Career Center

The Associate Director for Student Life provides leadership and supervision to the Office of Student Activities.  The Associate Director is responsible for the overall vision, strategic planning, assessment, and administration of a comprehensive student life experience at MSUM.

Responsibilities:

1. Student Life Vision, Collaboration and Co-Curricular Learning—Enhance the MSUM Student Life experience by leading cross-divisional and departmental collaborative efforts to develop and implement a strategic vision for student life that is grounded in co-curricular learning outcomes and assessment.

2. Personnel and Budget Management—Responsible for creating and leading a team of professional staff, support staff and students to ensure the programmatic functions of the Office of Student Activities meet University and student needs. Develop and implement annual work plans.  Hire, train, direct work, supervise and evaluate personnel.  Provide budget authority, oversight, and accountability for general and student fee funds.

3. Co-Curricular Learning Program Creation, Management, and Execution—In support of a distinctive MSUM student experience, design, develop, execute, and assess a variety of co-curricular learning programs that meet University, divisional or departmental strategic priorities. Lead collaborative, cross-departmental event programming teams to deliver co-curricular programs.  Create opportunities for co-curricular experiences to be embedded within the local community.  Participate in University efforts to support voter engagement.   

4. Advising and Student Support—Responsible for advising Student Senate. Build strong working relationships and provide mentoring, coaching and leadership development to Student Senate Executive Members, Chairs and Senators.  Attend weekly meetings, assist in the facilitation of information sharing, and support Senate in navigating institutional and MinnState System relationships and processes to accomplish their priorities.

5. Assessment—Lead and provide oversight for the design and implementation of the annual Student Union and Activities departmental comprehensive co-curricular assessment plan. Ensure Student Union and Activities meets University departmental annual assessment plan requirements and timelines.

6. Student Union & Activities Department--Participate as a part of the greater Student Union and Activities staff team and utilize a student development approach to working with students, student employees and volunteers to develop an environment rich with student spirit, life, energy, and enthusiasm. Work cooperatively with staff and students on projects, support and attend departmental and campus programs, serve as an active member on university committees or taskforces and provide clarity of communication throughout the organization.  Maintain an attitude of professional development through participation in workshops, conferences and keeping abreast of current resources and technology.  Perform other duties as assigned that support the University, division and departmental strategic priorities and initiatives. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration, Counseling and Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, or related field plus 3 years of experience in Higher Education, Student Life Programming or Community Engagement.  Bachelor's degree plus 4 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for Master's degree.
• Experience managing programs, budgets, and staff.
• Demonstrated record of success in leading collaborative efforts to implement complex programs with a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience in negotiating and implementing successful partnerships.
• Expertise in program ideation, development, implementation, and assessment.
• Demonstrated ability to apply student development concepts.
• Ability to work successfully with diverse groups of people.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the assessment of co-curricular learning outcomes.
• Experience in shared governance work with Student Senate.
• Experience working with databases, CRM software or student engagement software.

About Minnesota State University Moorhead

The work to support equity-minded campus practices, curriculum, and culture has been happening at Minnesota State colleges and universities for decades. The system-wide goal of Equity 2030 is to eliminate racial graduation disparities by the year 2030. Focusing on an equity gap instead of an achievement gap allows us to frame our work on creating equity-minded practices, pedagogy, curriculum, and inclusive communities. At MSUM, we are committed to building our university’s capacity to serve students historically underserved in higher education. Our Core Values Grit We are “scrappy” and resourceful. We have big goals and the tenacity to achieve them. We have the courage to do what’s right. Humility We’re all on the same team and everyone’s role is important. We seek the best ideas and know they can come from anywhere and anyone in our campus community. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. Heart We go the extra mile for our students and each other. We are passionate about our purpose. We are fiercely loyal to MSUM. MSUM enrolls 4,679 students from 35 states and 42 countries. MSUM is a member of the Tri-College University, an educational consortium that includ...es Concordia College of Moorhead, North Dakota State University, Minnesota State Community and Technical College, and the North Dakota State College of Science. THE COMMUNITY Moorhead, Minn. and Fargo and West Fargo, N.D. are central to a thriving regional center with a population of 249,974 and growing for the Metropolitan Statistical Area. Higher education is a major community enterprise, with more than 30,000 students contributing to an atmosphere rich in arts, culture, sports, and social activities. The communities enjoy major concert venues; university, independent and community theatres; symphony orchestra; jazz concerts; annual film festivals; civic opera; art galleries and museums; and numerous family attractions and events. Unemployment rates for the Fargo-Moorhead area hover around 2.1% (07/2023), below the national average of 3.7% (07/2023). The average one-way commute in Fargo is 16 minutes, shorter than the U.S. average of 26 minutes. Moorhead public schools serve more than 7,400 students (2022) in an area recognized for superior student academic achievement and far-reaching extracurricular activities. Minnesota ranks 2nd nationally in the percentage of its population (aged 25 to 64) with an associate degree or higher (50%). Fargo’s Hector International Airport is served by Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier and United with direct flights to these cities: Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, Orlando International, Orlando-Sanford, Phoenix-Mesa, Phoenix-Sky Harbor and St. Pete-Clearwater. The Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo community is among the best places in the country to live, work, attend school and conduct business. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND NONDISCRIMINATION Minnesota State University Moorhead is committed to a policy of equal opportunity nondiscrimination in employment and education. No person shall be discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment, personnel practices, or access to and participation in, programs, services, and activities with regard to race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, and marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. In addition, discrimination in employment based on familial status or membership or activity in a local commission as defined by the law is prohibited. Inquiries regarding compliance should be referred to the Human Resources Office, OW 214, 218.477.2157 (Voice). Request For Reasonable Accommodation It is the policy of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to provide reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities when such accommodations are directly related to competing for a job on an equal basis. Applicants having special needs which require accommodation should contact the Campus Human Resources Officer, Owens 214, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota 56563, 218.477.2157 (Voice). For TTY communications, contact the Minnesota Relay Service at 1.800.627.3529.

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