Assistant Director of Student Engagement

About the role

Empire State University seeks a full-time Assistant Director of Student Engagement to lead a comprehensive student engagement strategy in both virtual and in-person environments. Reporting to the Executive Director of Student Experience, the assistant director will strengthen student belonging, leadership development, retention, and success while aligning programs with institutional strategic priorities. The role is ideal for a self-starter with a student-centered focus and higher education experience, particularly with adult learners in online and face-to-face settings.

Responsibilities

• Program Development and Management
  • Coordinate and support implementation of student engagement initiatives.
  • Execute a comprehensive calendar of online and in-person programs, events, and initiatives aligned with university goals.
  • Develop and support student-centered programming using data-driven insights.
  • Serve as the primary resource on student engagement practices, collaborating with academic and administrative departments.
• Student Organization Support
  • Provide training, advising, and administrative oversight for student clubs and organizations, ensuring compliance with policies and virtual community standards.
  • Support student leaders in event planning, budget management, and organizational management.
  • Serve as the institutional administrator for SUNY Empire Connects, overseeing platform governance, user adoption, communications, training, assessment, and enhancement.
  • Act as a central point of contact for all student clubs and organizations.
• Community Engagement and Inclusion
  • Increase engagement and usage of the virtual student union, SUNY Empire Connects.
  • Develop programming that reflects the diversity of the student body and promotes equity, inclusion, and intercultural awareness.
  • Collaborate with affinity groups, diversity offices, and student government to create inclusive virtual spaces.
  • Partner with external organizations, alumni, and guest speakers to expand networking, mentorship, and community opportunities.
• Assessment and Evaluation
  • Coordinate collection, analysis, and reporting of student engagement data to evaluate program effectiveness and inform strategic decisions.
  • Develop KPIs and annual assessment plans for student engagement initiatives.
  • Prepare reports, dashboards, and analytics for departmental planning and accreditation.
  • Use feedback and participation data to improve program quality and accessibility.
• Administrative Leadership
  • Supervise interns, student staff, and program volunteers, including hiring, training, evaluation, and professional development.
  • Stay current with trends in online student affairs, digital community management, and virtual programming.
  • Assist with departmental operating budgets and coordinate monitoring and reconciliation of student activity funding allocations, contracts, and vendor agreements.
  • Chair or co-chair university committees related to student engagement and campus life.
  • Represent the Office of Student Experience on university committees and SUNY system working groups.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible professional experience in student services.
• Demonstrated progression of responsibilities, including program development, event planning, and student organization advising.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate, engage, and develop rapport with individuals of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and administration from multiple departments.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to empathize with students in need of academic and non-academic support.

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, Counseling, or related field (preferred).
• Experience with adult or non-traditional students (preferred).
• Experience working in a geographically distributed environment (preferred).
• Experience providing student services or engagement opportunities, both virtually and in person (preferred).
• Familiarity with student engagement data analytics and digital assessment tools (preferred).
• Bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish (preferred).

This position is located at 4 Park Ave, New York, NY. Employees may be eligible for a geographic pay differential based on assigned work location. Occasional travel to university locations across New York State may be required. May require occasional evening and/or weekend obligations. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; visa sponsorship is not available.

Pay

Senior Staff Assistant, SL3 / $70,000–$74,000, dependent upon experience and qualifications.

Benefits

• NYS health insurance, free dental and vision, competitive retirement options.
• Generous vacation, sick, and holiday accruals with an emphasis on work-life balance.
• Professional-development activities for staff.