Career Center

Position Purpose 

This position provides direction and supervises the Student Events Team, leads the Homecoming Committee, and participates in the development and implementation of Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Winter Welcome Week and student focus engagement activities. This position serves as the campus programming specialist/liaison for Student Activities with University Scheduling and provides supervision to assigned interns, undergraduate employees, and Graduate Assistant. 

• Provide direction and advice to over 100 volunteers, 1 graduate advisor, and 12+ student employees 
• Annual Budget Authority: $225,000

Responsibilities and Results 

50%   Direct, supervise, and advise Student Events Team in the planning and implementation of a well-rounded schedule of campus events that are congruent with the mission and strategic plan of the department. Provide direction and advice to over 100 volunteers, 12+ student employees, and one Graduate Assistant. Supervise Stomper's Cinema concessions employees including creating work plans, training, scheduling, and evaluation. Manages the ticketing process for Student Activities programs.

20%   Direct and support comprehensive marketing campaigns for the Student Events Team including managing multiple social media platforms, website maintenance, press releases, purchased advertising, and other promotional avenues. 

15%   Development of education curriculum and leadership development opportunities and manage budget and program resources for the Student Events Team, Mavericks After Dark, and the Student Homecoming Committee. This includes the development of a corporate sponsorship program to generate revenue for departmental use. 

5%     Direct and manage human resources procedures and policies for the Student Events Team. This includes maintaining position descriptions, supervising the selection process, onboarding paperwork, annual reviews, on-going supervision, and progressive discipline.  

5%     Serve as a campus event planning expert and attend campus scheduling meetings; make recommendations regarding procedures for large and small event planning for internal and external clients. Manage university ticketing platforms in conjunction with theatre and university athletics. 

5%     Work as part of the Centennial Student Union and Student Activities team to provide an environment rich in student energy and enthusiasm. Accept other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in College Student Personnel, Higher Education, Educational Leadership or related field of study  

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in student union, student activities or student affairs field or equivalent; graduate work may be included  

• Supervisory/advisory experience 

• Budgetary experience 

• Expertise in programming, event planning, and large event production Awareness of and the commitment to the educational and cultural benefits of multiculturalism 

• Required evening and weekend work at various times of the year  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Ability to serve as a team member developing a comprehensive student involvement program 

• Understanding and ability to apply student and learning outcome theories 

• Knowledge of a comprehensive student activities program including programming, student organization and leadership development 

• Knowledge of comprehensive marketing campaigns including graphic design principles, social media marketing, and paid advertising 

• Demonstrated knowledge or experience with human resources management 

• Experience with contract negotiations, execution, and management preferably in an event management setting 

• Experience in risk management, crowd control, and emergency response planning, with a demonstrated ability to ensure safety and security in dynamic environments. 

• Commitment to the educational goals of student activities and knowledge of college union philosophy 

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of student development theory 

Working Conditions 

This position requires evening and weekend work in addition to daytime hours. Some weeks may exceed 40 hours in 5 days which are flexible and coordinated with a position supervisor. Must have a valid driver's license. 

Physical Effort 

Lifting, pushing and carrying equipment and materials. Required occasional overnight travel. Exposure to amplified sound. 

Communication 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs fosters ongoing communication and develops collaborative relationships with academic faculty each semester to align co-curricular programming with academic initiatives and priorities. 

The Assistant Director is responsible for ensuring that all programs within the department align with the mission and vision of the university. In situations where programs may potentially place the university in a negative light with external stakeholders, it is the Assistant Director’s responsibility to collaborate with Media Relations to address and mitigate any concerns. 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs must possess strong advising and counseling skills to effectively address student development issues both within and outside the organization. This includes providing guidance on class selection, career and major choices, mental wellness concerns, and personal development. 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs must have the ability to create and manage complex marketing campaigns. This includes developing branding and style guides, establishing marketing procedures and protocols, applying graphic design principles, and utilizing web and social media marketing strategies. Technical skills required for program marketing include website design and maintenance, proficiency in AP style writing, social media marketing and management, creation of marketing calendars, basic graphic design and editing, and a strong understanding of general marketing principles. 

Assessment 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs is responsible for developing and maintaining a five-year strategic plan for the Student Events Team and Campus Programs. This plan must align with the mission and vision of Student Activities, the Centennial Student Union, and Minnesota State University, Mankato. 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs is responsible for devising, implementing, collecting, and interpreting data to evaluate the success of the strategic plan. Success is measured through clearly defined 1-, 3-, and 5-year milestones established during the planning process. Assessment methods include demographic data analysis, comprehensive survey results, and program development tracking, along with both qualitative and quantitative data collection. 

This position regularly conducts research on best practices, develops procedures for innovative events where none currently exist, and implements those procedures in consultation with Environmental Health and Safety and Campus Security. The Assistant Director is also responsible for creating supporting documents, communication plans, and schedules, which can be adopted for university-wide use. 

Planning 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs must possess the expertise to plan and execute large-scale events and programs, ranging from 20 to 5000+ attendees. This specialized knowledge includes room setup and management, adherence to fire-code regulations, personnel and security placement, traffic flow coordination, large-scale audio-visual technical requirements, ticketing system management and sales, artist negotiations and contract oversight, as well as insurance requirements and limitations. The position is recognized as the campus specialist for large events, combining in-depth knowledge of university procedures and protocols with industry standards in event management, particularly in the music and entertainment sectors. 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs must integrate student development theories into the creation of a comprehensive learning curriculum. This curriculum spans from individual advising to broader programming, including leadership training, professional development opportunities, the creation of training materials, onboarding procedures, retreat planning, and the assessment of learning outcomes. The position requires a deep understanding of student development to design effective, impactful educational experiences that promote growth and skill-building. 

Decision Making 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs serves as the subject matter expert on policies and procedures for large-scale events (5,000+ attendees) hosted by student organizations and external vendors. These procedures are designed to ensure the health and safety of patrons and the facility. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, establishing maximum capacity, security and egress requirements, contractual obligations, and managing event logistics and scheduling, all while adhering to municipal, county, state, and federal laws and regulations. Large-scale events may include concerts, bonfires, 5k runs, and other activities as designated by Environmental Health and Safety, University Scheduling and Conference Services, or Campus Security. The Assistant Director is responsible for developing and implementing these procedures for external vendors when renting university spaces for Student Activities programs. 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs is responsible for determining and recommending the security needs for events, with these recommendations subject to approval by Campus Security and Environmental Health and Safety. Innovative security solutions are primarily applied to Student Activities-sponsored events, as these are typically the only events requiring security. When external clients or other departments request security, the Assistant Director collaborates with Campus Security during weekly scheduling meetings to assess security requirements and develop creative solutions to address any concerns related to those events. 

The Assistant Director for Campus Programs develops creative solutions for unique event-based programs, incorporating best practices, university policies, and compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. When safety concerns arise, these solutions are presented to Environmental Health and Safety and/or the relevant municipal, state, or federal authorities for approval. These innovative approaches apply to Student Activities events, other departmental programs, and external clients utilizing university property. 

Accountability 

This position is responsible for independently addressing and resolving issues related to the operation of the Student Events Team, including human resources, organizational structure, daily operations, and other challenges that may arise. 

The allocation of funds plays a crucial role in shaping the direction, scope, and success of programs, ultimately impacting retention. This position holds the authority to extend contractual offers of up to $50,000 for a single event.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

To apply, visit: https://minnstate.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Minnesota_State_Careers/job/Mankato/Assistant-Director-for-Campus--SA25065-_JR0000002804?Institution=a7c1912089511000d545e0844e430004

PLEASE be sure to include all requested documents with initial submission, edits are not allowed.

A complete online application will include the following attachments. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the search committee.

• Cover Letter
• Non-Photo Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Contact Information for three (3) references
• Unofficial Transcript(s) of your highest completed degree
• A brief (no more than one-page) diversity statement presenting a commitment to or experience working in an equity-minded environment

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Crystal Watts, Assistant Director for Community Engagement
Student Activities
Minnesota State University, Mankato
173 Centennial Student Union
Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: 507-389-6076
TTY: 800-627-3529 or 711
Email: Crystal.watts.2@mnsu.edu

All employees must comply with all department and institution procedures and policies. Minnesota State policies and procedures, as well as local, state and federal laws, regulations, guidelines and business industry standards. 

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of responsibilities and level of work difficulty required of the position. It is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar level of difficulty. 

University Demographics

Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of the Minnesota State system. Minnesota State has established a strategic vision, Equity 2030, which aims to close the educational equity gaps across race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ability, and geographic location by the end of the decade at every Minnesota State college and university and to provide an opportunity for all Minnesotans to create a better future for themselves, for their families, and for their communities. The focus of the work includes:

• Enhancing access and student success.
• Providing Minnesota with the talent it needs.
• Anchoring the communities and regions we serve.
  Equity 2030 seeks to bridge efforts occurring within divisions and institutions, creating an intentional statewide culture of equity-minded collaboration and resulting in equitable practice embedded throughout our institutions. The full Equity 2030 plan is linked here: https://www.minnstate.edu/Equity2030/index.html.
  
  Destination 2030, the University's strategic plan announced by President Edward Inch in August 2023, commits the University to making transformative strides in four main areas: being a lifelong provider of access to an equitable and affordable education; being a leader in transformational learning generating inspired action; being a nimble and innovative steward of resources; and being a community of care built upon diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We seek to attract teacher-scholars who will be culturally and academically diverse faculty members, and staff with a demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and working environment. Minnesota State University, Mankato, is student-centered and focuses on applied research that expands knowledge; improves learning; and serves the region, state, and nation.
  
  Founded as a Normal School in 1868, Minnesota State University, Mankato is now the second largest university in Minnesota with a tradition of combining big-ideas with real-world thinking to find solutions for pressing problems in the state, region, and global society. Mankato, Minnesota, is a community of nearly 44,500 people, about 85 miles southwest of the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The University acknowledges the land and the tribal nations upon this land whose work is being accomplished. We acknowledge that we are on Dakota land. We also take the opportunity to recognize that we live, work, and learn in the homeland of the Dakota people, whose language frames our name-Minnesota State University, Mankato.
  
  Serving approximately 17,900 students annually, the University is an applied research institution, with more than 200 academic programs, from bachelor's through doctoral degrees. The University is a diverse and global campus with 18% students of color and1,175 + international students from 95 countries, cutting-edge information technology solutions and extensive partnerships, with 1,600 faculty and staff, including 700 teaching faculty. The University has additional locations and a growing number of on-line programs to accelerate educational access and opportunity. These locations include partnerships in northern Minnesota's the iron range region. Fast facts about the university can be found here: https://mankato.mnsu.edu/about-the-university/fast-facts/.