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 outline your interest in the role and relevant experience. Submit both a cover letter and a resume as one file (because of system limitations).

Job Summary

The UMCI Senior Student Affairs & Experience Manager will lead the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive student affairs and experience model for University of Michigan students pursuing degree programs at the University of Michigan Center for Innovation (UMCI) in Detroit.

You will build and lead the student affairs function at a new U-M location serving students across multiple degree programs, schools, colleges, and campuses. The Manager will create a cohesive UMCI experience that complements the academic and program-specific services provided by students' home schools and colleges while fostering student success, belonging, interdisciplinary connection, and engagement with U-M and Detroit.

Working across UMCI, academic units, university offices, and external partners, the Manager will develop and oversee the programs, services, partnerships, and processes that support students from onboarding through graduation. This includes oversight of advising, success coaching, student support, and case management, development of signature UMCI experiences and initiatives, and coordination of complex student needs across the university. As UMCI grows, the Manager will build and supervise a student affairs team and evolve services and staffing to meet the needs of a growing student population and expanding portfolio of academic programs.

You will combine strategic leadership with hands-on development of student services and experiences, team leadership, and collaboration across a complex university environment. The ideal candidate is a student-centered leader who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment and is skilled at building new programs and services, coordinating support across organizational boundaries, developing strong partnerships, and translating student needs and feedback into effective and sustainable practices.

You will report to the Associate Director of Academic Program Development & Operations.

The position is a hybrid role with a blend of remote and onsite responsibilities in Detroit, Michigan. The salary range is $80,000- $88,000.

Link to full job description.

Responsibilities*

Student Affairs, Services, & Support Leadership (40%)

• Lead the design and delivery of student affairs, student services, and student success initiatives across UMCI degree programs, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality student experience.
• Oversee and provide student advising, success coaching, support, and case management, connecting students with appropriate university resources and UMCI courses, programs, events, and cross-program opportunities.
• Develop and lead student success strategies and initiatives that support engagement, retention, persistence, belonging, well-being, and degree completion.
• Anticipate emerging student needs and develop UMCI-wide resources, services, and interventions to address them.
• Establish service standards, protocols, and expectations for student support at UMCI in coordination with participating schools, colleges, and university offices.
• Serve as a primary escalation point for complex student concerns and situations requiring coordination across UMCI, academic units, campuses, or university services.
• Lead the development and delivery of signature student experiences including onboarding and orientation, community-building activities, interdisciplinary engagement, milestone celebrations, and graduation-related experiences.

Student Affairs Strategy and Organizational Development (35%)

• Develop and implement the long-term strategy and operating model for student affairs and the student experience at UMCI, adapting services and infrastructure as enrollment and academic offerings grow.
• Design scalable service models, workflows, referral pathways, staffing structures, and operating processes that coordinate support across participating programs while providing a cohesive UMCI student experience.
• Establish a student experience framework from onboarding through graduation that complements services provided by students' home schools and colleges while creating a shared UMCI experience.
• Build, supervise, mentor, and evaluate a growing student affairs team, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, accountability, and student-centered service.
• Assess resource and staffing needs and develop budget and resource recommendations to support student affairs priorities and new initiatives.
• Identify risks, service gaps, and emerging needs related to the student experience and recommend solutions to UMCI leadership.
• Lead the implementation and change management of new student services, programs, processes, and technologies

Partnerships & Institutional Collaboration (15%)

• Serve as UMCI's lead student affairs partner with participating schools and colleges and relevant university offices, helping coordinate responsibilities and services across organizational boundaries.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with academic leaders, faculty, advisors, student affairs professionals, and university service offices to support student success and a coordinated student experience.
• Lead collaborative planning with campus partners to establish shared-service approaches, referral processes, and coordinated student support strategies.
• Partner with university offices to ensure UMCI students can effectively access appropriate services and resources, including those related to well-being, accessibility, financial concerns, academic support, and other student needs.
• Develop partnerships with Detroit community organizations and other external partners that expand resources, opportunities, and connections available to UMCI students.
• Represent UMCI on relevant university committees, working groups, and initiatives related to student affairs and the student experience.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement (10%)

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive assessment framework for UMCI degree student affairs, success, and engagement programs and services.
• Establish key measures and use student outcomes, participation data, feedback, and other relevant information to identify needs, evaluate effectiveness, and inform priorities.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and other tools that provide UMCI leadership and partners with actionable information about the student experience and effectiveness of services.
• Regularly gather student feedback and partner input to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Present findings, trends, recommendations, and resource needs to UMCI leadership and university partners.
• Use assessment findings and emerging best practices to continuously improve programs, services, processes, and the overall UMCI student experience.

Required Qualifications*

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, Social Work, Education, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs, student success, academic administration, or a related higher education function.
• Demonstrated experience developing and leading student services, programs, or initiatives that support student success and engagement.
• Experience supervising professional staff and building effective teams.
• Proven success leading complex cross-functional initiatives and influencing stakeholders across multiple organizational levels.
• Experience using data, assessment, and student feedback to inform decisions and improve programs and services.

Modes of Work

The work requirements allow both onsite and offsite work and an employee has an expected recurring onsite presence. On occasion, the employee may be required and must be available to work onsite more frequently if necessitated by unit leadership or their designee and/or the job requirements.

Union Affiliation

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by University Staff United, AFT Local 284, AFL-CIO, which represents Employees in all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.

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

283725

Working Title

Senior Student Affairs & Experience Manager

Job Title

STUDENT AFFAIRS ASSISTANT DIR

Work Location

Other MI Location

Detroit, MI

Modes of Work

Hybrid

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

Um Ctr Innov Detroit

Department

UM Ctr Innovation in Detroit

Posting Begin/End Date

9/30/2026 - 10/14/2026

Salary

$80,000.00 - $88,000.00

Career Interest

University Staff United (USU)