Assistant Director of Campus Life - Activities Coordinator
Employment Type : Full-Time
Job Summary
Under the direct supervision of the Associate Dean of Campus Life, the Assistant Director position is a key member of the Campus Life team inside of the Division of Student Engagement. As a residential college, the Assistant Director will support the residential experience as a live-on professional, implementing our programming model with residential students. As the Activities Coordinator, this position will help lead large campus programs throughout the year. This Assistant Director will provide strategic oversight to multiple areas of responsibility, while serving as an advocate, consultant, and motivational force for student-led organizations – including our student programming board, Panther Activities Committee (PAC) and other student groups and governing bodies.
Overview: This is an ideal position for newer professionals seeking to expand and diversify their skills; energetic and motivated candidates are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity. The Assistant Director role is a 12-month, live-in position responsible for student activities and programming with shared responsibilities of the residential population. The position includes a competitive salary, excellent benefit package, as well as a free two-bedroom campus apartment and meal plan. Pets and Partners are permitted within this living arrangement.
The Assistant Director position will partner with the Associate Dean and other Assistant Directors to create a comprehensive and cohesive programming model that provides targeted opportunities for student involvement in extracurricular activities inside and outside of residence halls. Programming will complement in-class learning, foster interpersonal development, and encourage greater commitment to the College. This position will supervise resident assistants and possibly graduate assistants. The Office of Campus Life oversees the following areas of the co-curricular learning program: (a) Fraternity and Sorority Life, (b) Orientation and First Week programming, (c) student organizations and SGA, (d) commuter student programming, (e) multicultural programming, (f) student conduct, and (g) residential education and housing.
Job Duties (but not limited to):
- Support the Associate Dean and other Assistant Directors in providing primary oversight and leadership for the Office Campus Life in a manner that supports the mission of the Division of Student Engagement and the College.
- Provide direct supervision and management of the Panther Activities Committee (PAC) including weekly meetings with the executive team and subcommittees. Lead them in the planning, implementation, and execution of large campus programs for the 900-student undergraduate community.
- Responsible for the assessment of programs to gauge student interest and build programs that engage the diverse student body at LaGrange College
- Provide direct supervision and management to residential staff within assigned campus area; including, but not limited to, facilitating weekly staff meetings, conducting regular one-on-one meetings with Senior RAs and RAs, and maintaining accurate staff files.
- Assist the Associate Dean and other Assistant Directors with the selection and training for all residential staff and ensuring that the functions of residential staff are understood, aligned, and integrated with the mission of the Division of Student Engagement and the College.
- Within assigned campus area, oversee the implementation of a comprehensive programming model that complements in-class learning, fosters interpersonal development, and encourages greater commitment to the College; monitor, track, and support the individual programming responsibilities of residential staff.
- Within assigned campus area, coordinate communication with external units regarding building services, custodial services, fire/life safety requirements, as well as maintenance requests, and oversee the monitoring, reporting, and follow up functions for these initiatives within the residential community.
- Within assigned campus area, support the Associate Dean in overseeing the administrative functions of the Office, including, but not limited to, room assignments, room changes, move in/out procedures, damage assessments, health/safety inspections, fire drills, incident reporting, assessment activities, policy review, budgetary oversight, publicity/advertising, and building tours.
- Assist the Associate Dean and other Assistant Directors in overseeing the on-call duty rotation for residential staff within the assigned campus area and participate in the professional on-call duty schedule that includes evening and weekend coverage; respond to crisis and emergency situations as needed; maintain a presence in the halls and make rounds of residential facilities on a regular basis.
- Help oversee the implementation of new initiatives within the Office of Campus Life that may include a summer conferences program, living-learning communities, and a residence hall association, and provide direct support/oversight for such initiatives when launched.
- Provide leadership and direction for the development of interpersonal relationships with and among students in residential communities to ensure an inclusive, safe, secure, healthy living and learning environment through consistent interaction with students and maintaining a visible presence within the halls.
- Work closely with the Associate Dean of manage a student conduct caseload.
- Serve on various College committees and/or task forces as requested; support the Division of Student Engagement in the implementation of major campus events.
- As with all Division of Student Engagement employees, Assistant Directors are expected to engage in continual professional development by maintaining a knowledge of current literature, trends, and best practices in student affairs/higher education administration as well as conducting themselves in a professional manner that promotes the mission of the Division of Student Engagement and the College.
Candidates are asked to speak specifically to their experiences supporting student activities and programming as well as their experience managing and allocating budgeted funds.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree with minimum of two (2) years of direct professional residence life or programming experience. A Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, public administration, counseling, law, or related field from an accredited institution is highly preferred. Previous experience directly supervising student staff in a college residential living environment preferred. Previous experience working as a live-in student or professional residence life staff member at a four-year institution of higher education strongly preferred. Experience with graphic design and familiarity with programs to create dynamic advertisements is preferred.
This position requires significant evening and weekend work. Applicants need to be able to lift objects of 25lbs. or larger for event preparations and execution.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Commitment to the mission of church affiliated liberal arts institutions like LaGrange College.
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to work evening and weekend hours.
- Demonstrated ability to understand and articulate the critical importance of inclusive practices and respect for diversity and social justice in the collegiate setting.
- Proven record of being able to utilize effective time management, organization, prioritization, and attention to detail while performing multiple duties, often under stress.
- Excellent leadership, organizational, interpersonal, written, as well as oral communication skills.
- Experience supervising residential student staff.
- Evidenced excellent problem solving, conflict resolution, judgment, and crisis management skills
- Ability to foster relationships across campus and build collaborative programs with faculty.
- Demonstrated proficiency with current technology and social networking platforms to advertise programs that reach the student body.
- Demonstrated understanding of the connection between student affairs and the educational mission of the College.
- Proven record of innovative and strategic thinking as well as a passion for building and adapting programs to meet the changing needs of today's students.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule (i.e., nights, weekends)