Assistant Director for Student Organizations and Affinity Groups (71101)

Pratt Institute; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pratt Institute seeks an Assistant Director for Student Organizations and Affinity Groups to lead advising and operational support for Pratt’s student involvement program. Under the Director of Student Involvement, the AD oversees more than 80 clubs, supports affinity groups, and collaborates with campus partners to foster leadership across diverse identities.

The role includes advising, budgeting liaison with SGA, managing Engage/Engage+, coordinating Orientation activities, teaching

Qualifications

• Knowledge of student-development theory and applying it to advising and program design.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and collaborate with students, faculty, staff, and partners.
• Experience advising student organizations and leadership development.

Responsibilities

• Advise and manage student organizations; support ~80 clubs and affinity groups.
• Liaise with Student Government Association on budgets and finances.
• Provide training for student leaders and faculty advisors; oversee Orientation involvement.
• Oversee engagement platforms Engage and Engage+ to track clubs and events.
• Support large campus events (Family Weekend, Admit Day, Commencement).
• Assist with New Student Orientation and Connections leadership course.
• Supervise evening/weekend events and participate in staff training.

Skills

Student affairs knowledge

Leadership development

Interpersonal communication

Facilitation

Organization skills

Education

Master’s degree in higher education / student affairs or related field

Tools

Engage/Engage+

Job description

The Assistant Director for Student Organizations and Affinity Groups (AD), under the supervision of the Director of Student Involvement, provides leadership, advising, and operational support for Pratt’s Student Involvement program. Responsibilities include advising and managing student organizations, supporting approximately 30 affinity student groups, and assisting with New Student Orientation.

The AD collaborates with campus partners to support student leadership initiatives, developing leadership opportunities that encourage participation across all student identities, backgrounds, perspectives, interests, and experiences. The role also supports large-scale programs such as Family Weekend, Admitted Student Day, and Commencement.

Pratt’s Student Involvement programs reflect a commitment to student learning, leadership development, connection, and meaningful co-curricular participation in campus life. These programs and opportunities are open to all students across identities, backgrounds, perspectives, interests, and experiences. The work is grounded in student well-being, personal growth, belonging, collaboration, and an ethic of care.

• Manage and support more than 80 student clubs and organizations.
• Serve as a liaison to the Student Government Association (SGA) regarding student-organization budgets.
• Provide primary advising and administrative support for affinity and shared-interest student organizations, including but not limited to Queer Pratt, Black Student Union (BSU), Latinx Student Alliance (LSA), Pratt International Student Association (PISA), and Jewish Student Union (JSU).
• Develop and facilitate training for student-organization leaders and faculty and staff advisors in conjunction with other Student Involvement staff.
• Use advising practices that encourage student agency, reflection, shared decision-making, responsibility, and mutual care.
• Help all student leaders create organizations and programs that support connection, peer learning, meaningful participation, and personal growth.
• Provide guidance on institutional policies and procedures, budgeting, and accessible event planning.
• Help all students anticipate and navigate organizational transitions, leadership changes, and other challenges affecting group dynamics and participation, and connect students with appropriate campus resources when necessary.
• Administer Engage and Engage+, the institution’s online student-involvement platforms, to track student engagement and provide a clearinghouse for all registered student organizations and campus events.
• Travel with and provide onsite support for student organizations and affinity groups as needed.
• Participate in the training of Orientation staff and the planning and implementation of Orientation programs each academic year.
• Teach a section of Connections, Pratt’s student leadership course.
• Support Commencement activities, such as graduation fairs and Commencement ceremonies.
• Share responsibility for onsite supervision of evening and weekend student-organization-led events.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Education:

Master’s degree required, preferably in higher education, student affairs, college student personnel, or a related field.

Experience

• At least two years of experience in student activities, student-organization advising, leadership development and education, student engagement, or a related area.
• Experience in an art and design educational environment is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to support all students across a range of identities, needs, backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences, informed by an understanding of how these realities shape access, opportunity, participation and belonging.
• Experience creating opportunities where students develop leadership skills, build meaningful relationships, and reflect on their personal learning and growth.

Required Skills

• Knowledge of current issues in student affairs and student development practices.
• Knowledge of student-development theory and the ability to apply theory to advising, leadership education, and program design.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral/spoken communication skills.
• Strong facilitation, organization, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and collaborate effectively with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.

This position follows Pratt’s standard 35-hour work week based on 7-hour days. During the academic year, the AD uses a hybrid and flexible work schedule that may include evening and weekend responsibilities. Scheduling adjustments are made based on programs, events, and departmental needs. Evening and weekend responsibilities are scheduled in advance whenever possible, with corresponding adjustments to the employee’s regular work schedule.