Director of Student Activities

Primary Function

Reporting to the (Acting) Executive Director for Student Involvement, the Director of Student Activities provides primary leadership and managerial oversight for all aspects of the department of Student Activities including staff supervision, budget management, and a strong focus on Student Leadership enhancement and student development. The Director is a student-centered educator focusing on the quality of the student experience, who manages and provides strategic vision for a comprehensive program that effectively enhances the quality of student life at the university. The Director supports the co and extra-curricular experiences, leadership development, and personal development of all students, and is responsible for the functional areas of the department: Student Organizations, Campus Activities Board ( CAB ), Student Government Association ( SGA ), Graduate Student Association ( GSA ) – anticipated, signature programs/ campus-wide events, and the Northern Star (student newspaper).

Duties and Responsibilities (generally)

This collaborative administrator develops and maintains strong partnerships across campus and supports student success and retention through sustained and relevant engagement, synergistically connecting academic and non-academic life. The Director diligently builds these bridges and works to create a sense of community on campus, collaboratively managing campus-wide, student-related educational programming. The Director of Student Activities is responsible for a current staff of seven, including three full-time direct reports, and two graduate students, as well as 2-4 student workers and all paid student positions within CAB and SGA .
Additionally, the Director serves as a member of the Division of Student Affairs Leadership Team ( SALT ) and works closely with other Student Affairs departments, student services, and academic departments to develop campus-wide policies, procedures, and protocols that promote student engagement. The director remains current on legal issues, programming trends, and best practices that impact student involvement. The Director will possess the ability to create positive, transparent, and open relationships with staff, students, and faculty; a positive mindset with a focus on integrity; a direct and comprehensive focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the university environment and specifically in the areas of responsibility, fully and constantly encouraging access and inclusion for all students within the university, but working to involve underrepresented students in all of the work of the department; the ability to multitask; an openness to the ideas and opinions of others in the decision-making process; the ability to build, empower, and hold students and student teams accountable; a strong proficiency in collaboration and working positively with others; a focused commitment to customer (student) service; and excellent training, speaking, presentation, and facilitation skills.

Minimum Required Qualifications for this position

• Master’s Degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive administrative experience in university student activities, engagement, and involvement.
• Demonstrated experience with two or more of the following areas: student organizations, campus programming boards, leadership development, event planning, co-curricular advising.

Specialty Factors (Additional Required Qualifications)

Education and Experience Preferred

• A student-centered philosophy that pervades all aspects of the responsibilities of the position.
• Demonstrated ability to delegate effectively and empower staff to conduct their daily responsibilities.
• Strategic thinker who can develop both short- and long-term plans.
• Relatable, approachable, and connected to the students, with the ability to obtain buy in from the student governing body on priorities and needs related to student engagement.
• Ability to listen carefully, ask knowledgeable questions, learn the culture of the university and the department, accept input from staff, and then make well-informed decisions that are best for the NIU community.
• Problem solving skills, with the ability to determine needs, address issues, and manage change effectively.
• Demonstrated budget and finance skills.
• Ability to make difficult decisions, when necessary, to conduct difficult conversations when pertinent, to listen to all sides of an issue, and to balance the needs of the people with the needs of the organization.
• Experience leading and/or supervising the work of others.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, interpersonal, and management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential. Tact, good judgement, and the ability to deal calmly with stressful situations, an instinct for problem solving, and an appreciation of the overall goals of the university are critical to the position.
• Strict attention to detail, problem solving skills and the ability to multi-task and prioritize work are imperative.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

List the knowledge, skills, and abilities critical to the performance of this position.

Working Hours

M-F, 8AM - 4:30PM; Some evenings/weekends

Minimum Pay Rate (Hourly or Monthly)

$5,416.67-$5,833.33/monthly

Hiring Rate Information

Actual hiring rate is commensurate with experience, education, and internal equity; position includes a robust benefits package to eligible applicants.

Posting Date

04/21/2022

Closing Date

05/21/2022

Priority Review Date

Special Instructions for Applicants

• Out-of-state candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days after final appointment.

• Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position, however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience.

• If you have education and/or training in excess of what is required, we encourage you to upload your unofficial transcripts.

• After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this particular position.

• Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu. Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.

• We STRONGLY recommend that contact information used in your online profile be personal use, not professional/work information: personal email address, home address, and phone numbers. The information you provide is used to make contact on search updates, department referrals and interviews, etc. We must be able to relay sensitive and important information in a way that protects your privacy concerning job search activity, now and in the future.

• The Civil Service examination for this classification is a Credentials Assessment, and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.

• Once this position has been filled, all names will be removed from the employment register in accordance with State Universities Civil Service System rule .

• If eligible for Veteran’s Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application in order to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.

• Click on Program Director for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.

• Please click H uman Resource Services – Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University’s benefits package.

• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Application Procedures

Link to Department Homepage

https://www.niu.edu/studentinvolvement/

Physical Demands

EEO Statement

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services 230
TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu
815-753-5560

Is Background Check Required

Yes

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person’s disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form . For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity ( AAEO ) at ada@niu.edu .

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

• Read the Annual Safety and Security Report . Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-1649 for a hard copy.

• Read the Fire Safety Report . Contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at 815-753-0404 for a hard copy.

Quick Link

https://employment.niu.edu/postings/62705

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Are you currently a citizen or resident of the State of Illinois?
   • Yes
   • No
2. * What is your highest level of completed education?
   • High School/GED
   • Bachelor's Degree
   • Master's Degree
   • PhD
3. * Have you attached all transcripts to support the degrees you are submitting for consideration?
   • Yes
   • No
4. * How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?
   • 0-1
   • 1-3
   • 3-5
   • 5-7
   • 7+
5. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. (“See Résumé” is not an acceptable response.)
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
6. * Have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veteran's Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.
   • Yes
   • No
   • Not Applicable

Applicant Documents
Required Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

1. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
2. Transcripts #2 (unofficial with official required at hire)
3. Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
4. Other #2