Associate Vice President, Student Life

Saint Leo University Company; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free tuition

Tuition exchange

Generous paid leave

Comprehensive health plan

Job summary

Saint Leo University is seeking an Associate Vice President of Student Life to provide strategic leadership for student engagement, well-being, and community. You will oversee Student Affairs departments, lead conduct and care initiatives, and collaborate with campus partners to deliver a safe, engaging student experience.

The role requires a Master’s degree and significant higher education leadership experience.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education administration or related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education.
• Experience supervising staff across Student Affairs programs.
• Experience with student conduct, crisis response, and student care.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the Vice President and divisional planning.
• Direct assigned Student Affairs departments, programs, and services.
• Develop initiatives to strengthen engagement, belonging and retention.
• Oversee Campus Dining and Auxiliary Services including major outlets.
• Lead student conduct processes, investigations, hearings, and sanctions.
• Collaborate across Academic Affairs, Athletics, HR and other units.
• Lead CARE Team and TABIT processes for student support.
• Represent Student Affairs on university committees and projects.
• Provide after-hours leadership during emergencies.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Supervision

Student affairs knowledge

Crisis response

Policy development

Education

Master’s degree in higher education administration or related field

Five years of progressive experience in higher education

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Associate Vice President of Student Life provides strategic leadership and oversight for key areas of the student experience at Saint Leo University. Reporting to the Vice President of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation, this position leads programs and services that promote student engagement, well-being, belonging, personal development, and a strong campus community consistent with the University’s mission and core values. The Associate Vice President of Student Life serves as a senior leader within the Division of Student Affairs and collaborates with students, faculty, staff, University leadership, and campus partners to create a safe, supportive, engaging, and student-centered campus experience.

Areas of Oversight

• Office of Residential Experience and Community Standards
• Student Engagement and Leadership
• Office of Student Well-Being
• Campus Dining and Auxiliary Services
• Campus Ministry
• Derek J. Mitchell Recovery Program
• Threat Assessment & Behavioral Intervention Team (TABIT)
• Student Conduct

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and support to the Vice President of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation in divisional planning, policy development, and University-wide initiatives.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and strategic direction for assigned Student Affairs departments, programs, and services.
• Develop and implement initiatives that strengthen student engagement, belonging, well-being, leadership development, and retention.
• Provide oversight of Campus Dining and Auxiliary Services, including Benedict’s Coffeehouse, Jimmy John’s, vending services, Field BBQ & Grill, and the University’s partnership with Genuine Foods.
• Lead and oversee the student conduct process, including investigations, hearings, sanctions, appeals, and maintenance of conduct records.
• Review and administer the Student Code of Conduct and Guide to Residential Living to ensure clear, fair, consistent, and educational processes.
• Chair and oversee the CARE Team, coordinating early intervention, case management, referrals, and support for students experiencing academic, personal, behavioral, or well-being concerns.
• Provide leadership and coordination for TABIT and threat assessment processes in collaboration with appropriate University partners.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Athletics, Campus Safety, Human Resources, and other University departments to provide coordinated student support.
• Develop proactive outreach, education, prevention, and intervention initiatives that promote student well-being, accountability, safety, and community standards.
• Promote compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and University policies related to student affairs, student rights, accessibility, privacy, and campus safety.
• Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate professional, graduate, and student staff within assigned areas.
• Use assessment, data, and student feedback to evaluate programs and services and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Represent Student Affairs on University committees, initiatives, and special projects.
• Provide leadership during student emergencies and crisis situations, including after-hours response as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Division of Student Affairs and University priorities.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of student affairs, student development, student engagement, and student support practices within a higher education environment.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and best practices related to student conduct, student rights, accessibility, privacy, and campus safety.
• Knowledge of behavioral intervention, threat assessment, crisis response, community standards, and student care practices.

Skills:

• Strong leadership, supervisory, staff development, and team-building skills.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with students, families, faculty, staff, University leadership, and external partners.

Abilities:

• Ability to provide strategic leadership across multiple Student Affairs departments and functional areas.
• Ability to manage complex and sensitive student matters with sound judgment, discretion, fairness, and professionalism.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to student emergencies, crises, and time-sensitive situations.
• Ability to develop and evaluate programs, policies, and initiatives that enhance the student experience.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately manage sensitive student information and records.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, college student personnel, psychology, social work, or a related field required.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, student affairs, student life, or a related area preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and providing leadership across programs or functional areas.
• Experience with student conduct, behavioral intervention, crisis response, student care/case management, or related areas.
• Experience providing leadership across multiple Student Affairs functional areas preferred.
• Experience participating in an on-call or after-hours student crisis response structure preferred.

Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are a representation of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office and University, handle various types of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.

Notice

This job description intends to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Saint Leo University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student, and graduate success.

Why Work at Saint Leo?

What it’s Like to Work Here: Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at Saint Leo University is “Community.” Our team members all share the Saint Leo core values, positive attitudes, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to provide excellent student centered service. Our mission is educating and preparing students for life and leadership in a challenging world. Thank you for your interest in joining the Saint Leo PRIDE! We are committed to providing our employees with the support they need. At Saint Leo, we offer an array of medical, dental, and vision packages as well as several add-on perks to make your benefits package truly customizable to you and your family needs. Available benefits based on employment status (Full Time vs Part Time).

Benefits

• FREE Tuition - Employee, Spouse, and Dependents*
• Tuition Exchange Opportunity - Dependent of Employees*
• Generous Paid Leave - Sick, Vacation, and Holidays
• Comprehensive Group Health Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Group Medical Plan includes Teledoc, Surgery Plus, Wellness Incentive Program and more!
• 100% Employer-Funded Health Reimbursement Account
• 100% Employer-Paid Short Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer-Funded Employee Assistance Program (healthcare and dependent options)
• Employer-provided life insurance
• Discounted On-Campus Dining Meal Plans
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Wellness Center *Eligibility based on meeting required service period 2025
• ICUBA Benefits Guide_St Leo Top Workplace

Accolades

Each year from 2012 to 2016, Saint Leo University was named one of Tampa Bay’s Top Workplaces by the Tampa Bay Times. The Top Workplaces in Tampa Bay program was created by the Tampa Bay Times and WorkplaceDynamics. The companies in this survey were ranked based on leadership, compensation and training, workplace flexibility, and diversity. One of the Top-Ranked Universities in Florida One of the top-ranked universities in Florida, Saint Leo is a Catholic, liberal arts school serving learners of all faiths. We are traditional, but we are cutting edge Established in 1889 by the Order of Saint Benedict of Florida, the university seeks balanced growth in mind, body and spirit for all members of our community. Saint Leo has grown from a peaceful campus in the rolling hills of Central Florida to an institution of international consequence—ranked one of the best regional universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report Our Tampa-area campus remains committed as ever to student-centered liberal arts education, and is strengthened by the global reach of our regionally accredited online programs and Education Centers in seven states across the U.S., including on many military bases. We are Catholic, but we are for everyone Our determination to make higher education more accessible to all has made Saint Leo a world leader in redefining the 21st century university. Saint Leo now serves more than 16,000 students from 49 states and 86 countries—ranking us among the five largest Catholic higher education institutions in the United States. Saint Leo is also one of the nation's 10 leading providers of higher education to the U.S. military. While we are proudly Catholic, we teach students not because they are Catholic, but because we are Catholic. And our faith compels us to imagine and contribute to a more socially just society.

Non-Discrimination EEO Statement

Saint Leo University has a strong commitment to principles of equal employment opportunity and equal access to education. Saint Leo University does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, ethic origin, genetic information, sex, gender, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law in its educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, employment, or other school administered programs. The policy is enforced by Saint Leo University and by applicable laws such as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992.

Title IX Office

The Title IX Office Office Location: Benedictine Hall 3rd Floor

Email Address: [e-mail]

Telephone Number: [phone]

Mailing Address: Saint Leo University ATTN: Title IX Office 33701 C.R. 52, Saint Leo, FL 33574

The Director of Accessibility Services and the Section 504 Coordinator, Michael Bailey, may be contacted at [e-mail].

Note: Questions regarding job application status can be sent to [e-mail].

The above contacts are listed specifically for Title IX and/or Accessibility concerns only.

The University has developed the 'Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Policy' to address any Title IX related allegations of sexual harassment. The policy can be found on the University website. A written/hard-copy version of the policy is available upon request from the Title IX Coordinator.

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