Program Coordinator, Student Life

Ohlone College (CA); Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 64,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohlone College in Fremont, CA seeks a Student Life Coordinator who builds authentic relationships, advises student government, clubs, and develops leadership programs. You will manage events from concept through logistics to post-event evaluation while collaborating with staff, faculty, and community partners to foster inclusive campus life.

The role emphasizes equity-minded practices, serving a diverse student body and supporting meaningful student experiences across programs and activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a field related to student services.
• Three years of experience in a related field.
• Demonstrated equity-minded practices in diverse student settings.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and assess student life programs and major events.
• Advise student government, clubs, and leadership programs.
• Monitor budgets and ensure compliance with college policies.
• Collaborate with staff, faculty, and community partners.
• Develop and edit documents, reports, and event materials.
• Promote equitable practices and inclusive campus engagement.

Skills

State regulations

Title IX knowledge

District policies

Content management

Marketing strategies

ERP software

Data reporting

Office software

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Content management software

ERP software

Data reporting software

Job description

Ideal Candidate Statement

The ideal candidate for the Student Life Coordinator position is a student-centered professional who builds authentic relationships and inspires student leaders to grow into confident, engaged campus citizens. They bring hands-on experience developing and advising student government, clubs, and organizations, with the skill to translate policy and compliance requirements into accessible guidance for students navigating leadership for the first time.

This candidate is a capable event planner who can manage the full arc of major programs—from concept through logistics, staffing, and post-event evaluation—while remaining calm and resourceful when plans shift. They demonstrate sound judgment in monitoring departmental budgets and expenditures, balancing fiscal responsibility with the creativity needed to deliver meaningful student experiences.

Equally important, this person leads with empathy: they recognize that student engagement is inseparable from student well-being, and they respond to students' needs with patience, care, and cultural humility. They actively foster a sense of belonging for students across backgrounds, and they work intentionally to support historically underserved populations. The ideal candidate is a culture add to Ohlone College, not a culture fit, who strives to partner well with staff, faculty, and community stakeholders to build a vibrant, inclusive campus life.

Position Description

Under the supervision of the Director of Student Life, the Student Life Coordinator plans, organizes, coordinates, and implements creative programs and activities that meet the needs of Ohlone's diverse student body. The Student Life Coordinator enhances the growth and development of all students by providing social, cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities for all students to engage with the campus and the community. This position will directly support the Associated Students of Ohlone College, Inter-Club Council and student clubs and student organizations. The Student Life Coordinator will also collaborate with the surrounding community to advance student engagement and co-curricular learning opportunities.

Job description updates pending CSEA approval.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordinate, organize, lead, and assess special projects, major events, and activities in support of Student Life. Coordinates project workflow, identify assignments, track progress, and ensure completion.
2. Develops, implements, and coordinates student services activities and student-related leadership programs, includingsocial activities, cultural, holiday and music events, special performances, guest speakers, student government elections and graduation; provide event management support, guidance and advisement for student organizations.
3. Compile and analyze data related to student participation and program evaluation; establish and assess measurable service area outcomes, program goals, participate in program review and establishing annual action plans and objectives in assigned areas of responsibility; maintain reports, surveys and other records.
4. Advise and assist student government members and student clubs regarding operations, training, development, chartering, compliance with College policies and procedures and interpretation and modification of government documents; Oversees the planning of all aspects of student organization leadership, trainings, advising and program support
5. Coordinates programs in support of campus clubs and organizations; promotes the creation and development of new campus clubs and organizations; maintains appropriate contact with all clubs and organizations, including advisors;
6. Coordinates travel arrangements for student related travel in accordance with College policies and procedures;
7. Provides lead work guidance and coordinates scheduling of student workers; assists in assigning work of lower-level employees; ensures completeness, accuracy and conformance with District/departmental standards; provides information, guidance and training on work processes and technical procedures; assists in maintaining a fair and open work environment in accordance with the District's commitment to teamwork, mutual trust and respect.
8. Implements and oversees processes for posting/distributing of materials on campus as requested;
9. Serve as a liaison with college administration, academic personnel, and students as well as community agencies, organizations, professionals, vendors, and other colleges in support of Student Life programs, events, and partnerships. Develop a wide variety of community contacts to support student government, club, and organization programming and co-curricular events.
10. Develop, prepare, and edit a variety of documents, forms and operational procedures for the Office of Student Life, which may also include, but is not limited to; statistical reports, brochures, pamphlets, flyers, newsletters, agendas, manuals, event programs, invitations, and posters
11. Provides direction to unclassified hourly staff to organize the logistics of special events;
12. Refers students to District support services to promote student retention and contribute to student success;
13. Markets departmental services and special events on various platforms;
14. Monitors departmental funds to assist the supervising manager track departmental expenditures and recommend purchases;
15. Participates in the selection or hourly unclassified employees to recommend hires to supervising manager;
16. Demonstrate sensitivity to and respect for the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of the College's students, faculty, staff, and community.
17. Effectively engage and support historically disproportionately impacted groups by addressing issues of equity and improving culturally responsive service-oriented practices;
18. Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Of

1. State regulations governing student organizations and the use of public and auxiliary funds;
2. Title IX;
3. District policies and support services;
4. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software;
5. Data reporting software;
6. Content management software;
7. Marketing strategies;
8. General office software and equipment;

Skill To

1. Apply knowledge of State regulations governing student organizations, the use of public and auxiliary funds and the ability to correctly advise students on compliance with such regulations;
2. Apply knowledge of Title IX to forward cases of misconduct to appropriate District personnel;
3. Apply knowledge of District policies and support services to ensure that student activities are compliant with said policies and services;
4. Use content management software to update the departmental website;
5. Use marketing strategies to promote workshops, programs, and special events;
6. Use ERP software to monitor the departmental budget;
7. Use general office software and equipment to develop work schedules, reports, aggregate data, organize events, and communicate with District staff and students.

Ability To

1. Maintain currency of knowledge on changes to regulations that govern student organizations;
2. Effectively organize events;
3. Effectively resolve conflicts when they arise;
4. Ensure that communications and events are sensitive to and exhibit an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, staff, and the larger community;
5. Develop and maintain collegiate relationships with District staff, students, and external agencies;
6. Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination equivalent to:

Bachelor's degree in a field related to student services

AND/OR

3 years of experience in a related field

AND

Must have evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices.

Other Requirements

Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license

Physical Characteristics

This position requires physical abilities needed to work in a standard office setting, including but not limited to: standing and/or sitting for prolonged periods; occasional stooping, bending, kneeling, and twisting; occasional lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling light and moderate amounts of weight; operating office equipment which may require repeated fine motor skills (e.g.: keyboard use); and the ability to communicate in written and verbal forms. The position requires vision and hearing in normal ranges (with or without correction) sufficient to operate any assigned equipment and the ability to clearly communicate with others in written and verbal forms.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Environmental Elements

Indoor and outdoor work

Required Application Materials

The below items must be uploaded as attachments for your application to be complete and considered

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae.
2. A cover letter addressing the listed desirable qualifications and personal/professional qualities.
3. A list of three (3) professional references including name, position, organization, phone number, email, and relationship to the applicant.
4. Diversity question response: What does it mean to have a commitment to diversity, and how would you apply this commitment as you conduct your responsibilities in this position?

Salary Placement

California School Employees Association (CSEA) Range 42. Initial salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department's fiscal resources. Classified employees advance one step on the salary schedule each year and have the potential to reach the current maximum step of $92,268 annually.

Foreign Transcripts

Transcripts issued outside the United States require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the filing deadline. Here is a list of approved foreign degree evaluations services:

http://www.ohlone.edu/org/hr/forms/docs/evaluationofforeigndegrees.pdf

District Statement

Founded in 1967, Ohlone College is named in honor of the early Ohlone People who inhabited the San Francisco Bay Area. Ohlone College is committed to providing a high-quality education to serve our diverse population of over 15,000 students per year. Ohlone College is nationally recognized for our Deaf Studies and Interpreter Preparation programs, and is widely known for our nursing, health sciences, liberal arts, biomedical science, and smart manufacturing programs. As a learning community, we embrace and champion inclusivity, integrity, student expression, global citizenship, and continuous improvement.

Ohlone College is one of the top-ranked community colleges in California, serving the cities of Fremont, Newark, and Union City. Our campuses in Fremont and Newark are centrally located in the East Bay between San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. This region is known as a hub of innovation and economic activity, and home to some of the most advanced manufacturing, biomedical research, and clean energy companies in California, including Tesla, Meta, Seagate, and Lam Research.

The main campus in Fremont is located near Interstate 680 at the base of Mission Peak, just south of the historic Mission San Jose, and is the primary gateway to year-round hiking, biking, and hang gliding in the Mission Peak Regional Preserve. The Newark Center for Health Sciences and Technology is located near Interstate 880 in a hub of new residential and commercial development. The two campuses are connected by shuttle to each other and the Warm Springs BART station, which offers convenient access to public transit throughout the Bay Area.

Vision Statement

Ohlone College will be known for inclusiveness, innovation, integrity, engagement, and exceptional student success.

Mission Statement

Ohlone College offers high quality educational and career pathways and personal enrichment courses to serve the diverse needs of all students and the community. Ohlone provides excellent instruction and support services, awards associate degrees and certificates, and promotes university transfer in an inclusive, equitable, and multicultural environment where student learning and achievement are paramount. Ohlone fosters innovation, encourages student expression, and promotes ethical behavior and global citizenship.

EEO Statement

The District is strongly committed to the principles of equal opportunity and to hiring qualified staff who reflect the diversity of our community. The District encourages a diverse pool of applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religious creed, color