At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead student engagement initiatives and enhance career readiness for a diverse student body.
- Company: Join a dynamic university committed to student success and inclusive excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a focus on your well-being and professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for innovation and leadership.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' lives and shape their academic and career journeys.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in higher education with a focus on student success and engagement.
The predicted salary is between 170000 - 190000 £ per year.
The Division of Student Life invites applications for the Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Success (AVP). In this role, you will serve as a senior executive leader within the Division of Student Life, responsible for advancing institution‑wide student engagement, belonging, retention, career readiness, and post‑graduation success. The AVP serves as a strategic advisor to divisional and university leadership, influencing policy, resource allocation, organizational effectiveness, and student success outcomes across academic and administrative divisions.
You will provide leadership to several units within the division including Orientation and Transition Programs, Residential Life, Student Engagement, StartUp and Innovation Collaboratory (entrepreneurship), and the Career Design Center. Your duties will include:
- Create an overarching vision and provide strategic leadership to create a campus culture that promotes students' academic learning and career development, provides a safe, healthy, nurturing and welcoming campus environment for a diverse student body, and create a sense of community and connection.
- Lead division‑wide student success initiatives that measurably improve retention, persistence, graduation, experiential learning participation, and postgraduate outcomes through evidence‑based interventions.
- Serve as a senior liaison with Undergraduate Education, Graduate School, Enrollment Management, Institutional Research, Advancement, and other external campus partners to align curricular and co‑curricular ecosystems that advance student success.
- Support student engagement initiatives within the Student Engagement and Success portfolio by working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and campus and community partners.
- Develop systems and processes to measure and assess the effectiveness of services for how you impact retention, graduation, engagement, outcomes, and student/alumni learning objectives.
- Develop and disseminate key performance indicators and accompanying reports on student success and career metrics.
- Adjust programs and services as needed to improve outcomes and impact.
The successful incumbent is a strong, strategic and transparent leader, with the ability to motivate self and others through building consensus. They will have the ability to work collaboratively with other members of the Vice Presidents' leadership team to develop and align planning, policies, budgets, and communications. Our team recognises the advantages diverse perspectives and backgrounds bring to the workplace. We are particularly interested in candidates who share this value and will work to achieve the university's goals of inclusive excellence.
About Student Life: Student Life is dedicated to creating a student-centered environment that fosters engagement, well‑being, and success. Guided by four strategic priorities—student engagement, health and wellness, personalised support, and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice—we provide transformative experiences that empower students to grow, lead, and thrive. As a member of Student Life, you'll join a team of passionate professionals united by shared values and a commitment to student success. We think big, act boldly, and pursue excellence with purpose. Together, we build inclusive communities, champion discovery, and celebrate the achievements that shape the UB experience.
Our benefits prioritise your well‑being and success to enhance every aspect of your life. University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in higher education within student affairs/success, student engagement, or a relevant field.
- Demonstrated record of leading innovative and equity-focused student success initiatives in a higher education setting.
- Proven knowledge of trends and best practices in higher education as they relate to career and professional development.
- The ability to persuasively present data and advocate for decisions based on best practices; and a record of professional accomplishment.
- Demonstrated experience in support of a diverse working environment dedicated to principles of social justice, inclusivity and equity.
- Demonstrated experience in personnel management to include hiring, supervising, and coaching employees, as well as experience providing leadership and direction in programmatic, budgetary, and operational functions.
- Organisational skills to set goals, prioritise assignments, monitor performance, and exceed set deadlines.
- Strong oral and written communication skills with experience creating and delivering presentations to small and large diverse groups.
- Ability to develop innovative approaches, techniques and procedures to provide more efficient services.
- Ability to demonstrate critical thinking based upon in-depth data, substantiating information, while considering and respecting others' input, personal values, and ethics.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Terminal degree preferred.
Salary Range: £170,000 – £190,000
Higher Education Jobs, University Jobs, HigherEd Jobs employer: University at Buffalo
The University at Buffalo is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and success of its employees, offering a vibrant work culture focused on student engagement and inclusivity. As part of the Division of Student Life, you will have the opportunity to lead transformative initiatives that directly impact student success while collaborating with a diverse team of passionate professionals. With a commitment to professional growth and a supportive environment, UB fosters a culture where innovative ideas are celebrated, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in higher education.
