Associate Director of Leadership and Engagement

Position Title Associate Director of Leadership and Engagement
Position Approval Date 09/11/2023
Is this position budgeted? Yes
Is this position an essential position? No
About Susquehanna
Susquehanna University is the future-ready institution for today, invested in cultivating intellectual grounding, active learning and global citizenship for all students. Renowned as one of the finest U.S. national liberal arts colleges, Susquehanna inspires and challenges 2,200 enterprising, bright-minded students studying the arts, business, humanities and sciences. Our students seize opportunities through exceptional worldwide internships, expert-guided research and an acclaimed study-abroad program, leading to a transformative education that empowers each graduate to realize their unique potential and lead a successful and meaningful life.

The Susquehanna River Valley with its fresh air and overall pleasant year-round climate, provides four distinct seasons amidst a backdrop of vibrant autumn foliage, occasional winter snowfalls, flower-filled springs and warm summer evenings illuminated by fireflies. Nearby outdoor recreational areas for hiking, kayaking, fishing and skiing — and the bustling cultural and commerce hubs of New York City, Washington D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia within a three-hour drive — present abundant opportunities for learning and discovery.
Position Summary
Job Summary
The Associate Director for Leadership & Engagement will report directly to the Director of Leadership & Engagement and serve as a key staff member in support of the enhancement of co-curricular engagement through programming that supports the student transition process. The Associate Director has the primary responsibility of implementing and executing all new student transition and orientation programming while supporting welcome week activities and educational programming to supplement the first-year seminar curriculum. The associate director also provides visionary leadership and direction for co-curricular student leadership development programming. This position is defined as an exempt position under FSLA regulations.

Specific Responsibilities
Some of the primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Plan, execute and evaluate New Student Transitions/First-Year Experience, including the planning, logistics, and facilitation of new student and family summer onboarding, pre-orientation programs, the August orientation program, welcome week, first year essentials, and January orientation.
Oversee the recruitment, selection, and training of 50+ student orientation leaders, 1-2 student orientation coordinators, and one new student transition intern.
Provide direct supervision for 1-3 student orientation coordinators and one new student transition intern.
Coordinate, market, and track co-curricular educational programming during the first six weeks of classes that supplements the curricular first year seminar program.
Foster successful partnerships with faculty and staff in the design and delivery of high-impact new student transition initiatives, including supporting the first year seminar curriculum.
Manage new student recruitment and marketing materials and collaborate to build the River Hawk Portal checklist and communications calendar with key campus partners such as Enrollment Management, Marketing & Communications, and Residence Life.
Coordinate the marketing, registration, and arrival logistics for 5-8 Pre-Flight pre-orientation programs.
Co-lead with the Director the logistical organization and multi-departmental collaboration to execute first year move in day, including oversight of the recruitment and training of faculty, staff, and student volunteers.
Collaborate with staff and faculty from across campus (Division of Access, Equity and Belonging, Center for Teaching & Learning, Campus Safety, Violence Intervention and Prevention, Title IX Compliance, Residence Life) to develop and support co-curricular student learning and growth enhancing first year to second year retention.
Explore and create opportunities for continual improvement and collaborative development of summer anti-melt initiatives and orientation programs with a particular focus on engaging historically unrepresented students from acceptance to arrival on campus.
Revise the ATLAS (Aspire to Lead and Serve) program implementing and evaluating new co-curricular leadership development opportunities focused on citizenship, service, and leadership.
Recruit, train, and supervise 3-4 student leadership coordinators who assist with the implementation and execution of citizenship, service and leadership development opportunities for individual students and student groups, clubs and organizations.
Oversee the Annual Student Life Leadership Awards Ceremony process to include soliciting nominations, forming a review committee, and event planning and management.
Support the Assistant Director and Student Activities Council in the development of evening social programing for orientation and welcome week activities.
Collaborate with departmental staff and campus partners with the execution of major university traditions and large-scale student program initiatives such Homecoming, Halloween on the Avenue and Senior Week.
Become a certified TIPS and Green Dot trainer providing workshops on safe alcohol consumption and bystander intervention to various student groups.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Knowledge of large-scale project coordination and program design for undergraduate new to college students and transfer students
Knowledge of assessment including learning outcomes development and the use of data to evaluate and adjust programmatic functions or services.
Knowledge of student development theory, current issues and emerging trends regarding persistence and retention of students, student transition and belonging, first year experience, and interculturally competent approaches to engaging historically under-represented students.
Skilled at written and verbal communication, including formal presentations to large and small groups of varying audiences (students, faculty, administration, family members, alumni, external partners).
Ability to plan and organize small to large scale events.
Ability to independently set priorities and to work collaboratively across campus.

Required Qualifications
Education
Master’s degree in college student personnel, higher education administration, or related field required.
Experience
A minimum of 5 years of progressive and transformational leadership experience in new student transition and orientation programs, student activities, student leadership development, residence life or similar fields required.
Experience in supervising student employees is required.

Additional Requirements
This is a full-time, 12-month position which requires occasional night and weekend work.

Physical Demand
Position requires the ability to stand or stie for extended periods of time. Position requires the ability to move about the campus. Position requires the ability to talk and to hear instructions. Position requires occasional manual dexterity and the ability to use fingers, hands, and arms to feel, handle, and reach. Position requires occasional stooping, crouching, and bending. Position requires the ability to occasionally life to 30 pounds. Working conditions are indoor. Position requires occasional night and weekend hours.
Preferred Qualifications
Special Instructions to the Applicant
When submitting the required diversity & inclusion statement please answer the prompt below and ensure that any professional development opportunities, committee involvements, or ongoing learning that you have participated in with respect to diversity/equity/inclusion/belonging, intercultural competence, social justice, mediation or restorative practices, or related topics are included on your resume.
Describe how you have professionally demonstrated a commitment to advancing a culture of inclusivity through the creation or revisioning of programs, initiatives, or processs that aim to remove barriers to inclusion and belonging for historically underrepresented students.
Benefits Eligible Yes
Number of Months 12 months
Additional Work Schedule Details?
Hours per week during the academic year (39 wks)
Hours per week during the summer (13 wks)
Status Full-Time Benefits Eligible