POSITION TITLE: Executive Director, Belonging and Servingness

COMPENSATION RANGE: 100,000.00 - 105,000.00 USD per year

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Professional Administrative

DEPARTMENT: VP for Student Affairs

TARGET HIRE DATE: 9/1/2026

BENEFITS: UNC's Career Hub

Candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of application; UNC cannot provide H-1B sponsorship at this time.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 05/08/2026.

Position Summary:

TheDivision of Student Affairs (DSA) at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC)is a forward-thinking, student success-oriented team of professionals committedto its role in strategically engineering and implementing the co-curricularout-of-class student experience. Staff members within the Division of StudentAffairs are expected to positively contribute to our mission of supportingstudents in the co-curricular environment and provide an experience thatinspires students academically, intellectually, personally, and emotionally.

The Executive Director, Belonging and Servingness is a high-level campusleader responsible for fostering an inclusive environment where all students feelvalued and supported with special emphasis on students from diverse,marginalized, and historically underserved backgrounds. The Executive Director,in collaboration with the Vice President for Student Affairs, sets the division'svision for student success initiatives related to belonging and servingness,ensuring they align with broader institutional goals for equity and inclusion. Additionally,the Executive Director provides administrative leadership, vision, anddirection to the university's Cultural and Resource Centers, includingsupervision of the directors of APASS/NASS, the César Chávez Cultural Center,the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center,and the Center for Women's and Gender Equity.

Another key responsibility of the Executive Director is serving as Chair ofthe Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Steering Committee, includingfacilitating university communications that promote a culture of belonging andservingness. They lead the university's HSI initiatives, including-but notlimited to-preparing the university's annual application for HSI designation,developing and implementing university-wide signature HSI programs, andcollaborating with campus partners to foster a welcoming and supportiveenvironment. The emphasis on servingness relates directly to HSI work, movingbeyond enrollment metrics to ensure the university meaningfully serves itsdiverse populations through tailored support and improved outcomes.

The Executive Director serves as a member of theDivision of Student Affairs to:

• Provide vision, direction, and administrative leadership for the Cultural and Resource Centers including supervision of the Directors of APASS/NASS, the César Chávez Cultural Center, the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, and the Center for Women's and Gender Equity.
• Lead the university's Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) initiatives, including but not limited to preparing the university's annual application for HSI designation and fostering a university-wide culture of servingness through the development and implementation of signature HSI programs, as well as supporting division- and department-specific programming.
• Chair the HSI Steering Committee, including facilitating university communications that strengthen a culture of belonging and servingness, and creating and supporting committees or task forces related to HSI initiatives.
• Oversee faculty fellows, graduate assistants, interns, and student workers dedicated to supporting HSI programs and services, and signature belonging programs.
• Implement and assess signature belonging programs, including Unite and Catalyst, and develop new programming that advances the university's commitment to belonging and servingness.
• Serve on the Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team, acting as a key advisor and partner to the Vice President for Student Affairs in cultivating a healthy campus climate.
• Serve on divisional and university-wide committees as appropriate.
• Collaborate with university leaders to create cultures of belonging across divisions and departments both within and beyond Student Affairs.

Job Duties:

Leadership and Vision - (40%)

• Provides strategic leadership and vision to the Cultural and Resource centers.
• Provides strategic leadership and vision for Hispanic Serving Institution initiatives.
• Establishes the university-wide vision and direction for belonging, servingness, and student success initiatives, ensuring alignment with broader institutional goals.
• Provides vision and administrative leadership to Cultural and Resource Center directors by developing and implementing short- and long-term strategic plans that support student success, the centers' growth, and long-term stability.
• Ensures alignment of strategic plans with UNC's strategic plan, mission, and values.
• Engages in ethical and fiscally responsible budgeting practices, including forecasting and allocating fiscal, human, capital, and technological resources in alignment with the strategic vision.
• Serves as a "primary storyteller" and collaborator by building strong partnerships with internal departments and external community organizations, championing the university's HSI work and advancing a culture of belonging and servingness across campus.
• Conducts regular assessments and program reviews in accordance with the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) and other relevant professional competency standards.
• Stays informed about federal, state, and local laws related to aspects of the portfolio to proactively understand and meet emerging student needs.

University and Community Relations (30%)

• Collaborates with internal and external constituents-including faculty, alumni, and professional staff across campus-to provide academic enrichment and personal development opportunities for all UNC students.
• Advocates for the needs of students from diverse, marginalized, and historically underserved backgrounds in the development and implementation of university policies, programs, and services through active participation on campus committees.
• Provides consultation and support to UNC administration, faculty, and staff to ensure inclusive, equity-based services that meet the needs of students from diverse, marginalized, and historically underserved backgrounds.
• Attends and, when appropriate, presents at local, regional, and national meetings, conferences, and symposia on topics related to higher education, with an emphasis on belonging, servingness, HSI initiatives, and the experiences of students from diverse, marginalized, and historically underserved backgrounds.

Student Services - 25%

• Ensures that Cultural and Resource Centers design and deliver programs and services that support student success, with a particular focus on students from diverse, marginalized, and at-promise backgrounds, and aligned with the university's commitment to belonging and servingness as part of its HSI work. Ensures that Cultural and Resource Centers design and deliver programs and services that support student success, with a particular focus on students from diverse, marginalized, and at-promise backgrounds, and aligned with the university's commitment to belonging and servingness as part of its HSI work.
• Works collaboratively with Cultural and Resource Center directors to ensure that student development opportunities-such as mentorship, leadership programs, student clubs and organizations, internships, employment opportunities, and graduate school preparation-are consistently offered.
• Maintains an annual calendar of Cultural and Resource Center signature events that promote student development, cultural education, and identity exploration.
• Ensures Cultural and Resource Center directors develop and implement evaluation and assessment methods to measure program effectiveness and achievement of learning outcomes.
• Consults and collaborates with campus partners to create streamlined pathways for academic success for students from underrepresented and at-promise backgrounds.
• Cultivates relationships with faculty and staff to encourage integration of Cultural and Resource Center events, resources, and services into academic and co-curricular experiences.
• Develops resources, workshops, and individualized support to address the academic, financial, and personal needs of students served by the Cultural and Resource Centers, reinforcing the university's commitment to HSI aligned servingness.

General Administration - 5%

• Oversees and ensures that Center Directors maintain accurate records, data, and reports related to programs, budgets, personnel, and student engagement, supporting transparency and alignment with the university's commitment to belonging and servingness as part of its HSI work.
• Supervises the preparation of annual reports that document progress toward long and short-term strategic goals, including goals connected to HSI initiatives and student-centered outcomes.
• Ensures compliance with university, state, and federal guidelines across all administrative, financial, and personnel processes, reinforcing equitable and student-centered practices aligned with servingness principles.
• Prepares for and implements the annual review process for each direct report, providing guidance that supports professional growth, accountability, and alignment with the university's belonging and servingness goals.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

Minimum qualifications forthis position is a master's degree in Student Affairs/Higher Education,Counseling, Psychology, Public Administration/Policy, or a closely relatedfield. A doctorate in Higher Education, Educational Administration, or arelated discipline is preferred. Equivalent professionalexperience may be considered in lieu of a specific educational credential,depending on the relevance, depth, and level of responsibility demonstratedthrough the candidate's experience.

Experience:

A minimum of three years ofprogressively responsible experience in student affairs, higher education, orclosely related fields, with demonstrated commitment to equity-minded practice,belonging, and servingness consistent with the mission of a Hispanic ServingInstitution (HSI).

• At least three years of professional experience designing, administering, and implementing student development programs and services, with an emphasis on initiatives that support the success of Hispanic/Latine, marginalized students through culturally responsive and servingness-aligned practices.
• A minimum of three years of experience in large-scale project management and grant or budget oversight, including strategic planning, resource allocation, and assessment practices that reflect HSI values and advance student belonging.
• Strong knowledge of current issues, trends, and best practices in the field of student affairs and higher education, including culturally sustaining frameworks, asset-based approaches, and HSI servingness scholarship.
• A terminal degree is highly desirable, particularly for candidates whose academic preparation and research address equity, student success, servingness, or institutional transformation within HSI or minority serving institution (MSI) contexts.

Certification/Registration/Licensing:

None.

Ability:

• Demonstrates cultural humility and the ability to effectively engage with individuals representing a wide range of identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences, fostering environments of belonging and inclusive excellence aligned with HSI-servingness principles.
• Possesses strong knowledge of student development theory, racial and ethnic identity development, intersectionality, and related frameworks that support equity-minded, culturally responsive practice within an HSI context.
• Exhibits the ability to create, manage, and evaluate large programming budgets, ensuring resource allocation reflects institutional commitments to belonging, servingness, and student success for Hispanic/Latine, marginalized, and at-promise populations.
• Demonstrates empathy and student-centered advocacy through the ability to understand, uplift, and champion the needs of diverse student communities.
• Effectively manages a portfolio of programs-including identity-based resource centers-through strong organizational skills, clear communication, collaborative leadership, and the ability to engage and motivate others in support of HSI initiatives.
• Shows demonstrated ability to supervise professional staff and cultivate a high-performing, inclusive, and culturally sustaining workplace that reflects HSI-servingness values.
• Applies strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, emotional intelligence, and sound independent judgment in complex and dynamic environments.
• Utilizes essential computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office, campus data systems, and virtual meeting platforms.
• Demonstrates the ability to build, sustain, and enhance collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships with a wide range of on- and off-campus stakeholders, supporting HSI-aligned goals and fostering a culture of belonging across the institution and broader community.

Special Considerations:

None.

Benefits:
Benefits available include health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, as well as a selection of several defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions. Employees at UNC receive sick leave, and other leave options may be available based on position. Full-time employees are eligible to receive tuition waiver benefits, as well as dependents and spouses of UNC Employees who are employed at 0.5 FTE or above are eligible for undergraduate dependent tuition grants of up to 50%. These tuition grants will cover in-state tuition charges. Further requirements may exist. Other benefits may be available based on position.