Columbia University logo

Columbia University

Assistant Director, Student Engagement

🇺🇸 New York, NY

🕑 Full-Time

💰 $66K - $69K

💻 Academic Advising

🗓️ July 14th, 2025

Edtech.com's Summary

Columbia University is hiring an Assistant Director, Student Engagement. The role involves advising student organizations, overseeing large-scale community building programs, supporting intercultural leadership development, and collaborating on campus-wide programming and initiatives to enhance undergraduate student life within Columbia College and SEAS.

Highlights
  • Advise student groups on leadership development, event planning, and budget management.
  • Oversee large campus events such as Homecoming and Tree Lighting.
  • Manage the Columbia College Travel Fund for student organizations.
  • Support New Student Orientation and intercultural leadership programs.
  • Provide evening and weekend event coverage and advisement.
  • Utilize student and leadership development theory in advising practices.
  • Require bachelor's degree and minimum two years of related experience.
  • Strong knowledge of student development, leadership theory, multiculturalism, and community building necessary.
  • Preferred master's degree in Higher Education or related field.
  • Salary range: $65,800 - $69,000 annually, with evening, weekend hours, and occasional overnight travel.

Assistant Director, Student Engagement Full Description

  • Job Type: Officer of Administration
  • Bargaining Unit:
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • End Date if Temporary:
  • Hours Per Week: 35
  • Standard Work Schedule:
  • Building:
  • Salary Range: $65,800 - $69,000 Annually
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
 
Position Summary
The Assistant Director (AD)reports to the Director of Student Engagement, Orientation, and Community Programs and supports SE and Undergraduate Student Life (USL) within Columbia College (CC) and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). The AD will support student organizational advising including leadership development, training, and education for student groups. The AD will advise student organizations, oversee student run large-scale community building programs, support intercultural leadership development and work collaboratively to provide campus-wide community programming and other initiatives. The incumbent will provide individual support to student leaders in social, leadership, and identity development.     

Responsibilities
  • Student Group Advising:
    • Develop strong advisory relationships with leaders of student organizations, class councils, and their members. Utilize strong knowledge of student and leadership development theory to inform advising practices and the development of services. Inform advisees about relevant University and Office policies and procedures and provide guidance in interpreting policies and procedures. -Assist advisees in critical decision making by helping explore options and consequences of actions related to group leadership, event planning and implementation.
    • Monitor student organization budgets; negotiate contracts with performers, speakers and service providers.
    • Develop collaborative relationships with event planning staff throughout the University to facilitate student group activities and events. Partner offices may include: Facilities, Administration and Planning, Public Safety, and University Event Management. Facilitate and encourage inter-organization communication and collaboration and facilitate communication with other University departments.
    • Provide evening and weekend event coverage and advisement.
  • Program Planning, Management and Assessment:
    • Oversee the Columbia College Travel Fund for student groups. Manage budget and selection process, and provide updates to Admin and Planning (USL) and Dean’s office on an ongoing basis.
    •  Oversee large-scale events hosted by the Columbia College Student Council (CCSC) and Columbia Engineering Student Council (ESC) such as Homecoming, Tree Lighting and Glass House Rocks, in conjunction with student life partners at Barnard College and the School of General Studies.
    • Develop and plan series of large-scale programming that promotes celebration, school pride, and well-being for the undergraduate campus community.
    • Lead Undergraduate Student Life community programs committee to plan and execute programming.
    • Support programming efforts for the New Student Orientation Program. Program support/oversight of immersion experiences, move in, event staffing and/or identity and inclusion dialogue facilitation.
    • Oversee planning and organization of club/organization/administrative programs and events.
    • Collaborate with other departments to develop and implement outreach programs.
    • Assess quality and effectiveness of programs and services.
  • Training and Development:
    • Participate in student group activities and assist leaders and officers in recruiting, engaging and training leaders and attracting more participants.
    • Work with club leaders and officers on increasing inclusivity and accessibility to all parts of campus
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree and/or its equivalent required.
  • Minimum of two years of related experience required.
  • Strong knowledge of student development theory, leadership development theory, transition theory, multiculturalism, and community building.
  • Knowledge and experience with theoretical and practical applications of experiential learning related to leadership in higher education or transferable setting.
  • Demonstrated ability working in an urban setting, excellent communication skills and experience working with diverse student population.
  • Strong organizational and time and project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Personnel Administration or related field preferred.

Other Requirements
  • As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Council of Ivy Group Presidents (Ivy League), it is imperative that members of the Columbia University community, in all matters related to the intercollegiate athletics program, exhibit the highest professional standards and ethical behavior with regard to adherence to NCAA, Conference, University, and Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education rules and regulations. 
  • Frequent evening and weekend hours are necessary, as is overnight travel for student group training and development retreats.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.