DescriptionThe Associate Director of Governance, Compliance, and Organizational Standards leads the development and oversight of governance infrastructure, compliance processes, and operational standards for Campus Life student organizations and governing bodies. This role ensures clarity, consistency, and equity in policies, procedures, and decision-making frameworks while supporting professional staff and student leaders in navigating institutional expectations and responsibilities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provides strategic leadership for student organization governance, compliance, and institutional standards, ensuring policies and processes are clear, equitable, and consistently applied across undergraduate and graduate/professional student organizations.
- Oversees the recognized student organization (RSO) lifecycle from a governance and compliance perspective, including chartering, re-registration, constitution review, and coordination of officer eligibility and compliance requirements.
- Leads and manages the student organization re-registration process, including the annual review of governing documents and coordination with campus partners to ensure alignment with university policies and legal requirements.
- Provides oversight and coordination for student governance elections and selection processes, ensuring transparency, procedural integrity, and adherence to established standards across governing bodies.
- Develops, maintains, and refines departmental standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to student organizations, governance processes, elections, event registration, contracts, and high-risk or high-visibility activities.
- Serves as the departmental lead for neutrality, non-discrimination, and policy education for student leaders and governing bodies, in collaboration with appropriate university partners.
- Partners with Student Governance Services, Finance, Procurement, General Counsel, and Campus Life colleagues to ensure student organization and governance processes are aligned with institutional policies, risk management expectations, and compliance requirements.
- Supervises and supports departmental student staff responsible for central office operations, including front-line communication, administrative coordination, and support of governance and compliance processes.
- Provides consultation and guidance to professional staff and student leaders on governance procedures, compliance expectations, and institutional decision-making frameworks.
- Collaborates closely with the Associate Director of Leadership and Organizational Development and Assistant Directors to ensure governance and compliance processes support leadership development, engagement pathways, and student learning outcomes.
- Identifies areas where policies, processes, or structures create unnecessary barriers to student engagement, and recommends improvements that balance accountability with access and clarity.
- Serves as a member of the Center for Leadership & Engagement leadership team, contributing to departmental strategy, staffing models, policy alignment, and long-term planning in partnership with the Director.
- Represents the department on divisional and university committees as assigned, serving as a key liaison between student organizations, governance bodies, and institutional stakeholders.
- Supports the overall management and operational effectiveness of the Center for Leadership & Engagement, including oversight of major initiatives, annual planning, and project-based reporting.
- Performs other related duties as required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- A master's degree in higher education, leadership, or other related areas, and three years of related experience managing central student organizations and other associated governing bodies, OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Experience leading and influencing multi-departmental and divisional relationships across campus.
NOTE: Position tasks are generally required to be performed in-person at an Emory University location. Remote work from home day options may be granted at department discretion. Emory reserves the right to change remote work status with notice to employee.
