Assistant Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Planning

American University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 63,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

American University in Washington, DC seeks an Assistant Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Planning to lead assessment, evaluation, and planning across the Division of Student Affairs, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and accreditation standards.

This full-time on-campus role collaborates with Institutional Research and campus partners to drive data-informed decisions, strengthen student learning, belonging, and success, and report to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• 2–4 years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead assessment planning, design, and coordination across all Student Affairs departments.
• Collect, analyze, and present data to inform divisional decision-making and planning.
• Provide training and consultation to staff on assessment design, data collection, and reporting.
• Collaborate with campus partners to enhance student engagement, learning, and belonging.
• Oversee projects and support strategic action planning within the division.
• Supervise 1–2 graduate assistants.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree or equivalent

Job description

Assistant Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Planning

Main Campus (Washington, DC)

Full time

Department: Student Affairs

Time Type: Full time

Job Type: Regular

FLSA Status: Exempt

Work Modality: Full On Campus Presence

Union: Excluded

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University

The Assistant Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Planning serves as a strategic leader in advancing a culture of assessment, evidence-based decision-making, and continuous improvement across the Division of Student Affairs. The Assistant Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Planning partners with all Student Affairs departments to enhance programmatic and operational outcomes, strengthen student learning and engagement, and ensure alignment with institutional and divisional strategic priorities. This role provides leadership in the coordination, development, and implementation of comprehensive assessment, evaluation, and planning processes that drive informed decision-making and innovation. The Assistant Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Planning leads data collection, analysis, and reporting for divisional initiatives. As a key advisor to Vice Provost for Student Affairs, this role provides insight on trends and outcomes related to student belonging, engagement, and success, informing strategies that promote meaningful student experiences and equitable outcomes. The position requires strong collaboration with the office of Institutional Research, as well as with campus partners and active engagement with students, families, and external stakeholders to advance Student Affairs priorities.

1. Assessment Planning and Coordination

• Provides strategic leadership in the design, implementation, and coordination of comprehensive assessment plans across all Student Affairs departments. Ensures assessment initiatives are aligned with divisional priorities, institutional goals, and accreditation standards. Partners with divisional leaders and departments to develop and refine learning outcomes, performance indicators, and measurable goals that strengthen program quality, operational effectiveness, and the student experience. Analyzes assessment results to identify trends, highlight opportunities for continuous improvement, and recommend evidence-based enhancements to divisional practices, policies, and procedures. Develop and manage systems for tracking and evaluating divisional initiatives, strategic priorities, and deliverables to promote accountability and progress toward measurable student success outcomes. Leads the creation and maintenance of an annual Student Affairs assessment and planning calendar, ensuring timely reporting and integration with university-wide assessment cycles. Leads the Division’s assessment committee. Leads the production of the annual Division of Student Affairs Annual Impact Reports, department annual reports, and semester reports. Provide leadership, coordination and project management with the division’s strategic action plan. Collaborate with key campus partners including the Office of Information Technology, Institutional Research, Student Retention and Success, Undergraduate Education and Academic Services, and Enrollment Management to support shared projects, data integration efforts, and other-related initiatives.

2. Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting

• Collects, analyzes, and interprets strategic data to inform divisional decision-making, resource allocation, and long-term planning. Provides actionable insights that shape programmatic assessment, strategic initiatives, and emerging Student Affairs priorities. Develops and implements strategies to identify and engage students not currently involved in co-curricular activities. Provide assessment support for Housing & Residence Life, including the Residential Experience and the Residential Curriculum. Support assessment planning related to accreditation and continuous quality improvement for both the Student Health Center and the Center for Well-Being. Support division-wide assessment, data analytics, dashboards, program evaluation, survey administration, and institutional reporting to support strategic planning and executive decision-making. Serve as the point of contact for Student Affairs student success outcomes, and supports all major cohorts, programs and initiatives that tell the division’s student success stories. Collaborates with key partners across campus including Institutional Research, Undergraduate Education, and Student Retention and Success to design data-informed interventions that increase engagement, belonging, and retention. In conjunction with the Student Affairs Data Analytics Team, oversees the data analysis and presentation of assessment projects conducted across Student Affairs departments, ensuring findings are clearly communicated, actionable, and aligned with institutional priorities. Prepares and delivers high-quality reports and presentations for Board of Trustees, senior leadership, university committees, and external audiences, articulating progress toward divisional goals and institutional impact.

3. Consultation, Training and Capacity Building

• Serves as the division’s subject matter expert on Student Affairs assessment, benchmarking, and evaluation best practices, ensuring divisional strategies align with national standards and institutional goals. Creates and standardizes templates, policies, and procedures for internal and external reporting to enhance consistency, transparency, and efficiency in data management and communication across the division. Provides expert training and consultation to divisional staff on assessment design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting. Supports departments in building the capacity to use evidence-based decision-making to enhance programs and student outcomes. Develops and facilitates workshops, guides, and digital resources to strengthen staff assessment literacy and promote a culture of continuous improvement across the Division of Student Affairs. Oversee the development and maintenance of the Student Affairs Assessment website, ensuring it serves as a dynamic resource for data sharing, transparency, and communication of divisional impact.

4. Collaboration, Partnerships and Student Activism Support Team

• Serves as a designated member of the Student Activism Support Lead Team (SAST) and participates in an on-call rotation to support student activism, expressive activity, demonstrations, advocacy efforts, and other student-led engagement activities. Serves as a visible university representative and resource during planned and emergent student activities, promoting constructive engagement, effective communication, conflict de-escalation, and adherence to university policies and community standards. Provides after-hours and weekend support for student programs, campus events, demonstrations, and other activities that may require university response, coordination, or intervention on alternating basis. Collaborates with campus partners including the AU Police Department, Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices, the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and other university stakeholders to support student well-being, campus operations, and institutional response efforts. Maintains availability during assigned on-call periods to respond to emerging recognized student organization events and/or activism concerns, assess situations, provide appropriate support and referrals, and ensure continuity of university services during evenings, weekends, holidays, and other non-business hours.

• Coordinate with other Student Affairs and University departments, and external organizations to conceive, develop, and execute initiatives and programs. Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with offices on campus to promote student engagement, success, and retention. Support major division and university-wide programs, including but not limited to, Commencement, Family Weekend, Move-In, New Student Orientation, Family and Supporters Orientation, Student Achievement Awards, and Eagles at Night. As a member of the Division of Student Affairs, this position may advise recognized student organizations as needed.

5. Projects and Support

• Leads the Student Affairs Student Worker Learning Outcomes Project, overseeing the design, implementation, and evaluation of outcomes-based learning experiences for student employees across the division. Serves as the Division’s project manager for projects as assigned the Vice Provost for Student Affairs. Collaborate and lead the design and implementation VPSA communications, including but not limited to assessment updates, progress reports, and data storytelling initiatives that elevate the visibility and impact of Student Affairs work. Coordinate divisional program reviews with individual units based upon the respective standards of the functional area being reviewed.

6. Supervision

• Hires, trains, and supervises 1 – 2 Graduate Assistants. Provides an environment conducive to intellectual curiosity, effective challenge and support, and teamwork. Meets with staff member(s) individually to discuss their performance and provide professional development opportunities.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Supervises 1 - 2 Graduate Assistants.

Competencies

• Serving Customers.
• Displaying Creativity.
• Prioritizing and Organizing.
• Acquiring and Analyzing Information.
• Supporting Coworkers.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Full-time.
• 35 hours per week.
• Full on campus presence.
• This position has non-traditional hours, 11am - 7pm, Monday - Friday.
• Staff will work on an adjusted work schedule as needed, including late nights and weekends to support divisional programs, Student Activism Support Team, and other activities.

Salary Range

• $63,160.00 - $66,900.00 annually.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• 2 - 4 years of relevant experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master's degree or equivalent.
• 3 - 5 years of relevant experience.
• Preferred experience in the field of higher education institutional research or in higher education data analysis.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Inclusive Excellence: An ability to welcome, value, and affirm individuals of all identities and experiences, and a commitment to ensure they are understood, appreciated, and fully included in the university community.
• Discretion, Tact and Diplomacy: Ability to exercise discretion, tact and diplomacy while interacting with students, faculty, university staff, management, internship employers and other stakeholders on confidential and/or sensitive matters.
• Advanced Communication:Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, using language with precision; constructing logical arguments; accurate note taking, editing and summarizing; and writing reports or correspondence free of spelling and grammatical errors. Ability to engage in active and empathetic listening and communicate with a service minded orientation.
• Thoroughness in Reviewing Work:Ability to review one’s own and others work and information to ensure completeness and accuracy; carefully prepare for meetings and presentations; organize information or materials for others; follow up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled; and set up procedures to ensure high quality of work.
• Student Services Skills: Ability to serve as bridge to services, intervene and/or advocate on students’ behalf with offices across campus to support needs, drive engagement and empower students to achieve their goals.
• Diagnostic Information Gathering: Ability to seek out relevant people to obtain information; probe skillfully to get at the facts when others are reluctant to disclose the full details; ask clarifying questions; and gain a complete and accurate picture by checking multiple sources.
• Standard Office Software: Skill using email, word processing, spreadsheet/ data analysis and presentation development software applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint while preparing briefings, reports, and presentations.

Other Duties

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.

Other Details

• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
• Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
• American University is an E-Verify employer.

Current American University Employees

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Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity Statement

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.