Director of Student Engagement and Activities, Learning Commons

REPORTS TO: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LEARNING COMMONS

STATUS: FULL-TIME, EXEMPT, SALARIED

Lake Erie College, a small, co-educational, four-year, independent liberal arts college located in Painesville, OH, 30 miles east of Cleveland, invites applications for the full-time position of Director of Student Engagement and Activities, Learning Commons. The Director of Student Engagement and Activities is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing student programs and initiatives that enhance campus life and foster a vibrant and engaging student experience. This role requires the creation of dynamic, innovative, and interactive campus-wide events that promote student involvement and social engagement beyond the classroom. The director will design and execute creative programming that brings students together, encourages community building, and supports a fun and exciting campus environment. By organizing diverse activities and initiatives, the director will play a key role in enriching student life and fostering a sense of belonging within the campus community.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and executes a variety of student events and activities.
• Oversees the scheduling and logistics for student events, ensuring that all events are accessible, fun, and well-attended.
• Coordinates major student activity programs and events during the academic year. This includes managing budgets, developing programs and events, executing late-night events and programs, chaperoning student travel for events, tracking attendance, and evaluating programs.
• Serves as the primary advisor to the Campus Activities Board (CAB). Executes the selection, training, supervision, and evaluation of the CAB Leadership Team to ensure campus activities happen regularly.
• Develops varied game day events and activities to engage students in attending sporting events.
• Oversees the coordination of intramural sports leagues, tournaments, and events that encourage physical activity and teamwork.
• Advises and supports student clubs, organizations, and groups by providing resources, guidance, and consultation for event planning and leadership development.
• Organizes and facilitates student involvement fairs, leadership retreats, and other events to encourage student participation.
• Encourages and facilitates student involvement in activities.
• Collaborates with student government and other student organizations to plan activities that foster a strong sense of campus community.
• Works with PR/marketing to develop promotional materials and manage communication channels to advertise student events, activities, and opportunities for involvement (social media, flyers, email newsletters, etc.).
• Maintains a calendar of events and activities to ensure maximum student participation and engagement.
• Evaluates the effectiveness and impact of student programs and initiatives.
• Collects feedback from students to ensure that programs meet their needs and preferences.
• Prepares reports for senior administrators on the outcomes and successes of student engagement activities.
• Collaborates with various campus departments (e.g., academic affairs, residence life, student health, and wellness) to enhance the student experience.
• This position typically requires working evenings and weekends to facilitate events and meet with student groups.
• The director should expect to interact regularly with students, faculty, and staff and sometimes work in a team setting.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications & Key Compentencies

• Bachelor’s degree in student affairs, higher education, communication, or a related field. A master’s degree may be preferred.
• Prior experience in student affairs, event planning, or campus activities, especially in a higher education setting, is preferred but not required.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong leadership and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with social media, student outreach, and marketing.
• Knowledge of student development theories and best practices in engagement.
• Growth and “doer” mindset and institutional teamwork ethic.
• Creative, strategic, thoughtful, and has a sense of humor.