Student Affairs Leader — Hybrid (Bruges Campus)

The College of Europe; West-Vlaanderen; Hybrid; EUR 55,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meal vouchers

Transportation allowance

Hospitalisation insurance

Group insurance

End-of-year bonus

Holiday pay

Job summary

The College of Europe invites applications for the role of Student Affairs Coordinator at Bruges campus, starting September 2026.

The post leads the Student Affairs Office and oversees the welfare and support services for students in a dynamic international environment.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social sciences or related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in higher education, student support or people-focused environments.
• Excellent command of English and French; Dutch is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the Student Affairs team.
• Be primary contact for student-related matters outside academics.
• Support students facing challenging situations and coordinate referrals.
• Contribute to a safe, inclusive campus environment.
• Coordinate Code of Conduct implementation and policy updates.
• Manage budget in collaboration with the Director of Student Affairs.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Resilience

Effective communication

Education

Master’s degree in social sciences

Job description

The College of Europe is seeking applications for the position of Student Affairs Coordinator(80-100 % FTE), joining the Student Affairs Office at its Bruges campus from September 2026 onwards.

This newly created position will act as the operational lead of the Student Affairs Office and serve as one of the primary points of contact for student-related matters outside the academic sphere. The Coordinator will supervise the Student Affairs team, support students facing complex situations and contribute to fostering a safe, inclusive and supportive campus environment.

About the College

The College of Europe is the oldest postgraduate institute of European studies. It brings together graduates from diverse backgrounds to study and live in an international environment across its campuses in Bruges, Natolin and Tirana.

As a centre of excellence in European studies, the College is committed to contributing to European cooperation and integration . Staff members contribute to this mission through professional dedication, a spirit of proactive collegiality and mutual respect.

For more information about the College, please visit our website .

About the Student Affairs Office

The Student Affairs Office supports students on all non-academic aspects of their experience at the Bruges campus. It plays a central role in fostering student well-being, building community life and supporting students throughout their studies.

The Office works closely with student representatives, internal services and external partners to ensure that students have access to appropriate support, guidance and resources. It also contributes to the implementation of the College's Code of Conduct and supports initiatives aimed at creating a respectful and inclusive living and learning environment

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Student Affairs, the Student Affairs Coordinator will act as the operational lead of the Student Affairs Office. The Coordinator supervises the Student Affairs team, serves as the primary point of contact for student-related matters and ensures the effective delivery and continuous improvement of student support services.

The main tasks and responsibilities of the Student Affairs Coordinator include:

• Lead, coach and support the Student Affairs Officer and Student Welfare Officer, ensuring high-quality service delivery and professional development;
• Provide guidance to the Student Affairs Officer of the Tirana branch;
• Serve as one of the primary points of contact for student-related matters and as the escalation point for complex, sensitive or high-impact situations, ensuring appropriate resolution and follow-up;
• Support students facing personal, practical, conduct or well-being-related challenges and coordinate appropriate follow-up and referrals, in close collaboration with the Student Welfare Officer;
• Build constructive relationships with student representatives and serve as a key liaison between students and the College administration;
• Coordinate the implementation of the College's Code of Conduct and contribute to prevention, awareness-raising and support initiatives;
• Manage student complaints and help resolving interpersonal conflicts in a professional, impartial and solution-oriented manner;
• Prepare and monitor the Student Affairs budget in cooperation with the Director of Student Affairs;
• Liaise with other College services and external stakeholders, including healthcare and well-being professionals, local authorities and partner organisations;
• Lead the continuous improvement of services, policies and procedures within the Student Affairs Office to ensure a high-quality student experience.

Your Profile

For this position, the College is looking for a mature and service-oriented professional who combines strong interpersonal skills with sound judgement, empathy and resilience.

Candidates should possess:

• A master’s degree, preferably in social sciences, psychology, educational sciences, human resources or a related field;
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in higher education, student support, welfare services, human resources or comparable people-focused environments;
• Excellent command of English and French; knowledge of Dutch and/or other languages is considered an asset;
• Strong interpersonal, communication and management skills;
• The ability to manage difficult conversations with professionalism, empathy and appropriate assertiveness;
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and international environment;
• The ability to work autonomously while contributing positively to a collaborative team environment;
• A high degree of integrity, discretion and respect for confidentiality.

Experience or familiarity with the activities and operations of the College of Europe would be considered an asset.

Our offer

• A pleasant and stimulating international working environment;
• A one-year employment contract under Belgian law, with the prospect of renewal;
• A competitive remuneration;
• A comprehensive benefits package including legal holiday pay, end-of-year bonus, meal vouchers, transportation allowance, hospitalisation insurance, and group insurance;
• Legal holidays plus two additional public holidays (9th of May and 11th of July) and eight closing days during the winter break;
• A telework policy of up to two days per week, together with a telework allowance;
• A unique opportunity to contribute to a renowned project of European integration.

How to apply

Applications in English, comprising a detailed CV (max. 2 pages) and a motivation letter (max. 1 page) should be submitted by 31 July 2026to the HR Office at [e-mail] , mentioning “Student Affairs Coordinator” in the subject line.

Early applications are highly encouraged. As applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview during the week of 3 August 2026.

By submitting your application, you consent to have your personal data processed for the purpose of recruitment and the specific position you are applying for. You acknowledge that your data, as well as data we receive from academic institutions we can contact for verification purposes, will be processed by the College of Europe, the members of the selection committee appointed by the College of Europe related to this recruitment process. All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and in line with the current data processing regulations. For more information on how we use the information you have provided and how to exercise your rights, please see our privacy notice for recruitment ( https://www.coleurope.eu/privacy ).

***

The College of Europe is committed to equal treatment and opportunity. It aims to reflect the diversity of our society and to offer an inclusive work and study environment for all members of its community. Consistent with these goals, the Bruges campus has a zero-tolerance policy for any acts against the dignity and integrity of individuals, whether in the form of discrimination, bullying, harassment, stalking, violence, or sexual misconduct. Candidates are therefore recruited and selected on the basis of skills and experience, regardless of sex, age, ability, ethnicity, class and background, political belief, race, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, culture, or any other grounds.