Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Belonging

STATUS: Full time
DIVISION: Student Affairs
REPORTS TO: Director of Student Engagement and Belonging
SUPERVISES: Student Engagement Work Study Students
FLSA STATUS: Exempt

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Director of Student Engagement & Belonging plays a vital role in cultivating a dynamic, inclusive, and engaging student experience at CCS. This position is responsible for developing and managing programs that foster student involvement, connection, and belonging across campus. Through thoughtful oversight of student initiatives—including Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), Student Activities Board, and co-curricular learning opportunities—this role ensures that all students feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive at CCS. The Assistant Director will have a direct impact on building community, strengthening student engagement, and supporting retention through meaningful programming and campus-wide collaboration.

POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop, implement, and oversee diverse student activities that connect the entire student body, both on and off campus.
• Provide strategic oversight and daily management of the Student Activities Board (SAB), including leadership development, timeclock approvals, office operations, and the planning and execution of major campus events (e.g., Welcome Week, Century Ball).
• Serve as the primary coordinator for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), managing resources and ongoing support for student leaders and advisors.
• Manage the budgets and offices spaces for the Student Activities Board (SAB) to ensure responsible and strategic allocation of resources.
• Recruit, train, and supervise student engagement work-study students to support the office’s programs and initiatives effectively.
• Create and maintain procedural manuals for the Student Activities Board (SAB) and Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) to ensure consistency, clarity, and sustainability of operations.

Fostering Campus Belonging

• Partner with student groups and organizations to support identity-based initiatives that cultivate spaces for meaningful connection and celebration of diverse perspectives.
• Collaborate with campus partners to ensure that student experiences reflect a commitment to creating an environment where all feel valued, seen, and heard.

Communication and Campus Engagement

• Support office-wide initiatives, campus events, and high-impact programming to strengthen student connections and retention.
• Actively participate in key CCS events such as orientation, commencement ceremonies and other campus traditions that foster a sense of belonging.
• Serve on college committees and initiatives that align with the mission of building an engaged, connected student experience.

Other Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and support for other Student Engagement initiatives as needed, including leadership development; e-sports, co-curricular transcripts and identity-based programming (i.e. transfer student and first-generation student programs).
• Collaborate on ongoing assessment and evaluation of programs to ensure alignment with student needs and institutional goals.
• Support management of the Weekly Student Email, the campus involvement newsletter.
• Assist in the development of opportunities for civic engagement and service learning that build community and encourage personal growth.
• Maintain flexibility to accommodate evening and weekend hours as required for events and programming

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s Degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Art & Design, or a related field preferred.
• Experience managing large-scale student programming and leadership initiatives in a college setting.
• Demonstrated ability to design programs and initiatives that build connection and community among students.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across campus departments.
• Experience advising or supporting student organizations, including groups that affirm identity and community.
• Ability to engage and connect with diverse populations through culturally relevant practices and a commitment to fostering a welcoming environment.
• Proficiency in event planning tools and student engagement platforms is a plus.
• Position requires flexibility for night and weekend hours based on event and program needs.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a professional office and college campus environment.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving parts, and vibration.  The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to maintain a stationary position, use a computer and other office equipment, and communicate effectively in person, by phone, and virtually.  Frequent interaction with others, including staff, faculty, students and third parties is required.  The employee may occasionally be required to move files or other objects weighing up to 25 pounds, including from low and high places.  The ability to move around within the office and between buildings on campus, attend off-site meetings and events, and travel between Ford Campus site to Taubman Center site are required.  CCS will make reasonable accommodations that will allow individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ABOUT CCS

The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a nonprofit, private college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. CCS fosters students’ resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, engage their responsibilities as citizens, and learn throughout their lives. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, such as transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business.

The College for Creative Studies, a leading college of art and design, represents a community composed of individuals with many perspectives, personal experiences, values, identities and worldviews and we value what this brings to our organization. CCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, height, weight, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

The College for Creative Studies subscribes to the principle of equal opportunity in its employment, admissions and educational practices and strives to provide an environment and workplace free from unlawful harassment or discrimination. We encourage applications from all.

Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. The search will close when a suitable candidate is hired. Interested candidates should submit the following in PDF format:

Resume and a letter of application should be submitted to: [email protected]