Director of Student Activities and Leadership

SUMMARY:

The Director of Student Activities and Leadership is responsible for the administration and strategic direction of a comprehensive student activities and leadership program with the goal of enhancing Luther students' co-curricular and leadership experience which will aid in students' sense of belonging and therefore impacting retention and persistence. The director coordinates the planning, policy formulation, and management of the Office of Student Activities and Leadership and serves as a key participant in student leadership development and new student programs, specifically responsible for coordinating Welcome Week and Week One at Luther College. The director position supervises an associate director and assistant director, and collectively as a team are responsible for student engagement, programming, and leadership, supervising the Student Activities Council, managing student programming spaces in the Dahl Centennial Union, coordinating campus recreation and intramurals, liaising with student clubs organizations, and overseeing Greek Life. Evening and weekend work is often required.

This is a 1.0 FTE position reporting to the Dean of Students. Luther College offers an excellent benefit package including expansive paid time off programs, generous retirement contributions, competitive health insurance premiums, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and tuition benefits for employee, spouse and dependents.

Salary: $53,000-$63,850

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Student Programming & Leadership - 45%

• Serve as the Student Life leader for campus programming during the academic year, breaks, and summer sessions.
• Serve as the primary programming and support resource for student clubs and organizations, acting as liaison between student groups and college departments (e.g., Campus Safety, Dining Services, Facilities) and managing events on-site as needed.
• Serve as a participant member of the campus-wide New Student Program (first-year at Luther) initiatives, including the coordination of Welcome Week and Week One activities and collaborating with campus partners such as Paideia, Admissions, and Advising.
• Co-advise Student Senate alongside the Dean of Students, including attendance at Senate meetings, Executive meetings, and relevant subcommittee (AdHoc) meetings to support student-led initiatives.
• In collaboration with the Student Activities and Leadership team, coordinate the Fund the Fun, Student Group Advisor resources, and plan and implement the Student Leadership Award and Student Life Awards.
• Support and advance student development initiatives that promote engagement and leadership

Operations, Budget & Risk Management - 25%

• Coordinate and lead a comprehensive student activities and leadership development program, including strategic planning and assessment; hiring, training, and evaluating staff and volunteers; managing office, the Union and programming spaces (Marty's, Norse Lounge); and maintaining departmental webpages and social media.
• Oversee the student activities fee, including policy development, planning, and expenditures.
• Oversee the distribution of Club & Organization Funding in conjunction with other members of the Student Activities and Leadership Team.
• Monitor and assess risk related to departmental programs, coordinating with Campus Programs, Campus Safety, and Budgeting to review and mitigate risk associated with student organizations and student-led programming.

Campus Resource - 25%

• Serve as the lead Student Life programmer, and liaison for student events with all campus departments, outside of Student Life, such as Admissions, Advancement, Athletics, Book Shop, College Ministries, Center for Intercultural Engagement and Success, Dining Services, Student Success, Sustainability.
• Collaborator on Luther's student emergency protocols - specifically related to student-event risk management, collaborating with key partners, such as Campus Safety, Student Life on-call personnel, Facilities/Maintenance
• Member of the Student Life Leadership Team, and is cross-trained in student life initiatives
• Member of the Title IX Team (as an investigator)
• Serve on other campus and Decorah committees/ task forces, to be determined

Professional Development - 5%

• Stay connected professionally within student affairs on topics such as student development theory, student activities and engagement, sense of belonging, transition and retention, student leadership, and civic engagement.
• Develop a collaborative relationship with other director of student activities and leadership colleagues, through consortium, regional and national organizations.

ADDITIONAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Other duties as assigned
• This job description is not intended to be all inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Associate Director of Student Activities and Leadership
• Assistant Director of Student Activities and Leadership
• Facilitate the supervision of departmental student employees and volunteers, managing the hiring process and ensuring annual training, performance reviews, and opportunities for learning and development.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE and SKILLS:

Required

• Master's degree or an equivalent combination of education and 5-8 years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and appreciation for working with diverse students at a small, residential college.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends of the college.
• Candidates must possess a clear understanding of student development and have a demonstrated knowledge of the importance of co-curricular programming to student learning.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Detail oriented.
• Ability to respond in a timely manner to a wide variety of inquiries from internal and external stakeholders for the purpose of providing information and resolving issues/concerns.
• Possess a student-centered philosophy and approach to work.

Preferred

• Eight to ten years of professional experience working cooperatively on an interdisciplinary team supporting college students programmatically.
• Demonstrated experience with a combination of student activities, student government, residence life, new student programs, and leadership development.