Assistant/Associate Director of Student Involvement

Grinnell College; Grinnell (IA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Grinnell College seeks an Assistant/Associate Director of Student Involvement and Engagement to enhance the first-year student experience, support transitions for new and transfer students, and foster meaningful engagement.

You will design programs, recruit and lead New Student Ambassadors and Transfer Student Peer Mentors, and collaborate with the Dean of Student Involvement to coordinate transition and engagement processes. Build belonging across a diverse campus.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent.
• One to two years for Assistant level and three to five years for Associate level of relevant work experience.
• Works well with colleagues to reach shared goals.
• Prioritizes tasks and manages time to meet deadlines.
• Works independently and gets results.
• Promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all work.
• Connects effectively with people of different backgrounds and styles.
• Plans and runs successful events from start to finish.
• Supports student growth through meaningful programs and experiences.

Responsibilities

• Oversee summer communication with incoming students and coordinate training and logistics for New Student Orientation, Transfer Student Orientation, and the First-Year Experience.
• Plan and implement Welcome Week and Involvement initiatives that connect students to one another and resources, contributing to retention, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.
• Serve actively on the First-Year Experience leadership team.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Time management

Event planning

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Are you passionate about shaping the first-year student experience?The Assistant/ Associate Director of Student Involvement andEngagement at Grinnell College focuses on enhancing the first-yearstudent experience, supporting transitions for new and transferstudents, and fostering meaningful student engagement.

In this role, you’ll design and implement innovative programs andinitiatives tailored to the specific needs of first-year andtransfer students as they transition to life at Grinnell College.You’ll be directly responsible for implementing a holistic studentexperience, and you’ll recruit, train, and lead the New StudentAmbassador and Transfer Student Peer Mentor staff. Working closelywith the

Dean of Student Involvement, you’ll coordinate and organize alltransition and engagement processes for new students.

You’ll also actively support student involvement in co-curricularactivities, events, and experiences that promote interpersonal andholistic growth. As an intentional educator, you’ll collaboratewith the Student Involvement and Engagement team, faculty, staff,and students to develop a comprehensive approach to studentsuccess, orientation, and retention on an intellectually rigorousand diverse campus.

Most of all, you’ll be pivotal in building a sense of belonging andcommunity among Grinnell College’s diverse student body.

Key Responsibilities

Orientation, Transitions, and Retention

• Oversee summer communication with incoming students andcoordinate training and logistics for New Student Orientation,Transfer Student Orientation, and the First-Year Experience.
• Plan and implement Welcome Week and Involvement initiativesthat connect students to one another and important resources,contributing to retention, inclusion, and a sense ofbelonging.
• Serve actively on the First-Year Experience leadershipteam.

Supervision and Advising

• Recruit, interview, select, and supervise New StudentAmbassadors, New Student Coordinators, Transfer Student PeerMentors, and Weekend, student staff, providing regular check-insand educational opportunities.
• Provide general advice to student organizations, reviewrequests for student activity funds, and support their programmaticefforts.

Communication and Assessment

• Manage seasonal updates to the orientation website andresources and gather satisfaction feedback from students to shapefuture programming.
• Develop, implement, and assess goals and learning outcomes thatsupport the mission of the department, division, and theCollege.

Teamwork and Collaboration

• Serve as liaison to the Admission Office to support asuccessful transition for incoming students.
• Partner with colleagues across the Division of Student Affairsand campus, assist with major departmental programs and events, andperform other duties as assigned.

ABOUT GRINNELL COLLEGE

Grinnell College is a top-ranking private liberal arts institutionthat values diversity, equity, inclusion, intellectual freedom, andsocial responsibility. We seek candidates that align with thesevalues and have the ability and desire to advance our values andbelonging within our community and the communities we engage. Idealcandidates will be prepared to collaborate and contribute to themission and values of the college across all constituencies.

• Master’s degree or equivalent
• One to two years for Assistant level and three to five yearsfor Associate level of relevant work experience
• Works well with colleagues to reach shared goals
• Prioritizes tasks and manages time to meet deadlines
• Works independently and gets results
• Promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all work
• Connects effectively with people of different backgrounds andstyles
• Plans and runs successful events from start to finish
• Supports student growth through meaningful programs andexperiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education or social science preferred
• Must be willing to work non-traditional hours, including latenights and weekends(depending on the schedule of campusactivities)