Assistant Director of Student Engagement, Office of Student and Family Engagement

Job Description

The Assistant Director for Student Engagement is charged with developing programs and services designed to facilitate student involvement, enhance the overall student experience and positively impact student retention/satisfaction. The individual in this role provides direction and leadership to major student programming initiatives on campus and supervises student event staff. This position will also provide support to parent and family engagement initiatives including assisting with the planning and implementation of Fall Family Weekend and parent/family communication. The Assistant Director is a team member within the Office of Student and Family Engagement and reports to the Director of Student and Family Engagement. This position will supervise the Coordinator for Student Engagement and requires evening and weekend hours.

Salary Range: $45,000-$48,000 and is commensurate with experience and other qualifications. This is an exempt, 12-month, full-time staff position. 
 

Responsibilities

Student Programs and Events
Work with student employees and campus partners to develop, market, execute, and assess campus wide events that are culturally relevant, student focused, and encourage the development of a vibrant student community on campus in accordance with university policy and with appropriate event approval from the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. Serve as the primary supervisor for the Student Programs Steering Committee made up of 5 student event managers and 10 student event staff; facilitate the recruitment, selection, training of these student employees; lead bi-weekly student staff meetings to coordinate upcoming student events and staff scheduling. Design, plan, and facilitate student leadership development initiatives focused on topics such as creating learning outcomes, goal setting, event management and conflict resolution. Create and sustain positive partnerships with both University service providers and contracted vendors. Provide on-site supervision at all student events coordinated with student employees. Negotiate contracts with performers and vendors; Assist student employees in generating offers, booking artists and vendors, and reviewing technical and hospitality riders.

Student Engagement Administrative Duties
Help develop short-term, long-term goals and objectives related to Student Engagement events; connect goals and objectives to division strategic imperatives and university strategic plans. Provide budgetary oversight and authority for Student Programs budget; ensure expenditure is appropriate and in accordance with established guidelines. Coordinate campus-wide Student Programs Survey during the spring semester to collect student feedback related to events and use survey data in planning events for the following semester. Develop marketing strategies to maximize student participation in events; coordinate marketing materials (printed posters, graphics for social media, etc) to advertise student events in accordance with the University's Editorial and Style Guidelines and Graphic Guidelines. Conduct regular assessments of student events and use data to improve future events; provide assessment information for presentations or reports when requested. Aid in the management, compilation, and distribution of statistical information and reports

Family Engagement Support
Assist with coordination, execution, and assessment of Fall Family Weekend. Assist with the coordination and execution of family engagement sessions and/or activities at New Student Orientation sessions. Contribute to the planning and execution of a comprehensive parent and family engagement communication calendar.

Additional Responsibilities
Regularly assess, evaluate and communicate the effectiveness of student programs and events. Coordinate website updates for the office as needed. Attend appropriate University functions and campus events to maintain visibility/approachability. Assist with other programs/events and initiatives sponsored by the Office of Student and Family Engagement. Serve on office and divisional program initiatives and university committees. Establish and maintain positive working relationships with campus partners and key stakeholders. Stay abreast of current trends related to student activities and family engagement. Perform other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will possess the following: 

• Demonstrated skills in event planning, contract negotiation, leadership development, budget development and management, and motivating students
• Proven ability to facilitate educational programs and/or workshops focused on issues relevant to student employee training and development
• Ability to take initiative and work independently in setting priorities to ensure that responsibilities are carried out in an accurate and timely fashion
• Ability and willingness to function as a member of a team
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to effectively develop and manage a budget
• Ability to effectively supervise professional staff
• Knowledge of student and leadership development theories/concepts
• Knowledge and experience with the Anthology Engage Platform
• Active involvement with an applicable professional association (i.e. NACA) on a regional or national level

For full consideration, please complete the online application process and include a resume, cover letter, and list of three professional references (with current email and phone number) in the application. 
Review of applications will begin February 25, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.  Applications received by February 24 receive priority consideration. Anticipated start date is May 19, 2025. 
 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors degree; 2-4 years of full-time experience working with student activities/campus programming and in a professional role (will consider two years of graduate assistant experience as one year of full-time experience.)

Preferred Qualifications: Masters degree in College Student Personnel, Higher Education, Student Affairs or other relevant discipline; 3-4 years of experience working with student activities/campus programming in a professional role and at least 1 year of experience supervising professional staff. 
 

About Us

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is in the heart of one of Tennessee’s largest and most dynamic cities. As a national model for metropolitan universities, UTC collaborates with its many regional partners to offer an experiential learning environment with outstanding teaching scholars in 128 undergraduate degree programs and 55 graduate programs—at both the master's and doctoral levels. UTC and Chattanooga—nationally recognized for its downtown redevelopment and wealth of outdoor recreation—are inextricably linked, and the University is central to the workforce and economic development efforts of the region and the state.

Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Engineering and Computer Science; Health, Education and Professional Studies; and the Honors College are home to an array of award-winning programs from Nursing to Computer Science, Entrepreneurship to Veteran Student Support. Innovation is a strategic focus, and UTC research and development in smart city technology is an industry leader. UTC is the first and only university in the country with access to a managed, commercial quantum computing network, and we are introducing an artificial intelligence initiative involving entities across campus and engaging partners throughout the region. 

UTC is a driving force for achieving excellence, and our mission is to actively engage students, faculty and staff; embrace diversity and inclusion; inspire positive change; and enrich and sustain our community.