Vice President

Welcome to Career Opportunities at Lindenwood University.

PLEASE READ: For all applications, please include your resume and cover letter. You may skip the “Quick Apply” page by simply clicking “Next” at the bottom of the page. When you arrive at the “Experience” page, you may upload all desired documents using the upload box labeled “Resume/CV.” This is the appropriate box to upload all documents.

Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:

• Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only).
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.   
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.

Division: Student Affairs  

Evaluation Group: Staff Administrator

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: President, Lindenwood University

Positions Supervised: Dean of Students; Director, Student Counseling and Resource Center; Director, Student Involvement and First Year Programs; Director, Center for Campus Community and Connection; Director of Operations, Food Services; Associate Director, Residential Life; Manager, Campus Recreation; Director, Community Standards and Conflict Resolution

Job Summary

The vice president (VP) of student affairs is responsible for providing leadership, management, strategic direction, policy development, and administrative oversight for the department. The VP, student affairs is also responsible for the management of related auxiliary services and the programming, planning, development, and coordination of all student life activities at Lindenwood University. This position provides oversight to all functional areas of Student Affairs with a focus on student life, student housing, and student wellness.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Fosters a safe, supportive campus environment with a strong emphasis on upholding student welfare and promoting a sense of belonging, connectedness, and community across all student interactions

• Administers a comprehensive operational plan for student life programs, creating opportunities to engage diverse ideas inside and outside the classroom

• Manages all student crises

• Plans and executes the student housing occupancy plan in alignment with the University’s long-range financial plan

• Serves as the appeal officer for student conduct adjudications

• Provides co-curricular programs and services that emphasize student development and success

• Manages contracts and maintains relationships with third-party service providers for the University’s Student Health Center and the University’s mental health services

• Oversees the Student Health Center and ensures health compliance such as immunization requirements

• Provides oversight for auxiliary units (e.g., bookstore) and vendor relationships (e.g., on-campus dining)

• Ensures that all University student life programs remain on schedule and achieve set goals

• Reviews and modifies the student handbook and any student development policies that appear in the academic catalogs

• Carries out relevant federal, state, and institutional compliance activities as needed

• Maintains accountability for student retention and persistence metrics

• Uses data analytics to drive student success initiatives

• Implements comprehensive assessment programs across student affairs

• Manages student information systems and technology platforms

Leadership and Strategic Thinking

• Establishes long- and short-term strategic goals based on assessment data and ensures standards for the department and its field are met or exceeded

• Adapts and modifies leadership based on new information and/or data; works to set and unite people on the new direction

• Utilizes effective strategies to build collaboration for maximum execution

• Aligns department purpose and actions with relevant University initiatives and higher education trends

• Oversees all internal strategic, personnel, and fiscal planning for the department

• Develops and maintains student code of conduct policies

• Provides strategic direction for care and concern for student populations

• Provides frequent, comprehensive, and data-focused oral and written reports to campus and community constituents on the progress of the department

• Partners with academic colleagues to engage faculty in matters of co-curricular development

• Collaborates with enrollment management on recruitment and yield strategies

• Leads digital transformation initiatives in student services

Employee Management and Development

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence

• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values

• Recruits, interviews, recommends, welcomes, observes, and monitors performance of department staff

• Sets clear performance expectations and holds employees accountable

• Conducts annual employee evaluations based on evidence, observation, and feedback

• Provides autonomy, authority, and resources to support and enable staff to meet job expectations

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

• Master’s degree

• Minimum of 10 years’ progressive leadership and supervision in higher education, educational leadership, and/or student services at an accredited institution

• Direct administrative and financial management experience

• Extensive knowledge of best practices related to providing effective, responsive, and fiscally sound campus-based auxiliary services to a university community

• Extensive experience with auxiliary budget management; experience with third-party vendor management preferred

• Comprehensive student affairs operations experience

• Well-versed in assessing market demand of varied constituencies and planning new services and/or modifying existing services to meet these needs

• Terminal degree preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this job competently

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures

• Knowledge of budgeting, assessment, diversity initiatives, and human resource practices

• Knowledge of Title IX, Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Clery Act, Drug-Free Schools and Community Act (DFSCA), and Office of Civil Rights compliance

• Demonstrated experience in collaborating broadly to promote student success

• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including the ability to manage resources, delegate responsibilities, and apportion authority

• Strong understanding of retention and recruitment issues relative to their impact on instructional learning, student retention, and legal liability

• Excellent interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills

• Excellent customer service skills

• Highly organized and motivated, with the ability to take initiative

• Ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously

• Strong professional integrity

• Ability to creatively solve problems, use good judgment, and think critically

• Highly developed analytical skills

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions. Please click here to view Lindenwood University’s flexible work designation descriptions.

• General office setting

• Evening and weekend work required

• Serves as a Campus Security Authority (CSA)

• Non-Standard Flex

Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for extended time daily

• Ability to lift/carry items commonly found in an office setting including, but not limited to, documents, laptops, etc.

• Ability to use repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements to type regularly

• Adequately mobile to attend events on- and off-campus

• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees.  Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational work environment.