Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Orientation

The Assistant Director of Student Engagement plays a vital role in enhancing the co-curricular experience at Hood College. This full-time position focuses on supporting commuter students, fostering student leadership development, and strengthening the support for clubs and organizations. This role collaborates with student leaders, faculty, and staff to create meaningful engagement opportunities that contribute to student growth, community building, and leadership development. This position is a 37.5-hour work week.  Significant evening and weekend work expected.

Essential Duties include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

Commuter Student Services (25%)

• Serve as the primary coordinator and advocate for commuter students, addressing their unique needs and fostering a sense of belonging on campus.
• Collaborate with campus partners to develop tailored resources and engagement opportunities for commuter students.
• Administer surveys and conduct assessments to understand and improve the commuter student experience.
• Advise the Commuter Council and coordinate events, programs, and initiatives focused on commuter student engagement and retention.
• Coordinate Commuter Student meal plan.

Leadership Development (25%)

• Develop and implement a comprehensive student leadership program that aligns with the College’s mission and supports students in gaining leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Work with student leaders to foster their growth, equipping them with best practices in organizational management, event planning, and inclusivity.
• Provide mentorship to student leaders, supporting them in setting goals, understanding leadership frameworks, and creating inclusive environments within their organizations.
• Facilitate workshops and leadership retreats for students involved in clubs, organizations, and leadership programs.

Club and Organizational Support (25%)

• Serve as a primary resource for student organization officers, offering consultation and support in areas such as event planning, budgeting, and campus procedures.
• Develop strategies for improving the effectiveness of student organizations, including training on inclusivity, team building, and leadership transitions.
• Work with student organizations to promote campus engagement, assist in designing marketing and publicity materials, and encourage the use of high-impact practices in their initiatives.
• Assist student groups in collecting and analyzing data to evaluate the impact of their programming.

Campus Partnerships and Engagement (15%)

• Foster partnerships with Residence Life, Career Services, Alumni Relations, Community and Inclusivity and other campus offices to create holistic, inclusive engagement opportunities for students.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to develop community service and volunteer projects for student organizations, enhancing students' engagement with the local community.
• Participate in planning large-scale events such as Orientation, Family Weekend, and other signature events, providing guidance to student leaders and organizations. 

Administrative Responsibilities (10%)

• Manage the Office of Student Engagement’s social media presence and create regular content that engages students with campus life and leadership opportunities.
• Assist with assessment and reporting efforts to evaluate student engagement and development outcomes.
• Provide support for graduation activities including graduation regalia, cords etc.
• Support the development and management of club/organization budgets and strategic spending priorities.

Qualifications

We seek a candidate who values diversity, equity and inclusion in all that they do. Candidates must have strong organizational skills and a proven ability to work collaboratively with partners across campus in support of Hood College’s mission as a student-centered, liberal arts institution.

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

Education and/or Experience

Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., higher education, student affairs, leadership development) and a minimum of 1-3 years of experience in higher education or student development, with a focus on student organizations, leadership, and/or commuter student services.

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications

Strong organizational, communication, and multitasking skills; a proven ability to collaborate across departments; a commitment to fostering an inclusive, student-centered environment; and experience in mentorship and student advising.

Preferred Skills and Characteristics

• Experience in experiential training and facilitation; demonstrated effectiveness in training club advisors.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a commitment to providing exceptional customer service to students and stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen with experience with budget management; financial reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, train, and develop a team of professionals, graduate, and undergraduate staff.
• Proficiency in database management and computer applications relevant to student engagement.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and best practices related to student engagement and orientation in higher education settings.

Technology Skills

Proficient in MS Office tools (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), e-mail and Internet. Ability to learn new applications quickly including organization-wide information systems and department-specific software applications. 

Language Skills

Strong oral and written communication skills.  Ability to effectively provide information and positively respond to questions from both external and internal customers both in person and by phone.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

Mathematical Skills

Proficient with statistical and financial concepts.  Must have the ability to apply those concepts to tracking, projections, goal setting and interpreting reports.  Must be able to draw conclusions from reports and make cost effective decisions regarding programs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a number of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.  Ability to work independently and as a member of a group in developing and executing project plans. Ability to work in theoretical arena and apply logic as appropriate.

Compensation

This is a position with an annual starting salary range of $39,500 to $43,888 depending on circumstances including an applicant’s skills and qualifications, certain degrees and certifications, prior job experience, training, and other relevant factors. Hood College has provided a compensation range representing its good faith estimate of what the College may pay for the position at the time of posting. The College may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. Hood College offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, and tuition benefits. Learn more about Hood College.

To Apply

We invite qualified candidates to apply online via our electronic application which requires submission of a cover letter, resumé and three professional references. 

If you need assistance with the online application process, please email humanresources@hood.edu or call (301) 696-3592.  

Hood College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, religion, or age in recruitment, admission and access to, or treatment, or employment in its programs, services, benefits, or activities as required by applicable laws including Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and complies with the law regarding reasonable accommodation for disabled applicants and students. Inquiries about discrimination or reasonable accommodation should be referred to the Coordinator for Title IX, Alumnae Hall, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD 21701 (AD 308), (301) 696-3123. For complete information on Hood College's nondiscrimination policy, please visit http://www.hood.edu/non-discrimination/.

Salary : $39,500 - $43,888