inclusion frameworks in all student programming and engagement efforts

• Continually assesses student needs and interests as well as remains abreast of current trends and best practices in the field of student affairs (and adjacent fields) related to student leadership engagement identity development civic engagement mental health/wellbeing and sense of belonging

• Utilizes relevant data scholarship and student development (and other relevant) theories/models when planning and developing programs and services designed to foster and support student learning and growth

• Maintains high-level oversight of all training advising support with event planning fiscal resources budget planning policy analysis and administrative support for the various organizations and spaces within the office

Program Planning and Campus Partner Collaboration

• Develops and implements systems for assessing the quality and effectiveness of all programs and establishes ongoing quality improvement methods

• Creates and implements systems to improve quality and manage risk including staff professional development programs regular assessments of student satisfaction and methods for engaging with students about campus climate and the student experience

• Leads internal and external committees and task forces related to special projects/initiatives focused on student leadership engagement and belonging

• Serves as campus lead for protest and demonstration engagement and response

• Prepares reports presentations and other related materials for the Associate Dean of Students for Equity and Engagement and campus stakeholders

• Represents the Student Engagement and Leadership office and the Division of Student Affairs on key campus system-wide and external committees and task forces

• Collaborate with the Colleges Conferences and Special Events office to maintain student-centered space usage and scheduling policies for student programming and event spaces

• Oversight over reservable spaces utilizing the EMS scheduling software. Including all designated Student Affairs spaces for example the Keefe Campus Center Powerhouse Fire Pits etc.

• Provides oversight and ensures programming is in place for summer holiday winter/J-term breaks

Qualifications:

Required

• Masters degree in higher education student affairs public administration/policy or related

• 5 to 7 years of related experience

• Highly experienced in the areas of strategic planning organizational development assessment and evaluation in advancement of organizational goals within a complex institution of higher education

• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex information problems and processes in an objective manner and formulate conclusions to provide a sound basis for establishing priorities selecting appropriate courses of action and making recommendations

• A high degree of political acumen regarding sensitive and highly visible issues; ability to establish and manage delicate balances that must be achieved among competing variables and interests in a diverse and complex university environment

• Demonstrated experience leading supervising and developing professional staff including skills related to team building coaching and performance management

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and develop trust with college students student leaders student activists and student organizations

• Knowledge and applied praxis of effective models/philosophies in higher education and student affairs and of student development theories related to leadership and engagement; sense of belonging; free speech expression; protest and demonstration response; and issues of diversity equity and social justice

• Excellent interpersonal cultural fluency and conflict resolution skills. Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds

• Excellent judgment and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive issues and information

• High level of acumen related to understanding interpreting and applying College regulations policies and procedures

• Ability to deliver clear informative and persuasive presentations to internal and external stakeholders

• Strong oral communication skills with ability to work effectively in group processes. Excellent writing skills to produce clear and concise reports policies procedures and general correspondence as well as to convey support and care in the wake of campus local national or global incidents that impact students and the campus community

• Experience with fiscal management budget development and oversight of multiple fund sources including student fees and referenda

• Demonstrated knowledge of commitment to and experience working with members of African Black & Caribbean; Asian Asian American & Pacific Islander; Chicanx/Latinx; Native/Indigenous; South West Asian & North African; Disabled; Neuro Diverse; Trans & Non-Binary; Queer; Undocumented and other historically marginalized or underrepresented communities

• Successful completion of required reference and background checks

Preferred

• 8-10 years of experience in student affairs work student leadership development and or student activities/engagement

• Demonstrated expertise with crisis management crisis intervention and case management on college campuses

Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development continued learning and career advancement.

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.