University of Michigan

Director, Engineering Center for Student Organizations

University of Michigan$75K — $93K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree; Master's preferred in related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in student affairs or higher education administration.
  • Experience advising and supporting students, particularly in complex situations.
  • Proven track record of supervising staff and supporting student employees.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex programs with multiple stakeholders.
  • Experience in risk management and crisis response.
  • Financial administration experience including budget management.

Responsibilities

  • Direct the Engineering Center for Student Organizations and set strategic objectives.
  • Develop and implement policies and operational guidelines.
  • Advocate for engineering student organizations across the University.
  • Supervise ECSO staff, handling hiring, training, and performance management.
  • Manage risk and compliance related to student organization activities.
  • Oversee leadership development and compliance for recognized student organizations.
  • Represent student organization needs in College and University discussions.

Benefits

  • Flexible work environment with hybrid options available.
  • Professional development opportunities through leadership training.
  • Access to campus resources and networking opportunities.
  • Potential for a higher salary for exceptionally qualified candidates.
Full Job Description
How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Office of Student Affairs, the Director of the Engineering Center for Student Organizations provides strategic leadership and oversight for more than 185 College of Engineering recognized student organizations and serves as the primary advocate, advisor, and subject matter expert for student organization engagement in the College of Engineering. The Director serves as a member of the OSA leadership team and leads ECSO's staff, services, policies, risk management, compliance processes, financial administration, and partnerships.

In this role, the Director develops and implements approved policies and long-term plans, supports student organization leaders, oversees student organization funding processes and facilities use, responds to urgent and complex student organization matters, and partners with College and University stakeholders to strengthen the student organization community and leadership development experience. ECSO is one of six units within Engineering's Office of Student Affairs.

For additional information, please visit the OSA and ECSO websites.

Responsibilities*

Leadership, Supervision, and Administration:
  • Direct the Engineering Center for Student Organizations, which supports more than 185 engineering-recognized student organizations and serves approximately 15,000 students from across the University. Set strategic objectives and long-term plans for ECSO in alignment with OSA and College priorities.
  • Develop policy, operational guidelines, and implementation plans with approval from the Executive Director. Lead implementation of approved policies, procedures, criteria, and processes.
  • Serve as the primary subject matter expert and advocate for Engineering-affiliated student organization engagement across the University. Provide data analysis, strategic proposals, reports, and forecasting to the Executive Director as needed.
  • Supervise ECSO professional and student staff, including hiring, training, work planning, performance management, time approval, coaching, and ongoing support. Serve as a member of the OSA leadership team and report to the Executive Director of OSA.
  • Serve as the College's designated Unit Authority for Engineering Sponsored Student Organizations, authorizing and managing required University processes on behalf of the College in accordance with established policies and delegated authority. Serve as the primary College contact for emerging, non-routine, or complex student organization needs.

Risk Management, Facilities, and Issues Management:
  • Manage risk, compliance, and assessment processes related to engineering student organization activities. Coordinate with the Office of General Counsel, Risk Management, Procurement, Facilities, the Center for Campus Involvement, and other campus partners to address student organization risk, emergencies, crises, prevention efforts, event safety, travel incidents, facility issues, conduct concerns, financial concerns, property damage, and other urgent or complex matters.
  • Provide after-hours and on-call support for student organization matters as assigned, including urgent issues related to travel, facilities, and safety.
  • Coordinate with Facilities and College partners to implement policies, manage compliance, and evaluate utilization of student organization-controlled spaces and student organization use of College facilities, including classrooms, CAEN labs, storage, meeting, and event spaces.

Student Organization Advising and Leadership Development:
  • Oversee the leadership development, recognition, registration, and compliance processes for engineering-recognized student organizations. Enforce established recognition criteria and coordinate with College leadership regarding updates to recognition policies or processes.
  • Advise student organization leaders on organization development, leadership transitions, event planning, recruitment, governance, conflict resolution, and other student organization matters, including complex or sensitive student issues.
  • Create opportunities and programs for student organizations to build community, collaborate, strengthen leadership capacity, and contribute to a positive and inclusive engineering student organization ecosystem.

Financial Responsibilities:
  • Oversee ECSO financial administration and student organization funding processes, including operating funds, student organization support funds, donations, endowments, grants, and related funding sources.
  • Authorize allocations to student organizations within established criteria. Provide guidance to student organization leaders on funding opportunities, spending processes, financial stewardship, and compliance with University policies.
  • Support compliance with University and other applicable policy and processes for student organization-related private and government grants, scholarships, and gift funds.

Partnerships and College/University Coordination:
  • Represent OSA and engineering student organization needs on College and University committees, working groups, and planning efforts. Serve as a primary liaison between engineering student organizations and College or University units, departments, and administrative offices.
  • Support the College of Engineering Student Government regarding policy issues, procedures, and engagement with College leadership.
  • Build and maintain effective partnerships across OSA, the College, and the University to support student organization engagement, student leadership, risk management, compliance, and student-centered service delivery.

Required Qualifications*
  • Bachelor's degree. Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, educational leadership, or a related field, preferred.
  • Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs, leadership development, higher education administration, or a related area.
  • Experience advising, mentoring, or supporting students in a higher education setting, including experience navigating complex or sensitive student issues.
  • Experience supervising, training, and supporting staff, interns, or student employees.
  • Demonstrated experience managing complex programs, projects, operations, or services in a fast-paced environment with multiple stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated experience with risk management, crisis response, or complex student organization/event-related issues.
  • Experience with budget management, financial administration, or resource allocation.
  • Ability to apply student/leadership development to student engagement programs and services.
  • Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, analyze complex situations, evaluate options, and make appropriate decisions within established policies and delegated authority.
  • Excellent communication, relationship-building, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
  • Demonstrated commitment to inclusive, student-centered practices that support student engagement, leadership, wellbeing, and belonging.

A higher salary may be considered for an extraordinarily qualified candidate.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Additional Information
  • This position requires the ability to travel to various campus locations to conduct work, attend meetings, support events, and respond to student organization needs.
  • The person in this position routinely presents information at events, meetings, trainings, and student organization programs.
  • This position may require early morning, evening, and weekend work related to student organization events, urgent issues, travel, and College or University programs.
  • This position includes after-hours and on-call support for student organization emergency response, as assigned

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

Job Detail

Job Opening ID

279437

Working Title

Director, Engineering Center for Student Organizations

Job Title

Student Affairs Assistant Dir

Work Location

Ann Arbor Campus

Ann Arbor, MI

Modes of Work

Hybrid

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

College Engineering

Department

CoE Office of Student Affairs

Posting Begin/End Date

7/06/2026 - 7/16/2026

Salary

$75,000.00 - $93,000.00

Career Interest

Academic & Student Services

About University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan system. The University of Michigan was founded in 1817 in Detroit, as the Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania, 20 years before the territory became a state. The school moved to Ann Arbor in 1837 onto 40 acres (16 ha) of what is now known as Central Campus. Since its establishment in Ann Arbor, the university campus has expanded to include more than 584 major buildings with a combined area of more than 34 million gross square feet (781 acres or 3.16 km²), and has two satellite campuses located in Flint and Dearborn. The University of Michigan is a founding member of the Association of American Universities.
Learn more about University of Michigan
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