Summary
The Associate Director of Leadership Activities provides holistic leadership for student engagement, event management, and co-curricular learning, with primary responsibility for advising, coordinating, and supervising programs and activities for more than 100 student clubs and organizations. The position supports student leaders through an inclusive, developmental approach that advances belonging, responsible decision-making, leadership growth, and community connection. The Associate Director…
serves as a primary advisor to SGA Class Councils, the Student Entertainment Council, and other clubs/committees as assigned, while also partnering with and supporting Skidmore's Pre-Orientation and First-Year Experience programs to strengthen students' transition into the College. Additionally, the position manages SkidSync, the online platform for clubs and student event management.
Primary Job Duties
- Advises SGA Class Councils, SGA Vice President for Club Affairs, SEC, and other assigned organizations on college policies, inclusive practices, leadership development, event planning, and responsible stewardship through regular meetings and ongoing coaching. Also contributes to the holistic advising of Skidmore's 100+ active clubs as needed.
- Plans and conducts trainings, workshops, and coaching sessions open to the student body that educate participants on sound, ethical, inclusive, and effective leadership. Sample topics include leadership identity and style, belonging-centered programming, SkidSync, club leadership transition, conflict resolution, event management, risk management, and equitable student organization practices.
- Negotiates and reviews complex contracts with national level entertainment acts and outside contractors. Negotiates the best value for talent and services, including compensation, cancellation or breach implications, merchandising terms, performance expectations, accessibility needs, transportation, noise ordinances, and other logistical or compliance considerations.
- Manages and implements events both on and off campus using a student-centered, safety-focused, and inclusive planning framework. Collaborates with college departments, off-campus vendors/venues, and student planning groups on programs throughout the year; attends programs where safety, public attendance, or student leader support needs require staff presence; and conducts follow-up meetings for assessment and continuous improvement.
- Acts as an administrative liaison at major all-college events hosted by SGA organizations and other student groups. Conducts assessment and reflection meetings with large-event planning organizations and contributes to the Large Event Working Group and Alcohol and Other Drug College Committee as they relate to student organization events, student safety, and community well-being.
- Manages SkidSync, the online platform for clubs and student event management. Maintains club event request submissions, e-board position updates, event promotions, yearly club renewal, and end-of-year transition processes; uses SkidSync and social media strategically to promote programs, increase access to engagement opportunities, and advance the mission of the office.
- Contributes to overall planning and administration of campus life, student engagement, and college initiatives, including partnership with and support for Skidmore's Pre-Orientation and First-Year Experience programs. Collaborates with colleagues to create coordinated pathways for new students to build community, understand campus resources, develop leadership capacity, and participate meaningfully in co-curricular life.
- Attends student programs, including evening and late-night programs, where staff supervision may be deemed necessary by the Director of Leadership Activities, Dean of Students, or relevant campus partners.
The Associate Director of Leadership Activities must work with a varied and diverse student body. Must establish strong, trust-based relationships with student leaders in order to influence, advise, and support them effectively. These relationships enable the Associate Director to assess student strengths and areas for growth, connect students with resources, and support their co-curricular goals. The position must maintain positive relationships with student leaders, college departments, Pre-Orientation and First-Year Experience partners, Campus Safety, outside agents/vendors, City of Saratoga Springs officials, and managers of off-campus facilities in the planning and implementation of student events. Works closely with Campus Safety and campus partners to identify safety issues, concerns, and protocols prior to and after major on- and off-campus events.
Qualifications
Education: Master’s Degree in related field
Experience: 3-4 Years relevant experience
- Ability to think critically, creatively, and holistically both independently and with diverse communities and campus partners.
- Ability to assess risk, accessibility, and student support needs and put necessary procedures in place to minimize risk and promote inclusive participation.
- Must have strong knowledge of higher education leadership theories, student development outcomes, inclusive advising practices, and first-year transition needs.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, problem solving, decision making, partnership-building, and organizational skills.
- Leadership, training, assessment, event management, and student-centered programming skills.
Pay range: $63,000 - $65,000
Required documents needed to apply:
- On-line application
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- List of Three References
EEO STATEMENT
Skidmore College is committed to being an inclusive campus community and, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, dating violence, or stalking, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Employment at Skidmore College is contingent upon an acceptable post-offer background check result.
No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position
CREATIVE THOUGHT MATTERS.
Organization
Skidmore is a highly selective liberal arts college with a reputation for its creative approaches to just about everything. With its relatively small size and student-faculty ratio, the College is a close-knit academic community. Skidmore is known for its faculty of teacher-scholars devoted to the instruction and mentoring of undergraduates—approximately 2,400 talented men and women from some 47 states and 46 countries.
A great education is all about putting academic theory and creative expression into practice. That’s what our founder, Lucy Skidmore Scribner, believed. Skidmore’s not an ivory tower. Never has been. Never will be. It’s a place where faculty and students work together, then figure out how to use what they’ve learned to make a difference in the world. This practical focus often leads to cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, where students carry multiple majors, student-faculty research is common, and internships and community service are standard. It also leads to interesting and unusual combinations of activities, frequently woven into an intellectual passion.
If this kind of experience resonates with you, why not take a closer look at Skidmore?
Skidmore College is located in the historic resort community of Saratoga Springs, New York. Set in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, Saratoga is located about 30 minutes north of Albany, the state capital.
Saratoga is a small, cosmopolitan city of 30,000, noted for its Victorian heritage, famed spas, and thoroughbred horse racing. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is a site of top rock, jazz, and pop performances as well as the summer home of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Saratoga is a three-and-one-half-hour drive, train ride, or bus trip from New York City, Boston, or Montreal.
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