We're Hiring!
Associate Dean of Campus Life/Student Experience
- Minnesota, United States
- Staff FT Exempt
Title: Associate Dean of Campus Life/Student Experience
VP Area: VP - Student Experience
Department: VP of Student Experience
Position Compensation: $65,000 - $72,000
Location: University Campus - St. Paul, Minnesota
Who We Are:
Northwestern is a faith-driven community, UNWavering in our Christ-centered principles and identity as those who profess faith in Jesus. Rooted in the unshakable foundation of God’s Word and our calling to impact His world, our mission and vision flow from these core values, expressed through Christ-centered higher education at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul and through gospel outreach and faithfulness with Northwestern Media.
Position Summary:
The Associate Dean of Campus Life supports and advances the University’s Christ centered mission by providing leadership in student engagement, community life, and restorative discipline. This role focuses on the implementation, coordination, and supervision of key student life functions—residence life, student engagement, commuter life, and student conduct—through a redemptive and restorative framework. The Associate Dean ensures that the student experience is rooted in the gospel and aligned with the University’s mission to prepare students to grow intellectually and spiritually for lives of service in their professions and communities.
Key Responsibilities:
• Student Engagement & High-Impact Programming: Provide leadership and oversight for high impact events and programs that foster community, leadership development, and spiritual formation while reflecting the University’s Christian identity partnering with various campus departments to ensure mutual benefit.
• Campus Event Oversight & Calendar Management: Serve as the department’s master calendar coordinator, aligning co curricular, athletic, academic, and student life events to enhance the student experience and minimize organization-wide scheduling conflicts.
• Community Life Presence & Hospitality: Act as an institutional convener and visible presence in the Community Life Commons, fostering a welcoming, accessible, and engaging environment for students and staff.
• Residence Life Leadership: Supervise residence life operations ensuring residential communities promote discipleship, student well being, and Christ centered community living. Participate in regular on-call rotation for escalated needs that arise.
• Student Conduct & Community Standards: Oversee student conduct processes using restorative, educational, and discipleship oriented practices that emphasize accountability, growth, and reconciliation consistent with biblical values. Participate in regular review of policies, procedures and student handbook revisions.
• Spiritual Formation & Faith Integration: Advance campus wide spiritual growth by serving on the Spiritual Formation Committee and promoting the integration of faith and learning through student life initiatives and cross campus collaboration.
• Leadership, Supervision & Institutional Collaboration: Serve in Student Life leadership structures and the Threat Assessment Team, supervise assigned staff and represent Campus Life in institutional initiatives.
• Perform other duties as requested or assigned.
Because our community is a significant part of our mission and the development of our students and listeners, all employees serve as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to disciple students as they grow intellectually and spiritually, and with Northwestern Media to lead people to Christ and nurture believers to maturity in their faith.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Master’s degree in Theology, Ministry, Student Development, Higher Education, Counseling, Social Work or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in student development, spiritual formation, campus ministry, or a related higher education role.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor staff and student leaders within a Christ centered, collaborative environment.
• A vibrant, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a demonstrated commitment to living out a biblical worldview.
• Maintain a growing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, reflect His character in all interactions, and faithfully uphold and embrace Northwestern’s mission, Doctrinal Statement and Declaration of Christian Community
Nice to Have:
• Doctoral degree in Theology, Ministry, Higher Education Leadership, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working within Christian higher education or church based ministry contexts.
• Training or experience with restorative practices, biblical counseling, or student conduct administration.
Key Skills:
• Independent & Teamwork: Capable of working both independently and collaboratively, with minimal supervision.
• Confidentiality: Maintains discretion and handles sensitive information appropriately.
• Organizational Skills: Strong time management and problem-solving abilities; able to prioritize and meet deadlines with attention to detail.
• Technical Proficiency: Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office and related software.
• Written & Verbal Communication: Strong relational skills. Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel occasionally for work-related purposes.
• Financial Oversight: Experience managing budgets and financial resources within assigned responsibilities.
• Driver’s License: Valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation.
• Background Check: Must pass initial and ongoing background checks as a condition of employment.
Work Environment:
The work environment involves working for a suburban, Christian university or Christian owned and operated radio station alongside those with a demonstrated commitment and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the mission and values of Northwestern, and an agreement to abide by all Northwestern policies.
All applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States as we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.