"Assistant Director, Academic Living-Learning Programs"

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University.

Department: AU Core & University College

Time Type: Full time

Job Type: Regular

FLSA Status: Exempt

Work Modality: Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union: Excluded

Job Description:

Summary:

The Assistant Director, Academic Living-Learning Programs promotes, oversees, and measures the impact of the University College (UC) Living-Learning Community, Sophomore Living-Learning Communities, and AU Cornerstone Program. The position works collaboratively with colleagues in and across Academic Affairs and Student Affairs to design and implement curricular and co-curricular programming for diverse LLC populations. The position is responsible for ensuring living-learning programs effectively bridge academic and student life and are grounded in our collective commitment to student well-being.

The position recruits, trains, and supervises both part-time and full-time employees, and indirectly supervises part-time and student employees. The position also supports recruitment and admission efforts, manages communication and outreach, and coordinates program and student learning assessment with other leaders in Undergraduate Education and Academic Student Services.

This position works under minimal supervision and is expected to exercise professional judgment in all aspects of the position.

Essential Functions:

1. Living-Learning Program Development & Execution
   • Cultivate strong partnerships with academic programs and other stakeholders to design and implement living-learning programs that support the university’s mission and vision. Implement long-term program planning in coordination with the Faculty Directors and Assistant Dean. Supervise the program staff in making placements and communicating admissions decisions to students and relevant campus constituents. Manage program budget.
2. Student Learning & Community-Building
   • Develop and oversee all co-curricular learning and community-building experiences for students in the University College Program (UC), Sophomore LLCs, and AU Cornerstone, including facilitating off campus activities, event planning and logistics for the UC Common Events. Collaborate with relevant offices within and across Academic Affairs and Campus Life to coordinate housing accommodations, student advising, new student orientation sessions, Welcome Week activities, and Peer Leader trainings throughout the first year to provide a seamless transition into college. Leverage on-campus resources to support the program’s mission, including coordinating activities with the Honors and Scholars team, the Career Center, Student Affairs, University Advancement, etc.
3. Communication, Marketing & Recruitment
   • In coordination with the Assistant Dean, update and/or create new marketing materials for prospective students, including writing text, scheduling and overseeing photo shoots, and working with editors and designers to ensure continuity of message and visual identity. Maintain the University College, AU Cornerstone, and Sophomore LLC web sites. This includes developing and posting new content to the site, removing outdated material, and ensuring that links work as expected. Manage social media sites to communicate programmatic updates, training dates, and upcoming events. This position works closely with the Office of Admissions to represent LLCs at Preview Day and New Eagle Day events. The Assistant Director will also plan, coordinate, and execute the admissions processes for LLCs.
4. Staff Supervision
   • Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate full-time and part-time employees, and indirectly supervise additional part-time and student employees. Employs principles and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the employee lifecycle. Responsible for coaching, mentoring, providing regular feedback, managing performance, conducting performance evaluations for staff that report to the position. Works to build trust, cohesion, and alignment between direct reports, between teams in the unit, and the unit’s leadership.
5. Assessment & Evaluation
   • Coordinate program and student learning assessment with AU Core, Faculty Fellows, and the Assistant Dean. Collect evaluations, surveys, and focus groups on the living-learning experience, co-curricular activities, and collaborates with the AU Core team to collect artifacts and faculty evaluations. Coordinate with Office of Institutional Research, Office of Orientation, Transition, and Retention, Housing & Residence Life, the AU Core, and the Faculty Director to implement assessment instruments and analyze results. Coordinate with faculty and campus partners to address faculty and student concerns related to wellness and retention.
6. Other Duties as Assigned

Supervisory Responsibility: Supervises two full-time employees, one part-time employee, and part-time student employees.

Competencies: Acquiring and Analyzing Information. Displaying Creativity. Managing Talent. Prioritizing and Organizing. Serving Customers. Supporting Coworkers.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Full-time. 35 hours per week. Hybrid 01 work modality (on campus 3 - 4 days per week).

Salary Range: $70,450 - $75,000 annually.

Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree. 5 - 8 years of relevant experience. Prior experience managing a budget and coordinating undergraduate education programs are required. Strong computer skills are required, with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, oral and written, are required.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications: Demonstrate the ability to develop and implement events and activities. Demonstrate effective organizational, fiscal, and administrative skills. Possess a solid understanding of higher education and university policies and be highly discreet. The selected individual must be an educator committed to student success, learning, and inclusion. Ability to multitask and be a resourceful problem solver as well as a creative and deliberate planner. Ability to work effectively as part of a team and individually. Familiarity with AirTable, Photoshop, and Workday is helpful. Experience with social media management helpful.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.