Student Experience and Makerspace Specialist

Florida Polytechnic University; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 51,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts & Perks

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Florida Polytechnic University seeks a Student Experience and Makerspace Specialist to oversee RSOs and the Makerspace, ensuring alignment with university policies and fiscal procedures while promoting student engagement and organizational effectiveness.

The role involves coordinating events, supervising elections, managing budgets, and supporting campus-wide programs within a collaborative environment. Salary commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in higher education administration or related field.
• One year of related professional experience.
• In lieu of a degree, combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications.
• Master’s degree in higher education administration preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience coordinating events and projects.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate facility reservations and oversee logistical planning for RSO meetings, programs, and events.
• Review and approve new RSOs with the SOC, ensuring onboarding, compliance, and a structured launch.
• Supervise RSO elections to ensure fairness and adherence to policies.
• Coordinate monthly RSO leadership meetings with the SOC and communicate policy updates.
• Provide training to RSO leadership and advisors as needed.
• Attend RSO meetings and events to verify attendance and compliance.
• Track RSOs’ minimum qualification standards quarterly.
• Collect and analyze engagement data to assess leadership effectiveness.
• Support Audit and Budget processes with timelines and requirements.
• Review, approve, and reconcile RSO expenditures per policies.
• Collaborate on timely purchasing of materials and services.
• Maintain RSO Asset Database and asset transfers.
• Coordinate organization travel logistics and proper documentation.
• Maintain a comprehensive calendar of RSO and Makerspace meetings.
• Oversee Modern Campus content and tools for student engagement.
• Review and approve promotional materials for clarity and policy compliance.
• Coordinate with Marketing for digital flyers posting.
• Communicate with RSOs about packages, storage, and scheduling.
• Attend SOC meetings weekly.
• Supervise Makerspace student staff.

Skills

Communication skills

Event planning

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's degree in higher education administration

Master’s degree in higher education administration (preferred)

Job description

Make a difference at one of Florida’s premier institutions for education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Florida Polytechnic University, ranked the No. 1 public college in the region by U.S. News and World Report, offers a unique working environment that encourages faculty and staff to be part of a culture that prizes collaboration, innovation, and the willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our students and University succeed. Florida Poly offers a small campus academic environment where students form connections with their faculty and peers as they pursue high-value degrees in engineering and applied sciences. The University is equipped with cutting‑edge facilities and equipment and two award‑winning, architecturally distinct academic buildings. Its evolving curriculum, designed to meet the needs of industry and provide a life‑long educational foundation for students, has helped the institution grow in prominence since its opening in 2014. Florida Poly’s deliberately small classes, affordability, and outstanding graduate outcomes have helped it earn recognitions such as being named a top value school, in the top 25 nationally for affordability, and in the top five best universities in the South for tech students. Accredited by ABET and SACSCOC, Florida Poly is educating some of the brightest minds in Florida and attracting standout talent from across the nation.

Job Title

Student Experience and Makerspace Specialist

Job Description Summary

The Student Experience and Makerspace Specialist is responsible for the oversight, development, compliance, and operational support of all Registered Student Organizations (RSO) and the Makerspace. This position ensures that RSOs and the Makerspace function in alignment with university policies, fiscal procedures, and leadership standards while fostering student engagement and organizational effectiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate facility reservations and oversee logistical planning for RSO meetings, programs, and events.
• Collaborate with the Student Organization Committee (SOC) to review and approve new RSOs, ensuring proper onboarding, compliance, and a structured launch process.
• Supervise RSO executive board elections to ensure fairness, transparency, and adherence to governing policies.
• Coordinate and facilitate monthly RSO leadership meetings in collaboration with the Student Organization Committee (SOC) to communicate policy updates, deadlines, and procedural changes.
• Provide training to RSO leadership and advisors as needed.
• Attend RSO meetings and events to verify attendance tracking, procedural compliance, and adherence to university guidelines.
• Track and verify that RSOs meet minimum qualification standards quarterly.
• Collect and analyze engagement data (e.g., PhoenixLink, surveys) to assess Executive Board effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
• Support the Audit and Budget process by communicating funding timelines, requirements, and organizational needs.
• Review, approve, and reconcile RSO expenditures, ensuring compliance with Student Government Association (SGA) Audit and Budget Committee fiscal guidelines and university procurement policies.
• Collaborate with university administration to ensure timely purchasing of approved materials, supplies, and services.
• Compile, maintain, and manage the RSO Asset Database, including tracking acquisitions, transfers, storage, and asset removal processes.
• Coordinate organization travel logistics, ensuring submission of proper documentation, risk management forms, reservations, and detailed itineraries.
• Maintain a comprehensive and accurate calendar of RSO and Makerspace meetings, events, and programs to support strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Oversee the management and ongoing development of Modern Campus, the University’s student engagement platform, ensuring accurate content, accessible resources, and effective tools that support student involvement, organization operations, and campus engagement.
• Review and approve RSO promotional materials for clarity, accuracy, and policy compliance.
• Coordinate with University Marketing to facilitate the timely posting of digital flyers and promotional content.
• Communicate regularly with RSOs regarding package pickup, meeting scheduling, asset storage, and operational support.
• Attend weekly Student Organization Committee Meetings to help facilitate communication.
• Supervise, train, and schedule Makerspace student staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in higher education administration from an accredited institution of higher education or a related field
• One year of related professional experience.
• In lieu of a degree, we may consider an appropriate combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree in higher education administration from an accredited institution is preferred.
• Excellent human relations and communication skills.
• Experience managing complex and detailed projects/tasks.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written
• Strong commitment to excellence in education and service.
• Ability to handle multiple competing priorities, and set and meet deadlines
• Proven ability to organize and host events.
• Effective, persuasive interpersonal communication skills to gather information, resolve problems, and assess situations.
• Ability to coordinate major projects.
• Preferred knowledge of issues, trends, policies, and best practices that are relevant to student affairs.
• Excellent human relations and communication skills.
• Experience managing complex and detailed projects/tasks.

Required Licenses, Certifications, and/or Other Specific Requirements of Law

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• This position requires a criminal background check, which may include a Level II screening as required by Florida Statute §435.04.
• This position is subject to federal and state privacy regulations.

Normal Work Schedule

This position is exempt/salary exempt. The normal work schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. However, occasional overtime (weekends and evenings) may be required.

Target Hiring Salary

$50,500 - $52,000, commensurate with experience.

Location/Work Model

Full-time/On-site

We will NOT consider employment-based visa sponsorship for this position.

Application Deadline

The position may be open for 14 days with a minimum of 7 days; however, we will begin reviewing applications immediately.

Diversity Statement

Florida Polytechnic University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution. It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to provide equal opportunity for employment and educational opportunities to all (including applicants for employment, employees, applicants for admission, students, and others affiliated with the University) without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or genetic information. Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. An appointment is not final until proof is provided.

Florida Poly Benefits Information

Florida Poly qualified employees have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of health benefits (through the State of Florida) to help meet their specific needs, as well as the needs of their family. This comprehensive coverage includes flexible spending accounts, medical and life insurance, and worker’s compensation. Health benefits are administered through People First, on behalf of the State of Florida, as pre‑tax insurance plans. People First handles all new hire enrollments, coverage changes, premium administration, and dependent eligibility. Their Service Center is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. EST, at 1-866-663-4735.

Retirement

Florida Poly offers great options for retirement. From the required selection of a state plan to additional voluntary retirement plans, our employees have many opportunities to save and prepare for their future.

Other Benefits

• Discounts & Perks
• Annual Leave: To help promote work‑life balance, Florida Poly provides a generous leave program, which includes paid time off and paid holidays. Qualified employees may accrue 22 days of annual leave. In addition, the University observes the holidays listed in our University Holidays policy FPU-1.008.
• Sick Leave: Qualified employees may also accrue 12 days of annual sick leave and participate in our Sick Pool Program.
• Employee Assistant Program (EAP)

Explore Lakeland, FL – Conveniently located along I-4 between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland is home to Florida Polytechnic University and many other businesses and attractions.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Accessibility Statement

Florida Polytechnic University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution. It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to provide equal opportunity for employment and educational opportunities to all (including applicants for employment, employees, applicants for admission, students, and others affiliated with the University) without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or genetic information.

Consistent with its obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008, and all other federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. The university provides reasonable workplace accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with disabilities. Applicants requesting disability accommodations should contact the Human Resources Department at Florida Polytechnic University. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email [e-mail] or call [phone] during regular business hours.

Florida Polytechnic University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution. It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to provide equal opportunity for employment and educational opportunities to all (including applicants for employment, employees, applicants for admission, students, and others affiliated with the University) without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or genetic information.

To report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment under Title’IX please contact our Title’IX Coordinator, 4700 Research Way, ASC East, Lakeland, FL㎀5, email: [e-mail], call: 863-874-8484, or our online report form.