Assistant Director for Leadership & Engagement

The Assistant Director for Leadership and Engagement works within the Residential Initiatives Team to foster an intentional residential environment that fulfills the goals and vision of the Department of Residential Life & Housing (RLH) Mission: Residential Life and Housing at VCU provides safe, welcoming, and well-maintained facilities where we work together to build intentional communities to empower residents in their academic excellence, citizenship, and personal growth. The Assistant Director for Leadership and Engagement is a Masters-level, full-time, experienced professional who provides oversight and strategic direction for leadership development, large-scale residential programming, and student engagement initiatives serving nearly 6,000 on-campus students.  The position will report to the Director of Residential Initiatives. 

The role of the Assistant Director for Leadership and Engagement is to enhance the living and learning experience of on-campus residents by managing the planning, implementation, and support of leadership programs within Residential Life and Housing. Principal responsibilities include: supervision of a full-time coordinator, with who they will work to plan and implement RAM Camp, an early-arrival program for first-year residential students. In addition, this position will work with the Coordinator of Leadership and Engagement to oversee and provide direct advisement for the Residence Hall Association and National Residence Hall Honorary; promote a sense of community and an environment for leadership growth; oversee the planning, implementation, and support of multiple large-scale programs; oversight of new leadership development programs within the department, and management of the Residential Leadership Center.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree required in Student Personnel, Higher Education, Counseling or a related field

• Four or more years professional experience in residence life/housing or relevant student affairs area

• Experience designing, implementing, and assessing leadership development programs and large-scale student engagement initiatives.

• Experience with student leadership advising

• Student and/or paraprofessional supervision experience

• Ability to build teams and work collaboratively with internal and external departments and campus partners

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy 

• Ability to work well under pressure with multiple deadlines

• Proven budget management experience and administrative fiscal responsibility. 

• Demonstrated proficiency utilizing technology such as web applications, online systems, database software, and standard office packages (i.e. Google Workspace)

• Effective oral and written communication skills 

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Ability to work flexible hours, including required evenings and weekends.

• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressive professional experience in residence life, housing, or student affairs.
• Previous full-time Residence Life live-in experience.
• Direct experience advising student organizations such as the Residence Hall Association (RHA), National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), or similar student leadership organizations.
• Experience planning and executing residential programming for student populations.
• Professional staff supervision experience, including performance management and employee development.
• Active involvement with state, regional, or national student leadership, housing, or higher education associations and conferences.
• Experience utilizing residential management systems, engagement platforms, assessment tools, or other higher education technology systems.