Director of Student Engagement

Paul Smith's College; Paul Smiths (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Paul Smith’s College is seeking a Director of Student Engagement to lead campus‑wide programs that foster belonging, well‑being, persistence, and success. You will design, implement, and assess a comprehensive engagement framework across the student experience.

As a senior member of the Student Life team, you will collaborate with the Dean of Student Life and other leaders, using data to drive continuous improvement and coordinate cross‑functional initiatives like orientation and welcome events.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs or related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Student Engagement, Campus Activities or Student Affairs.
• Proven success advising student organizations and/or student government bodies.
• Demonstrated ability to apply and utilize analytics to evaluate engagement and inform program strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise diverse teams and manage complex programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and day‑to‑day leadership for a campus‑wide approach to student engagement that fosters inclusion, belonging, well‑being, and persistence from enrollment through graduation.
• Supervise professional and student staff, manage budgets and resources, and ensure efficient, mission‑aligned operations across the Student Engagement portfolio.
• Oversee hiring, training, and evaluation of staff and student employees within the Office of Student Engagement.
• Contribute to departmental strategic planning, priority setting, assessment, and planning for future growth.
• Coordinate implementation of selected department‑wide priorities, establishing timelines, clarifying responsibilities, tracking progress, and keeping the Dean informed of emerging issues.
• Convene and facilitate cross‑functional teams when needed to address issues that span multiple areas of the student experience.

Skills

Analytics

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Supervision

Inclusion

Collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Career Opportunities with Paul Smith's College

A great place to work.

Career Opportunities at Paul Smith's College

Position: Director of Student Engagement

Status: Regular, Full-time, Exempt

Department: Student Life

Reports to: Dean of Student Life

Compensation: $85,000.00 - $90,000.00 annual salary

Description

The Director of Student Engagement provides strategic leadership for programs and initiatives that strengthen student belonging, well-being, persistence, and success at Paul Smith’s College. Guided by the College’s experiential learning model and hands‑on philosophy, this role designs, implements, and assesses a comprehensive student engagement framework that extends across the student experience and supports institutional retention and student success goals.

As a senior member of the Student Life leadership team, the Director works closely with the Dean of Student Life to advance departmental priorities, coordinate selected cross‑functional initiatives, and respond to emerging student needs. The Director collaborates with colleagues across the institution to develop and execute student‑focused strategies in support of the College’s strategic plan, and uses data and analytics to measure impact and guide continuous improvement. This role is a key member of the Enrollment and Experience Council.

Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership & Supervision

Provide strategic and day‑to‑day leadership for a campus‑wide approach to student engagement that fosters inclusion, belonging, well‑being, and persistence from enrollment through graduation.

Supervise professional and student staff, manage budgets and resources, and ensure efficient, mission‑aligned operations across the Student Engagement portfolio.

Oversee hiring, training, and evaluation of staff and student employees within the Office of Student Engagement.

Contribute to departmental strategic planning, priority setting, assessment, and planning for future growth.

Coordinate implementation of selected department‑wide priorities, establishing timelines, clarifying responsibilities, tracking progress, and keeping the Dean informed of emerging issues.

Student Engagement

Direct the development and implementation of an annual calendar of student programs consistent with the strategic plan of both the Department of Student Life and the College overall. Program development will touch on social, recreational and cultural themes and include program design, implementation and evaluation.

Provide primary staff supervision for all registered student clubs and student‑led organizations to ensure compliance with college guidelines and assist in creating strategies to enhance their visibility.

Serve as the primary advisor to the Student Government Association, guiding student leaders in building effective governance structures, advocacy initiatives, and cross‑campus collaborations that promote involvement and amplify the student voice.

Assess the effectiveness of engagement programs and broader student experience initiatives; compile and analyze data for reports, identify trends and gaps, and work with colleagues to improve services and outcomes for students.

Collaborate with colleagues within Student Life and across the College to support integrated student success strategies, including Living Learning Communities and other cross‑functional programs and initiatives.

Lead or work collaboratively with counterparts to coordinate major cross‑functional initiatives, including New Student Orientation, Welcome Week, Open House, and other priorities designated by the Dean of Student Life.

Convene and facilitate cross‑functional teams when needed to address issues that span multiple areas of the student experience.

Serve on the Enrollment and Experience Council and other committees or working groups as assigned, contributing to institutional strategies for student persistence and graduation.

Work closely with the Dean of Student Life and maintain strong communication with the Dean of Curriculum to coordinate priorities across academic and Student Life domains. Represent the Department of Student Life in meetings and initiatives as designated by the Dean.

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with institutional policies and applicable regulations related to student life, health, and safety.

Promote a safe, inclusive, and supportive campus environment.

Budget & Resource Management

Support coordinated planning across Student Life by reviewing relevant budgets, identifying shared resource needs, and providing guidance on effective allocation.

Identify and support opportunities for grants, partnerships, and external funding that enhance student services and advance departmental priorities.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs or related field required.

Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Student Engagement, Campus Activities or Student Affairs

Proven success advising student organizations and/or student government bodies.

Demonstrated ability to apply and utilize analytics to evaluate engagement and inform program strategy.

Demonstrated ability to supervise diverse teams and manage complex programs.

Strong understanding of student development theory, engagement strategies, and retention practices.

Commitment to inclusive, community‑based, and experiential education.

Excellent communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.

Demonstration of leadership skills and ability to build effective professional collaborative working relationships across departments and with external partners.

Enthusiasm and skilled at working with diverse student populations.

Ability to work with a broad range of diverse individuals and groups to form a safe and inclusive workplace.

Ability to navigate complex challenges and demonstrate sharp problem‑solution skills by analyzing situations, determining next steps, and implementing solutions.

Demonstrated skill in effectively organizing work, files, records, etc., to maintain efficient workflow and robust processes.

Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Strong computer skills and ability to use varied data sources and current Microsoft Office Suite.

Present themselves outside the College in a manner in keeping with the College’s core values

This position will require evening and weekend work as needed throughout the academic year.

Physical Requirements

Environmental Conditions?

Work is consistently performed in an indoor office setting with normal temperature ranges for the season.???

Traditional noise of a busy office setting can be expected.??

Lifting and Carrying

Ability to regularly lift up to 10 lbs.

Frequent lifting and carrying of light to moderate office equipment (laptop or meeting materials) weight items.?

Mobility

Prolonged sitting majority of the workday to complete responsibilities.??

Ability to bend, stoop, and kneel?to pick up items as necessary.

Climbing various staircases across the campus to engage in meetings and/or presentations.??

Dexterity and Hand‑Eye Coordination

Manual dexterity for handling small office‑related objects.?

Fine motor skills for work performed on laptop.

Infrequent need to reach overhead or below knee level to perform work duties.?

Sensory Requirements

Good vision, including color vision, with corrective lenses as necessary. ??

Good hearing with assistive devices as necessary. ??

Paul Smith’s College is an equal opportunity employer. Position descriptions are created that focus on essential functions, using inclusive language, and avoid unnecessary or discriminatory requirements.

We are reviewing candidates immediately and expect this search to move quickly!