Executive Director of Student Engagement

SUMMARY: Northern Essex Community College (NECC) seeks a dynamic, strategic, and student-centered leader to serve as Executive Director of Student Engagement. This senior leadership role provides vision, direction, and oversight for key student engagement and support functions, including Student Life and Engagement, Community Standards and Conduct, Compliance, New Student Orientation, Veterans and Military Services, and Mental Health Services.

Reporting to the Vice President of Student Affairs, the Executive Director collaborates closely with campus partners to advance the College's Integrated Student Experience. The role is responsible for fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and safe campus environment that supports student success while encouraging respectful dialogue and the vigorous exchange of ideas.

The Executive Director of Student Engagement will be a creative, energetic, and strengths-based leader who advocates for student needs and builds a cohesive, high-performing team across a diverse portfolio of units. This position requires regular evening and weekend hours and a visible presence on both the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serve as the compliance officer for assigned functional areas, ensuring adherence to all applicable federal, state, and system-level mandates, regulations, and reporting requirements.
• Works with the faculty and division deans to educate students about academic dishonesty and to adjudicate disciplinary cases in which there are suspected violations of college policies.
• Officiates the process for grade appeals engaging academic division personnel, as appropriate.
• Monitor and advise senior leadership on emerging legislation, policies, and best practices related to student services, including Title IX, ADA, student conduct, mental health, wellness, and prevention education.
• Develop, review, and implement policies and procedures for all reporting units, including serving as the primary point of contact for the Student Suicide Prevention Protocol for the Massachusetts Community Colleges.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and budgetary oversight for the following units and initiatives:
• Care and Concern Team
• Counseling and Psychological Services
• Student Life
• Community Standards and Conduct
• New Student Orientation
• Veterans and Military Services
• Lead the evaluation and continuous improvement of New Student Orientation to ensure a seamless and supportive transition for incoming students.
• Oversee the development and delivery of policies, programs, and co-curricular initiatives on both the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses.
• Provide vision and oversight for the Student Conduct and Grievance Officer, including serving as backup when necessary.
• Chair and assign cases for the College's Care and Concern Team, which meets regularly to address student welfare and risk concerns.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Public Safety to support campus safety planning, emergency response, and crisis management efforts.
• Provide support and guidance in the development and implementation of a strategic plan to enhance recruitment, engagement, and retention of veteran and military-affiliated students.
• Coordinate the on-call emergency response phone rotation to support faculty, staff, and students during critical incidents.
• Advise the community in developing and interpreting data related to student services to ensure programs correlate with community needs.
• Foster a campus climate of inclusiveness and support for the college's diverse student body, ensuring that equity, diversity and civil discourse are an integral part of the student experience.
• Designate resources to support efforts that incorporate leadership education into student organization advising and student positions where leadership is essential to group success.
• Remain current on best practices in student involvement, theories of student development, and student- centered administration. Associate with national organizations such as NASPA, HACU, NCORE and ACPA.
• Participate in planning and implementation of Commencement each year.
• Manage the on-campus food pantry and refer students out to community resources as needed.
• This position requires regular presence at key campus programs, events, and student activities, including evening and weekend hours. The Executive Director is expected to actively attend and support major student life initiatives, campus traditions, and high-engagement events throughout the academic year.
• The Executive Director is expected to be visibly engaged with students - attending events, connecting informally, and serving as an active ambassador of the student experience during high-engagement times.
• Must maintain a physical presence on both the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses.
• Others duties as assigned by the VPSA may be required.

Job Requirements:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree
• Ten (10) years of experience in college student services or similar educational setting working with students, including five (5) years of supervising professional staff members
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collaborative and effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, administration, governing boards, and external agencies
• Proven skills in conflict resolution and student crisis response
• Demonstrated leadership in educational or student services operations, including budget development and implementation
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas and information, in written and oral format, to students, staff, professional colleagues, governing boards, and the general public in large or small group settings.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or similar field
• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Experience working with and supporting a culturally diverse population

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: Applicants who do not meet the qualifications as noted above are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience has prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.

BACKGROUND CHECK: Candidates will be required to pass a CORI and SORI check as a condition of employment.

Additional Information:

SALARY: Anticipated starting salary range is $120,000.00 - $125,000.00 annually with complete fringe benefit package including competitive health insurance, dental insurance, basic life insurance, long-term disability insurance, paid sick, vacation and personal leave, educational benefits for employee/spouse/dependents, and excellent retirement benefits. Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.

ANTICIPATED START DATE: ASAP

To apply, click HERE