Assistant Vice President

Hiring Department: Vice President for Student Affairs

Reports To: Vice President for Student Affairs

Job Location: El Paso, TX; On-site

Posting End Date: Open until filled. This posting may close once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

Hours: 40 hours per week, standard Monday- Friday 8:00am- 5:00pm, flexibility is required on evenings and weekends

FLSA status: Exempt

Earliest Start Date: As soon as possible.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Required Application Materials:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of three references

The Assistant Vice President for Student Experience and Engagement serves as a senior leader within the Division of Student Affairs, providing strategic vision and executive oversight for student experience, engagement and co-curricular learning. Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs, the AVP leads a comprehensive, data-informed student success strategy designed to increase student participation in campus activities and drive measurable gains in persistence.

In this role, the AVP fosters a vibrant and inclusive student life environment by leading major campus programming initiatives and expanding meaningful opportunities for student involvement. This includes increasing the number of high-impact leadership development experiences, strengthening the presence and effectiveness of registered student organizations, and advancing University traditions. Student engagement is positioned not as supplemental, but as a core institutional strategy, integrating leadership development, campus involvement, and community engagement to advance overall student success. The AVP works closely with faculty to align co-curricular engagement with academic priorities to enhance student persistence and foster a strong sense of belonging.

In support of the Vice President, the AVP contributes to both the day-to-day operations and long-term vision of the Division, providing leadership in the design and implementation of programs, services, and initiatives that elevate the student experience and meaningfully support engagement and success outcomes.

The position will require availability to work evenings and weekends as necessary to support departmental operations, events and business needs.

Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:

Play a key role in divisional planning, resource allocation, professional development, continuous quality improvement and the attainment of divisional goals and objectives. Confers with university administration and leadership and other administrative personnel to review achievements and discuss required changes in goals or objectives resulting from current status and conditions.

Provide executive leadership and management for departments that report to the Division of Student Affairs including, the Student Engagement and Leadership Center (student leadership programs, student organizations, fraternity and sorority life, and student events) Spirit Operations (Cheer, Dance and Mascot teams), Student Media and Publications (student newspaper and magazine), and several campus-wide initiatives.

Establish strategic direction, align priorities and resources, oversee budget planning and stewardship, and ensure effective hiring, supervision, professional development, and performance management of directors, managers, and staff. Coaches team members to high-performance expectations for quality, consistency, innovation, and accountability in meeting divisional and institutional goals.

Provide strategic leadership and vision for the student experience including specific high-impact practices. Anticipate, evaluate and address changes in student needs, in order to design and implement programs and services to improve the student experience. Reviews analyses of activities, costs, operations, and forecast data to determine department progress toward stated goals and objectives.

Provides leadership and oversight of UTEP’s co-curricular pathways, including the promotion and communication of pathways and the overall assessment of the program in order to increase student completion of high-impact experiences and increase student persistence.

Provides strategic leadership for the advancement of UTEP Engage by partnering across the institution to expand and connect students to meaningful opportunities in industry, business, nonprofit, and government sectors. Collaborates with units under the AVP’s purview and across the Division to design and deliver co-curricular experiences that strengthen career readiness, deepen engagement, and support student success. Leverages data to monitor participation, assess impact, and drive continuous improvement and measurable student success outcomes.

Supports departments in developing and implementing comprehensive assessment plans that measure student engagement, learning, and satisfaction. Reviews and analyzes program outcomes, costs, and operational data to track progress toward goals through dashboards and impact reports. Partners with the Director of Assessment and Planning to administer the annual student life and engagement survey, translate findings into actionable insights, and guide data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement.

Leads division-wide strategic initiatives that enhance the student experience and expand equitable access to engagement opportunities for diverse student populations, including commuter, first-generation, transfer and graduate students. Builds strong partnerships across Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, Institutional Research, Office of Business, Community, and Government Engagement and other campus units to align co-curricular engagement with institutional priorities and student success goals. Provides regular executive-level reports and recommendations to the Vice President and senior leadership on participation trends, outcomes, emerging student needs, and opportunities for continuous improvement and organizational change.

Designs and implements processes, practices, and targeted programmatic interventions that empower staff to deliver vibrant, high-impact student experiences for all UTEP students. The AVP also provides oversight of program planning and execution, ensures effective stewardship of resources, and leads comprehensive assessment and evaluation efforts to continuously strengthen impact and outcomes.

Remain knowledgeable and assure compliance with federal, state, institution and UT System policies in all areas of responsibility, creating and modifying policies, procedures, and practices in order to remain compliant, and advising others in the interpretation and application of laws and regulations as appropriate.

Serves as a key leader in the University’s response in an emergency or crisis, including outreach and support to students and their families. Responds proactively to student concerns and manages student crises effectively. Ensures that comprehensive emergency response and risk mitigation plans are developed, implemented, and regularly reviewed for all major events and programs under their purview. Coordinates with university police, emergency management, and key stakeholders to ensure protocols are clearly communicated, staff are appropriately trained, and response procedures are effectively executed to safeguard the well-being of all participants.

Serve as a member of the Division of Student Affairs on-call team, providing timely leadership, decision-making, and response to student and campus-related incidents and concerns.

Lead and serve as a member of management committees and participate in professional trainings, industry conferences, and conventions.

Review proposals, licenses and contracts associated with respective departments.

Cooperate with other top management personnel in formulating and establishing policies, operating procedures, and goals.

Confer with top management personnel preparatory to formulating a fiscal budget.

Act as a liaison to both the El Paso and campus community.

Work with city, county, and state officials.

Knowledge of all Microsoft Office software and able to learn and use institutional software systems.

Complies with all State and University policies.

Other duties may be assigned

Some traveling is required.

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

Required Qualifications:

Education: Master’s degree from an accredited university.

and

Experience: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible management experience in student affairs, with a strong record of leadership in student life programming and initiatives including large-scale event planning and execution. Demonstrated knowledge of current trends, issues, and best practices in higher education and student affairs. Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically and act decisively. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to effectively engage and collaborate with diverse individuals and constituencies. Demonstrated capacity for innovation, adaptability, and flexibility in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Doctorate degree from an accredited university in related fields of study, such as Higher Education Administration, Counseling, College Student Personnel, Leadership and Policy.

Demonstrated leadership and management experience in more than one Student Affairs functional area. Strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills and experience with policy development. In-depth knowledge of best practices in higher education and student affairs and a strong understanding of current and emergent issues of relevance to students. Demonstrated knowledge of creative and innovative programs that enhance the relationship between academic and student affairs and support student success.

Applicant Should Demonstrate:

Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.

Commitment to a highly collaborative approach to program development and implementation.

Strong data analytic and assessment skills and orientation.

An understanding and appreciation of the unique role of UTEP as America’s Hispanic-serving institution.

A thorough understanding of student development and learning theories and their application to student life programs and initiatives.

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a comprehensive public research university that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve.

UTEP is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 26,000 students are Hispanic, and half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 170 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.

This is an especially exciting time to join UTEP as it advances the goals of its 2030 Strategic Plan. Built around the institution’s core strengths—its location, its people, its supportive culture, and its community partnerships—the plan lays out a bold vision for the next decade, aimed at maximizing the University’s regional impact and national stature.

About the Division

The Division of Student Affairs at UTEP is committed to supporting student success through programs, services, and resources that enhance academic achievement, personal development, and overall well-being. The division plays a key role in shaping the student experience by providing opportunities for involvement, leadership development, and meaningful campus engagement.

Through a variety of programs, events, and support services, Student Affairs helps students build connections, develop practical skills, and navigate their academic journey. The division works collaboratively across campus to create enriching experiences that encourage students to stay engaged, persist in their studies, and prepare for success beyond graduation.

What UTEP Offers:

• Benefit Package includes: Medical, Prescription, Life Insurance and Wellness platform
• Voluntary Benefits: Dental, Vision, Additional life insurance, UT Flex, Short and Long - term disability plans
• Retirement Programs
• Longevity Pay
• Paid Vacation & Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Discounts & Perks
• Employee Education Assistance program
• And much more! Visit our Benefits Summary Page for more information on our additional benefits.

Disclaimer: Eligibility for perks and benefits may vary based on part-time or full-time employment.

Note: To the extent that this position involves research, work, or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48, being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

The primary accountabilities are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or some of the primary accountabilities listed. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented in the incumbents’ performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents’ immediate supervisor or manager. This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. A valid driver’s license issued by the State where the applicant resides and insurability as defined in UTS 157 may be required to perform the position's essential functions.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate although the employee will be exposed to the loud noise of the Student Union and during events and activities.

In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to a learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee’s or prospective employee’s right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries—including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident—about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at (915) 747-8358, by email at titleix@utep.edu, or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 223C.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu.