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Assistant Director of Leadership & Civic Engagement

SUNY Niagara
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SUNY Niagara is launching a cutting edge transformation of our new Center for Student Engagement & Leadership Innovation and we are seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking professional to help build it.
 

The Assistant Director of Leadership & Civic Engagement will play a key role in shaping a first-of-its-kind Student Life model within SUNY community colleges, designed to serve as a blueprint for institutions across the system. If you are passionate about student development, civic engagement, and building something meaningful from the ground up, this is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact.
 

About the Role
This position is a full-time 12-month Student Activity Fee funded, Administrator position reporting to the Director, Center of Student Engagement & Leadership Innovation.


The Assistant Director of Leadership & Civic Engagement supports and implements SUNY Niagara’s leadership development programs, civic engagement initiatives, community service opportunities, and volunteerism activities under the direction of the Director of Student Engagement & Leadership Innovation. The Assistant Director helps create a vibrant, inclusive, and student-centered environment that strengthens leadership capacity, civic identity, belonging, and community impact.

This role focuses on coordinating high-quality leadership education experiences; implementing civic learning and community service programming; liaising with community partners; supporting the Leadership Institute; and ensuring accessible, equity-centered leadership and service opportunities for commuter, residential, online, adult, and first-year students.
 

The Assistant Director collaborates with Athletics, the Student Housing Village, NFCI, Academic Affairs, Student Services, Career Services, Public Relations & Marketing, and the Assistant Director of Student Engagement & Experiences (AD-SEE). Strategic planning, policy formation, and final approval authority remain the responsibility of the Director.

Why This Role Stands Out

  • Be part of a transformational Student Life redesign at SUNY Niagara
  • Help build a model program that will influence community colleges across SUNY
  • Work in a highly collaborative, student-centered environment
  • Shape innovative programs that connect leadership, service, belonging, and student success
  • Opportunity to create, pilot, and scale new ideas with strong institutional support


SUNY Niagara provides phenomenal benefits to our employees. Please visit to view our benefits https://sunyniagara.edu/hr/benefits/ offerings. SUNY Niagara’s exceptional work environment fosters growth and personal fulfillment. As an employee, you can expect:
 

Work-Life Balance: When employees can balance their work and personal lives, they are happier, more productive, and better positioned to support our students. At SUNY Niagara, generous paid time off, holiday, and leave policies make this possible. Our college closes for winter break from late December through early January and a week in mid-March for spring recess. In the summer, employees observe a four-day workweek, allowing them to enjoy all that Western New York offers.
 

Professional Growth: SUNY Niagara cares about employees’ professional advancement and development. You will have access to ongoing training, programs, and workshops. We support career growth and encourage employees to pursue further education.
 

Welcoming Culture: SUNY Niagara values the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice as they create a sense of belonging for our students and employees. We foster a collaborative culture that respects and appreciates different perspectives, ideas, and backgrounds which contribute to the richness of our institution. We believe that our diverse, inclusive community enriches the experiences of students and employees alike.
 

Meaningful Work: At SUNY Niagara, your work will directly impact the lives of our students and the region we serve. Our college is for all who are passionate about teaching and focused on supporting students. Our small class sizes facilitate engagement. You will shape students’ futures, prepare them for successful careers, and empower them to contribute to society. Your dedication and expertise will propel students to achieve their educational goals.
 

Become part of an institution that values employees, positively impacts students’ lives, and invests in its community.

 

Typical Work Activities:

1. Leadership Development & Student Learning

  • Implement departmental leadership development strategies through coordination of the Lead & Succeed Leadership Development Program (Emerging and Progressing Leaders).
  • Support coordination and delivery of the Leadership Institute under the Director’s leadership, including logistics, facilitation support, cohort engagement, and structured reflection activities.
  • Facilitate leadership workshops, retreats, and experiential learning experiences that promote student growth, collaboration, and development of leadership competencies.
  • Integrate Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy concepts to promote modern leadership and career readiness.
  • Assist with the planning and execution of the annual Leadership Summit and associated recognition components.
  • Train peer mentors, student facilitators, and interns contributing to leadership and service initiatives.
  • Establish and advise a Volunteer Club, supporting students in developing the club’s structure and leading service initiatives aligned with leadership learning outcomes.
  • Support leadership development for students engaged in formal and informal leadership roles across campus, including peer mentors, ambassadors, and student organizational leaders.
  • Ensure leadership and service programs intentionally support diverse student identities and provide inclusive pathways for online, commuter, adult, and part-time learners.

2. Civic Engagement & Community Service Programming

  • Coordinate campuswide civic programming including Constitution Day, Voter Registration Drives, and Democracy in Action.
  • Lead the Community Impact Series and Service with a Slice volunteer programming.
  • Coordinate the annual Volunteer & Community Service Fair, including agency recruitment, logistics, scheduling, and promotional efforts in collaboration with Marketing.
  • Manage planning and implementation of Break for Impact, SUNY Niagara’s local alternative break experience, ensuring appropriate risk management and accessibility compliance.
  • Collaborate with campus partners to engage community organizations, nonprofits, K–12 schools, and service agencies specifically for leadership, volunteerism, and service-learning programming.
  • Oversee day-to-day Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) operations, including student training, communication, and accurate tracking of service hours.
  • Ensure appropriate safety procedures and risk management protocols for all service-related activities and off-campus volunteer events.
  • Facilitate reflection activities that connect service participation to civic identity, leadership development, and workforce competencies.

3. Inclusive Engagement, Leadership Pathways & Recognition

  • Develop inclusive engagement strategies in leadership and civic initiatives that support diverse student populations, including LGBTQIA+ students, adult learners, men’s and women’s engagement initiatives, and online/commuter students.
  • Use engagement platforms such as Presence to promote opportunities, track involvement, and inform data-driven improvements.
  • Implement leadership- and civic-focused student recognition initiatives (e.g., Emerging Leader Awards, President’s Medallion nominations, Civic Engagement Honors).
  • Support development and implementation of digital badges and micro-credentials related to leadership and civic engagement.
  • Collaborate with Public Relations & Marketing to promote leadership programs, civic engagement opportunities, and service events.

4. Assessment, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

  • Collect, verify, and organize accurate participation data, service hours, learning outcomes, and event evaluations using engagement software and tracking systems.
  • Prepare monthly, semester, and annual summaries and reports for the Director, contributing to departmental assessment, accreditation readiness, and Student Activity Fee documentation.
  • Support assessment processes aligned with CAS Standards, Middle States expectations, and institutional learning outcomes.
  • Integrate learning outcomes into leadership and civic programming to support assessment, reflection, and continuous improvement.
  • Analyze student feedback and reflection data to recommend program enhancements and identify equity considerations.
  • Ensure compliance with FERPA, risk management procedures, SUNY policies, and accessibility guidelines.
  • Contribute program-level insights that inform the Director’s leadership of the Engagement-to-Impact Continuum, connecting student leadership, civic engagement, and service participation to belonging, retention, and student success.

5. Supervision, Collaboration & Institutional Support

  • Recruit, train, supervise, and schedule student employees, peer mentors, and engagement ambassadors supporting leadership and civic engagement programming.
  • Maintain program documentation, supply inventories, and records of program-related expenditures.
  • Track expenditures and assist with Student Activity Fee purchasing documentation; final budget approval remains with the Director.
  • Support leadership- and service-related components of Orientation, Welcome Week, and transition programs as assigned; orientation leadership remains with the Director.
  • Serve on committees related to leadership development, civic engagement, service learning, student awards, or other initiatives as assigned.
  • Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Student Services, Athletics, Career Services, the Student Housing Village, NFCI, and community partners to integrate leadership and civic engagement into the student experience.
  • Engage in ongoing professional development aligned with emerging trends in leadership education, civic engagement, and student development.
  • Must be able to travel between SUNY Niagara locations and to community partner sites, and support physical tasks associated with programming and service events.

Required Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, Student Development, Leadership Studies, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
  • Three years of progressively responsible experience in leadership development, civic engagement, volunteer management, or student programming.
  • Experience designing and facilitating workshops, retreats, service-learning programs, or civic education experiences.
  • Experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting engagement data.
  • Strong interpersonal, organizational, facilitation, and communication skills.
  • Ability to work evenings and weekends, as required.