Assistant Director of Student Engagement

Assistant Director of Student Engagement

Job ID: 299264
Location: Georgia College & State Univ
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

About Us

Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is the state's designated public liberal arts university, where students learn the essential skills to compete in a fast-paced and technology-driven global society. The university prepares students for successful careers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life-long learning through personalized attention in a residential setting with opportunities for a variety of transformational experiences through its award-winning, high-impact practices. One of only three selective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, more than 30 graduate programs, doctorates in education and nursing, professional certificates, and continuing education programs.

As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal arts environment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinary inquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programs according to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources.

Georgia College & State University takes great pride in combining the educational experience of a private liberal arts college with the affordability of a public university. Faculty and staff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learning through high-impact practices such as internships, service- and community-based learning, leadership development, study abroad opportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstone project that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry and critical thinking.

The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtown in Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming college town of approximately 19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American author and alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college community enjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's former home, Andalusia, a National Historic Landmark owned by the university. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students to take full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefits of being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational and leisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta are located within easy driving distances.

Georgia College & State University is dedicated to protecting academic freedom in addition to supporting freedom of expression as outlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy and its Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information, visit us online at gcsu.edu.

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Student Engagement is responsible for building a robust campus activities program through the development of collaborative relationships with university departments, offices, and student organizations. This position fosters an environment that cultivates the creation of new student programs, enhancing an engaging and transformative campus life experience. The Assistant Director assesses student program interests and creates, develops, and plans educational, social, and wellness/recreational programs with intentional learning outcomes.
The Assistant Director serves as the general advisor to the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive advertising and marketing plan for campus activities. This position works in close collaboration with the Student Engagement Team across many facets of the overall student experience.
This is a highly responsible position that contributes to a positive and vibrant campus experience.

Responsibilities

Program Management - 40%
- Assess student program interests; lead the planning, coordination, and execution of campus-wide programs and events that support student engagement, leadership development, and community building.
- Manage event logistics including scheduling, budgeting, marketing, vendor coordination, and post-event assessment of program effectiveness.
- Oversee the University's Bobcat Marketplace events (student organizational fairs), including planning, staffing, and logistics.
- Assist in the development and execution of signature events such as Homecoming, Week of Welcome, and the Spring Concert.
- Represent the department at campus-wide events, including New Student Programs (Admitted Student Day, Junior Day, and Summer Orientation), Senior Send-Off, QEP Day, and other institutional events.
- Oversee all aspects of the college mascot program, including character performance standards, event appearances, student mascot training, and coordination with Athletics and campus event teams.

Supervision & Leadership - 25%
- Oversee the recruitment, selection, training, and supervision of all student staff, including general office staff and Den staff.
- Serve as the general advisor to the Campus Activities Board (CAB), providing oversight of retreat planning, budgeting, event scheduling, event management, officer transitions, and administrative coverage at large sponsored events.
- Mentor student leaders in developing professional skills, organizational decision-making, and community responsibility.
- Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and performance check-ins with supervised student staff.

Administration - 20%
- Assist in administrative functions including strategic planning, program assessment, budgeting, and departmental representation as needed.
- Review vendor and event contracts to ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal legal and regulatory requirements that bind the University to significant financial obligations.
- Prepare special reports and respond to requests for information, including completing surveys, questionnaires, and compiling data from departmental records.
- Establish program goals and student learning outcomes; develop and execute an assessment plan to measure the effectiveness of student programming initiatives.
- Perform additional administrative duties as assigned.

Other Duties & Event Service - 5%
- Perform other duties as assigned, including serving on division or campus committees, developing new initiatives, and implementing special projects.
- All employees within the Division of Student Life are required to assist with a minimum of three (3) student events or programs per semester that occur outside of regular business hours. Non-exempt employees must coordinate with their immediate supervisor for pre-approval and appropriate schedule adjustments.
- Examples of qualifying events include: Fall, Week of Welcome, Move-In Days, Family Weekend; Spring, Homecoming, Spring Concert, Family Day, Preview Days, and Junior Day. The specific list of eligible events each semester is maintained and communicated by the Office of the Vice President for Student Life.

Marketing & Communications - 10%
- Develop and implement a comprehensive advertising and marketing plan for campus activities using BrightSign software for the Maxwell Student Union and across social media platforms.
- Coordinate the creation and distribution of promotional materials, digital content, and event communications to maximize student awareness and engagement.
- Maintain a consistent and recognizable departmental brand presence across all communication channels.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements
Bachelor's Degree

Required Experience
Minimum 2 years related experience

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Educational Qualifications
Master's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, College Student Personnel, or a closely related field

Preferred Experience
- Experience in a higher education environment
- Demonstrated knowledge of student transitional issues and student development theory
- Experience advising student organizations or programming boards
- Experience coordinating large-scale campus events, including signature events such as Homecoming or Week of Welcome
- Experience supervising student staff or graduate assistants
- Familiarity with event marketing tools, social media platforms, and digital signage software

Proposed Salary

This position is a pay grade 8. The available salary range is $47,476.00 to $57,493.00. Starting salary within this range is based on relevant years of experience.

For more information about GCSU compensation practices, click here: https://www.gcsu.edu/humanresources/pay-grade-structure.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES
- Ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners
- Ability to advise student organizations through planning, budgeting, event execution, and officer transitions, and to assess student needs and translate them into purposeful programming
- Ability to supervise and develop student staff, including recruitment, training, scheduling, and performance feedback
- Ability to manage budgets, track expenditures, prepare financial reports, and review vendor contracts for legal and institutional compliance
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and problem-solving in dynamic, high-pressure environments, and to represent the department professionally at campus-wide events
- Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and to adapt programming approaches to serve the student population

KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge of student development theory, transitional issues, and first-year experience as applied to program design and advising
- Knowledge of campus activities program planning, including event logistics, vendor management, budgeting, and risk management
- Knowledge of marketing, advertising, and digital communications strategies, including social media and digital signage platforms (e.g., BrightSign)
- Knowledge of assessment methodologies for measuring program effectiveness and student learning outcomes
- Knowledge of student organization advising practices, shared governance, and mascot program coordination
- Knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment governing university contracts and financial commitments
- Knowledge of department and division operations, goals, and the broader mission of Student Life
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and standard office productivity software

SKILLS
- Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills across print, digital, and social media platforms
- Strong organizational, time management, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities
- Event planning skills, including logistics coordination, budget development, vendor management, and post-event assessment
- Skills in advising and mentoring student leaders, facilitation, and presenting to campus audiences
- Marketing, promotional, and assessment skills to drive student engagement and inform continuous program improvement

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board of Regents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individual's protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual's protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.
This position has financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is not considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does not require security clearance.

Background Check

• Criminal Background Check
• Education Verification
• Credit Check

To apply, visit https://careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psp/careers/CAREERS/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=36000&JobOpeningId=299264&PostingSeq=1







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