Director of Student Engagement and Belonging

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title: Director of Student Engagement and Belonging

Requisition Number: SCA00887

General Description

The Director of Student Engagement and Belonging is a pivotal leadership role dedicated to fostering a dynamic and inclusive student experience. This position provides strategic vision and operational oversight for student engagement and leadership development initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and compliance with applicable policies and standards.

The Director is responsible for shaping and advancing programs that promote student growth,
leadership, and success. This includes developing and assessing initiatives with measurable objectives and learning outcomes that support holistic student development. Working collaboratively with the Assistant Dean of Students and other campus partners, the Director cultivates an equitable and vibrant campus culture that encourages collaboration and belonging.

A data-informed approach is central to this role, as the Director leverages analytics and assessment tools to guide program enhancements and resource allocation. Additionally, the Director oversees budget planning and operational management to ensure efficiency and sustainability across student engagement services.

As a leader, the Director provides supervision, mentorship, and professional development for direct reports, fostering a high-performing team aligned with institutional goals. Ultimately, this position plays a critical role in creating a student-centered environment that values diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement, contributing to student success and retention.

College Intro

Success starts at Community College of Philadelphia. Innovators and difference makers work at Community College of Philadelphia. Diversity thrives at Community College of Philadelphia. We are a college that is committed to promoting a work environment that attracts and retains talented and diverse faculty and staff. We challenge each other and ourselves to achieve at the highest level while contributing to the mission of the College and the betterment of Philadelphia. We value and support an intellectually dynamic community to prepare our students for global citizenship. Join us and become a part of a community that has long been and will continue to be generators of generational chance in this city and beyond.

Community College of Philadelphia is an open-admission, associate-degree-granting institution which provides access to higher education for all who may benefit. Its programs of study in the liberal arts and sciences, career technologies, and basic academic skills provide a coherent foundation for college transfer, employment and lifelong learning. The College serves Philadelphia by preparing its students to be informed and concerned citizens, active participants in the cultural life of the city, and enabled to meet the changing needs of business, industry and the professions. To help address broad economic, cultural and political concerns in the city and beyond, the College draws together students from a wide range of ages and backgrounds and seeks to provide the programs and support they need to achieve their goals.

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of the Office of Student Engagement (OSE), including budget administration, contract management, strategic planning, program delivery, policy development, marketing across Main Campus and Regional Centers, and other managerial duties as appropriate.
• Oversee the planning and implementation of major student-focused events on and off-campus including: Welcome Week; Student Involvement Days; Spring Fling; and monthly
  cultural/thematic programming.
• Develop, implement and maintain oversight of student involvement and engagement programs including the management of the College’s recognized student clubs and organizations, Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Vanguard student newspaper.
• Provide oversight of the Student Work Study Lion Leader - Office Assistants, Program Event Managers and Snack Rack Student Managers in creating a broad range of student-focused programs that reflect a diverse student population.
• Serve as a system administrator to the Pride Portal (online student involvement platform) to maintain the site and support the monitoring of the co-curricular pathway.
• Lead the campus food pantry, including hiring and supervising staff, coordinating inventory and food orders, and ensuring the pantry serves the campus community effectively.
• Design, manage, and advise the student programming board in planning and executing campus-wide events.
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking student engagement metrics, program participation, and learning outcomes.
• Supervise and support the Assistant Dean of Students in executing orientation logistics.
• Represent the Office at orientation sessions and deliver key welcome remarks or presentations.
• Oversee student engagement contributions to commencement.
• Serve on the Commencement Planning Committee as the office’s representative.
• Coordinate with senior leadership and external vendors as needed.
• Ensure accessibility and inclusivity practices are embedded in student-facing aspects of the event.
• Offer ongoing professional development opportunities for OSE staff and student leaders to enhance skills in leadership, equity, event planning, and conflict resolution.
• Coordinate and collaborate with campus partners to implement co-curricular programs.
• Participate in campus-wide committees as needed.
• Assume responsibility for departmental operations in the absence of the Assistant Dean of Students.
• Perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with the mission, goals and core values of the College.
• Deliver quality customer services to both internal and external constituents in a professional
  helpful and courteous manner.
• Maintain sensitivity, understanding and respect for a diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological, and ethnic
  backgrounds required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Any and all degree(s) must be from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
• Minimum five (5) years of leadership experience in planning and promoting student programming and/or event planning within a higher education environment required.
• Previous budget and personnel management experience required.
• Experience working with multiple institutional constituencies to implement, assess, and enhance institution-wide programs required.
• Demonstrated experience using data in program evaluation required.
• Demonstrated experience in creating and promoting learning-centered student activities and innovative student development methodologies that promote and cultivate student engagement required.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative required.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, budget, and implement student-centered programs required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in time management, oral/written communication, and organizational skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment, both as team leader and participant required.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities required.
• Ability to maintain sensitivity, understanding and respect for a diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological, and ethnic backgrounds required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s preferred. Any and all degree(s) must be from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel required; proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite preferred.
• Proficiency with integrated management software such as Ellucian Banner preferred.

Work Location: Main Campus

Benefits Summary

Benefits:

“Success Starts Here” at Community College of Philadelphia. We recognize that our success as a college and the success of our students starts with our employees. Our employees are vital to our success. Our total compensation package includes a comprehensive offer of benefits that are unrivaled by most.

Full-time faculty and staff benefits include:

• College-paid medical, dental, drug, life and disability insurance
• Tuition remission (for classes at the college)
• Forgivable tuition loan (for classes at any accredited academic institution)
• 403(b) retirement plan with 10% College contribution with employee contribution 5%
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid vacation, holiday and personal time
• Partial remote work schedule for remote work eligible positions

Additional College benefits

• Winter break: 1 week around the third week in December and New Years
• Spring Break: 1 week in March
• Summer Hours: 4-day work week (closed on Fridays) from the 2nd week in May through the 3rd week in August

For More information about the College benefits and eligibility based on employee class, please visit:

Salary Grade or Rank: 4

Min Salary/Hourly Rate: $62,672

Max Salary/Hourly Rate: $103,410

Job Posting Open Date: 02/25/2026
Type of Position: Administrator
Employment Status: Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants

Interested candidates should complete an online application.

• Cover Letter of interest and resume required.
• Name and contact information of 3 references required.
• Employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of background checks in accordance with PA Child Protective Services Law.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the U.S.

Community College of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, status as a Vietnam Era Veteran or disabled veteran or any other status protected by law, in matters pertaining to employment.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How did you hear about Community College of Philadelphia?
   • CareerBuilder.com
   • HigherEdJobs.com
   • LinkedIn
   • The Chronicle of Higher Education
   • Indeed.com
   • InsideHigherEd.com
   • Community College of Philadelphia Website
   • HBCU Career Center
   • Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC)
   • Other
2. If your answer to the above question is Other, please note the source below. If this question does not apply to you, enter N/A.

   (Open Ended Question)

3. * What is the highest level of education you have completed?
   • No Response
   • High School/GED
   • Associates Degree
   • Bachelor's Degree
   • Master's Degree
   • Doctorate
   • Other
4. * Do you have at least five (5) years of leadership experience in planning and promoting student programming and/or event planning within a higher education environment?
   • Yes
   • No
5. * Do you have previous budget and personnel management experience?
   • Yes
   • No
6. * Do you have familiarity with integrated management software such as Banner by Ellucian?
   • Yes
   • No

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Optional Documents

1. References

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