Assistant Director of Student Center Operations

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston is seeking an Assistant Director to lead operations of student spaces within Event Management, primarily Cullinane Hall and satellite study areas. You will oversee daily operations, staffing, safety, scheduling, and coordination with Campus Crossroads and other facilities.

Reporting to the Associate Director, you will develop training, manage budgets, and ensure exceptional service for students, staff, and the campus community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of two years of experience in higher education, hospitality, customer service, operations and facilities management or a related field.
• Demonstrated understanding of the philosophy, role and purpose of a student center or union, and student activities.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, supervisory, and customer service skills.
• Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage the daily operations of department-run student spaces to ensure safety, security, and professionalism.
• Develop and maintain Skedda for space reservations.
• Respond to urgent building issues and coordinate corrective actions after hours.
• Oversee space maintenance, work orders, and supplies for ongoing operations.
• Assist with capital assets and budgeting for department resources.
• Oversee staff recognition, branding, and social media for the department.
• Coordinate venue use with customers and facilities teams to ensure clear communication and quality service.
• Staff and train part-time student and non-student employees; supervise a Northeastern co-op student.
• Develop job descriptions, performance expectations, and evaluation tools; provide timely feedback.
• Deliver semesterly training on professional skills, safety, policies, and operations.
• Manage schedules for student study spaces and support other facilities as needed.
• Approve payroll for direct staff and assist in other department areas.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Supervisory skills

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

About the Opportunity Job Summary

The Assistant Director will report to the Associate Director of Student Center Operations in Event Management and fall under the Senior Associate Director of Operations. The Assistant Director will be responsible for managing the operations of student spaces on campus that fall under the Event Management umbrella, with primary responsibility for the Cullinane Hall student space and satellite student study spaces. Responsibilities include daily operations, maintenance, safety and security, scheduling and reservations for students, staffing, training, and logistics. The Assistant Director will help ensure that student study spaces are operated professionally and remain responsive to changing student and community needs in accordance with the mission of the university. The role also provides support to Curry Student Center operations, including Campus Crossroads, the Game Room, and Operations Desk, and may assist with other major events or programming scheduled on campus.

The Assistant Director will work with the Associate Director and Event Management staff to serve the needs of university academic and administrative staff, students, and community populations as they access the services and programs of these facilities. The regular days of coverage for this position are Monday through Friday. This position requires significant flexibility and may require work outside regular operating hours, including early mornings, late evenings, nights, and weekends, depending on departmental events and operational needs.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Administrative Duties / Facility Management

• Manage the daily operations of department-run student spaces to ensure facilities operate in a safe, secure, and professional manner in accordance with university and Event Management department policies and procedures
• Develop and maintain Skedda, the application used to reserve and assign spaces to students and staff
• Respond to and identify urgent building issues and take immediate, appropriate corrective action with relevant internal or external parties during and after operational hours
• Oversee and maintain physical spaces, including submitting work orders for cleaning and repairs and ordering supplies and services for the ongoing operation of the complex
• Assist with the management of capital assets to ensure building resources respond to user and student needs
• Oversee the department's employee recognition program
• Oversee the direction, branding, and content of the department's social media accounts
• Coordinate and review scheduled venue use, as needed, from a daily, weekly, and monthly perspective with customers, facilities, scheduling, public safety, and other Event Management staff to ensure that space usage, event details, room setups, and operating hours are clearly communicated and provide quality customer service
• Staffing
• Train, coach, and develop part-time student and non-student employees who work in the student study spaces
• Supervise one Northeastern co-op student
• Develop job descriptions, performance expectations, and evaluation tools for employees
• Provide timely performance feedback to student employees
• Work with the Associate Director to develop and deliver semesterly training in professional skill development, safety and security, policies, and operations
• Oversee operations and maintain schedules for students working in the student study spaces while remaining within budget, and support Campus Crossroads, the Game Room, and Operations Desk as needed
• Approve payroll for all direct staff and assist in other areas of the department as needed

Assessment and Benchmarking

• Assess and benchmark programs and services as required
• Maintain active records of student, faculty, and staff usage and submit weekly activity reports
• Assess and disseminate building-use data and analysis
• Conduct other benchmarking studies as required

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of two years of experience in higher education, hospitality, customer service, operations and facilities management, or a related field
• Demonstrated understanding of the philosophy, role, and purpose of a student center or union, as well as student activities
• Strong interpersonal, communication, supervisory, and customer service skills
• Preferred Master's degree

Position Type Facilities

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 108S Expected Hiring Range: $60,315.00 - $85,192.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.