Description
SUMMARY
The Director of Student Engagement & Outreach leads the department that is both the public face of Associated Students, Inc. and the home of its most visible student services. The Director owns ASl's marketing, communications, outreach, and events for the whole organization, and the student-facing programs of SEO: the ASI Food Pantry (including the CapRadio Garden, after-hours lockers, and pop-up distributions), KSSU student radio and its DJ services, and ASI Safe Rides. The Director is accountable for results, people, money, data, partnerships, and risk across the department, and serves on ASl's management team as a strategic partner to the Executive Director.
This is a leadership role, not a coordination role. The Director sets direction, builds systems that outlast individuals, develops managers, tells ASl's story with evidence, and brings resources into the organization. The Director acts for the Executive Director in matters involving SEO and represents ASI to campus partners, community partners, funders, and the press.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategy and leadership
• Set annual goals and measurable objectives for every SEO program, aligned to the ASI Strategic Plan, and report results quarterly to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.
• Lead, develop, and evaluate the Associate Director and the Marketing & Outreach Manager; build a leadership pipeline within the department; set clear scopes of duties, performance expectations, and development plans for all SEO staff.
• Own department staffing: plan capacity against programming, manage vacancies and recruitment with HR, classify positions accurately, and advise the Executive Director on structure and headcount.
• Serve as a member of ASl's management team; contribute to organization-wide policy, budget, and planning; lead cross-department initiatives as assigned.
Financial management
• Prepare, justify, and manage the SEO budget across all programs; monitor expenditures monthly; forecast and address variances; present budget proposals and mid-year adjustments to the Executive Director and Finance.
• Own cost-per-unit and return-on-investment analysis for programs (for example, all-in cost per pound distributed, cost per engagement, DJ services margin) and use it to set priorities.
• Ensure restricted and reimbursable funds (campus allocations, grants, sponsorships, designated gifts) are tracked in separate ledgers with documentation sufficient for audit.
Resource development and partnerships
• Lead resource development for SEO programs in partnership with the Executive Director: identify, pursue, and steward grants, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and donor relationships; maintain a donor and partner file; meet annual fundraising targets set with the Executive Director.
• Own ASl's working relationships with campus partners whose work touches SEO, including the Division of Student Affairs, Campus Life, Student Health, Counseling & Wellness Services and the Basic Needs Resource Center, Alumni Relations, and University Communications; negotiate memoranda of understanding and service agreements for the Executive Director's signature.
• Represent ASI programs to community partners (food bank, farms, foundations, businesses) and on relevant campus and systemwide committees.
Marketing, communications, and outreach
• Set the strategy for ASl's brand, communications, website, social media, and outreach; ensure every ASI department is accurately and consistently represented; approve organization-wide campaigns.
• Oversee production of the ASI Annual Report, the Division impact report, strategic priorities publications, and the department's contributions to campus and systemwide reporting.
• Serve as a spokesperson for SEO programs with the press and campus media in coordination with the Executive Director; ensure staff are prepared for media contact.
• Oversee ASl's signature events and outreach calendar (ASI Week, Day on the Quad, anniversary and recognition events, elections outreach) with sound risk management, contracts, and budgets.
Programs and services
• Hold the Associate Director accountable for the operation, growth, compliance, and data of the ASI Food Pantry, KSSU, and Safe Rides; review program dashboards monthly; intervene on risk, quality, or service-level issues.
• Ensure ASl's role in campus basic needs is defined, documented, and coordinated with campus partners, including referral pathways and shared reporting.
• Ensure compliance with partner agreements (food bank partner agency agreement, insurance and certification requirements), food safety standards, fleet and driver requirements, volunteer and intern requirements, and ASI policy.
Data, assessment, and reporting
• Establish and maintain a department data system: defined metrics for every program, scheduled data collection from source systems, and quarterly reporting that feeds the ASI Annual Report, Division reporting, Chancellor's Office surveys, and funder reports.
• Use data to make decisions and to make the case for resources; ensure every public figure about SEO programs is sourced and consistent across documents.
Governance and policy
• Advise ASI student government and the Board of Directors on SEO programs; support the Food Pantry Advisory Council and KSSU Advisory Board; prepare board reports and presentations.
• Maintain, update, and enforce department policies and procedures; seek guidance from HR, Finance, and legal counsel as needed.
• Safely perform job duties; other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.
CORE COMPETENCIES
• Strategic judgment. Sees the organization whole: connects program decisions to ASl's budget, reputation, campus relationships, and strategy.
• Leads through others. Develops managers, delegates real authority, holds people to clear standards with respect, and builds teams that work without the Director in the room.
• Financial fluency. Reads a budget, builds a forecast, and explains unit economics to a board or a funder in plain language.
• Evidence-driven. Asks for and uses data; treats accurate, consistent numbers as a professional obligation.
• Partnership and influence. Builds trust with campus leaders, funders, and partners; negotiates agreements that protect ASl's interests while strengthening relationships.
• Communication. Writes and speaks clearly to students, staff, executives, donors, and reporters; tells ASl's story with warmth and precision.
• Operational and risk judgment. Anticipates and manages risk in events, food handling, vehicles, volunteers, and contracts.
• Integrity and steadiness. Acts with integrity, keeps confidences, and models ASl's values; maintains composure under pressure and public scrutiny.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public administration, business, student affairs, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in student affairs, marketing and communications, nonprofit program leadership, or a closely related field, including at least four years supervising professional staff.
, Demonstrated experience managing a multi-program budget and reporting on financial results.
• Demonstrated experience securing or managing grants, sponsorships, or partnership funding.
, Demonstrated experience using program data to assess results and inform decisions.
• Experience negotiating agreements with partners or vendors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and media contact.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and programs.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Master's degree in a related field.
• Experience in a California State University auxiliary, student government, or campus student services setting.
• Experience leading food security, basic needs, or student media programs.
• Experience building dashboards or reporting systems from operational data.
• Experience supervising student employees and volunteers at scale.
• Valid driver's license.
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 the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear, and work at a computer for extended periods. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, including at events and food distribution sites.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Office setting with regular time at program sites (Food Pantry, KSSU studio, garden, event venues). Occasional evening and weekend work. Occasional local travel to partner sites.
