Senior Director, Student Life

Cleveland State University; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Cleveland State University is seeking a Senior Director of Student Life to provide strategic leadership for programs that activate student engagement and well-being on campus. You will direct events, mentor student organizations, and collaborate with staff to foster a positive campus environment.

This role manages the engagement of student groups, the ERP system, and related budget and stipend accounting responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field such as student affairs, higher education, counseling, or related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in student development or retention, with at least three (3) years of supervisory experience.
• Master's degree preferred; experience in higher education student affairs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for programs that activate and enhance student engagement and well-being on campus.
• Direct events, manage, train, and support student organizations, and collaborate with staff to foster a positive campus environment.
• Oversee engagement for student organizations, the ERP system, budgetary functions, and stipend accounting as appropriate.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Student engagement

Supervisory experience

Budget management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Workday

CRM systems

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Cleveland State University
Engaged Learning

Senior Director, Student Life

Salary Grade | 10

Salary Plan | Professional Non Bargaining

FTE | 1.0

Hours per week | 40

Work Schedule | Typically, Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Full Time/Part Time | Full Time

Posted Date | 09/01/2026

Open Until Filled | Yes

Review Begins | 09/09/2026

Job Summary

Provides strategic leadership for programs and activities that activate and enhance student engagement and well-being on campus. Directs events, manages, trains, and supports student organizations, and collaborates with staff to foster a positive campus environment. Responsible for the management of all student organizations’ engagement, the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, budgetary functions, and accounting for student stipends, where appropriate. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree, preferably in student affairs, higher education, counseling, educational leadership, or related field. Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in student development or retention, with at least three (3) years of supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree, preferably in student affairs, higher education, counseling, educational leadership, or related field Experience in higher education student affairs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

Knowledge of administrative, supervisory, and budget management. Knowledge of applicable regulatory and compliance areas. Crisis management skills. Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to relate to people from all backgrounds and at all levels of an organization. A team player who operates with transparency and fosters trust and collaboration within the organization. Skilled in project management, problem-solving, analysis, follow-through, influence, and persuasion. Ability to assess, prioritize, and teach the Fostering Success Coaching Model in partnership with students. Strong organizational and excellent interpersonal skills and have a "Student Focus" attitude and delivery and leadership skills, using a team-based approach. Ability to make effective presentations, have strong public speaking skills, develop and drive change, and effectively communicate change. A genuine interest in empowering students and the ability to connect with students. Excellent interpersonal skills, including the proven ability to establish rapport and credibility with a wide range of constituencies. Ability to examine and re-engineer operations, formulating policy and implementing new successful business strategies. Proficient in student organization CRM, Workday, Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.