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Assistant Director of Student Life, Community & Belonging

at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, US

Work Type: On Premise | Employment Type: Full Time

Experience Level: Executive Level | Posted Date: 2025-04-25

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Description

Job Description   The Assistant Director of Student Life, Community and Belonging is an integral part of the Office of Academic and Student Affairs team within the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. The Assistant Director will develop partnerships, initiatives, services, and programming that advances the overall community of Owen while focus on student belonging for all full-time graduate degree students in Owen. As part of the Office of Academic and Student Affairs (ASA) and reporting to the Executive Director, the Assistant Director is a leader, advisor, advocate, and catalyst for improving the overall student experience. The Assistant Director will collaborate with the Student Life team to provide student leadership development opportunities and oversight to clubs and organizations in Owen.

The Owen Graduate School of Management (OGSM) is a professional school at Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, focused on graduate-level business education. Owen’s mission is to create opportunities for its faculty, staff, and students to discover, grow, and thrive in business and beyond. Owen recognizes discovery in traditional forms, such as scholarly research, intellectual curiosity, and curricular learning. But it also celebrates discovery unique to the human experience, that is, the art of becoming, which is lived through a desire to connect with others, to find meaning in work and relationships, and to create something new. Owen sees transformation as foundational.

The Office of Academic and Student Affairs is a forward-facing office which advocates and guides students through the Vanderbilt Business experience. This team of customer-service dedicated professionals focuses on creating and supporting high-quality student life experiences and holistic well-being for all students. The office of Academic and Student Affairs (ASA) is intentionally organized to support our students so that their rigorous and robust academic experience is complemented with sound and professional academic advising and impactful engagement in student organizations and activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Student Engagement
  • Continuously explore ways to foster programming and initiatives that enhance students’ sense of belonging to the Owen Community. This may include community building activities during orientation, club leadership training, and heritage month celebrations throughout the year.
  • Help ensure key cornerstone community events that are designed to foster community – such as Cosmopolitan Week, Humans of Owen, Global Food Fest, and Coffee Roulette – are sustainable, supported, and evaluated year over year.
  • Support the developing and marketing of student initiatives and programming including study breaks, social and school-wide special events.
  • Advise and support affinity clubs, organizations, and individuals as needed.
  • Support the Associate Director in advising student organizations including new officer transition, event planning, and funding allocation.
  • Support ASA team, as needed, to respond to student emergencies, concerns, and complaints.
• Communication
  • Implement student organization resource guide (supporting 30+ clubs) for club leaders.
  • Create student life updates for Owen’s “What’s Happening” newsletter.
  • Assist with the management of communication channels in Microsoft Teams for the Office of Academic and Student Affairs.
• Partnerships
  • Work closely with Owen Student Government Association (OSGA) President, Vice President, and Board, especially the VP of Cultural Affairs, to enhance offerings, initiatives, and programming.
  • Collaborate with other student life professionals, as well as the center for belonging and communities at Vanderbilt to enrich student programming at Owen.
  • Engage with Degree Program Directors and Teams to assess needs, communicate initiatives, and support community and belonging efforts.
• Program Administration and Special Events
  • Co-chair Wellness Committee: creating yearly wellness series with campus partners and resources to promote holistic wellbeing for all Owen students.
  • Contribute to all large-scale, signature ASA events, including all-Owen Orientation and Commencement.
  • Serve as Anchor Link (club management system) administrator for all Owen student clubs and manage all forms and event submissions.
  • Work with the Honor Council to ensure the honor code language is supportive to all members of the Owen community.
  • Work with ASA team to identify ways to create a community that provides all students with a sense of belonging, e.g., preferred pronouns on name tents.

Supervisory Relationships

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Director, Office of Academic and Student Affairs at the Owen Graduate School of Management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required, Master’s degree preferred.
• 3+ years of academic or professional experience in Community and Belonging, Human Resources, Social Science, Organizational Performance, and/or related field.
• Experience in a student-oriented role within higher education is preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and cultural competencies to effectively work with diverse populations across multiple stakeholders and functions in a collaborative and effective manner.
• A demonstrated passion for bringing community and belonging to the workplace and/or to an organization.
• Track record of program planning, implementation, and managing across multiple important priorities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.

 

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.