Director of Memorial Union

The Director of the Memorial Union provides strategic leadership for the university’s central gathering space, fostering an environment that supports student engagement, hospitality, and community connection. This position oversees the operations, services, and programming within the Union, ensuring it serves as a welcoming hub for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors. The Director plays a key role in creating vibrant campus experiences while strengthening partnerships between the university and the surrounding community.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight for the Memorial Union, fostering an environment that promotes student engagement, campus life, and community connection.
• Oversee daily operations, facility management, and space utilization to ensure a welcoming, safe, and highly functional campus gathering place.
• Manage vendor partnerships and contracts for key services including dining/food service, the campus bookstore, Spirit Shop, ensuring strong performance, customer service, and alignment with university priorities.
• Support campus events, conferences, and programs by coordinating event services, scheduling, and hospitality experiences for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners.
• Supervise professional staff and student employees, promoting a culture of collaboration, service excellence, and operational efficiency.
• Develop and manage budgets, operational policies, and long-term planning for Memorial Union services and programs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in higher education administration, hospitality management, business administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in engagement, hospitality services, facility operations, or event management.
• Experience supervising staff and managing complex programs or facilities.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to engage with diverse populations.

COMPENSATION:

• Salary: $71,723.00 - $114,757.00

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

BENEFITS:

Base pay is one component of Emporia State University’s total rewards package. We are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family that include:

• Health Insurance
• Free Dental insurance for employees
• Retirement through the Kansas Board of Regents
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 31 days paid vacation and holiday days
• Tuition reduction and tuition assistance
• Dependent tuition waiver
• For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit here.

APPLY:

Please upload a cover letter, resume, and contact information of three references here.

Consideration of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled.

A background check is required prior to hire.