Posting Number: 0603050
Recruitment Type: Open to All Applicants
Position Title: Associate Director for Campus Life Engagement
Position Type: Staff
Benefits Status: Benefits Eligible
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Hiring Range: $29.57 per hour, plus excellent benefits.
Location: Tacoma, WA 98447
Department: Campus Life
Posting Date: 04/06/2026
Closing Date: When a sufficient number of qualified applicants has been identified.
Work Schedule:
Full-time; 12-month position; Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm with opportunities for remote and flexible work schedules. Some evenings and weekends required. Must be available to work occasional weekends, nights, and holidays either scheduled or on an on-call basis.
General Description:
The Associate Director for Campus Life Engagement is an integral member of the Campus Life team and, as a part of the Coordinating Team, plays a key role in developing and realizing the vision and mission of Campus Life as it contributes to the university mission at Pacific Lutheran University.
The Associate Director provides leadership for the student experience through the direct supervision of two Community Directors and the collaborative recruitment, selection, and training of all six Community Directors. The Associate Director reports to the Director for Campus Life Engagement.
The Associate Director provides leadership and coordination for Campus Life departmental marketing, communication and assessment efforts. The Associate Director works with the Director for Campus Life Engagement to design and implement the campus-wide collaboration necessary for an effective and impactful New Student Orientation and other co-curricular initiatives.
Campus Life integrates the traditional work of Student Engagement, Commuter Services, and Residential Life to create a more cohesive, intentional, and holistic student experience while enhancing student learning, engagement and success at PLU. Campus Life is situated within the Student Life Division. Through shared departmental leadership, vision and work, the Campus Life department enhances student learning, engagement and success at PLU.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Leadership for Campus Life
- Provide supervision, leadership, and support for two professional Community Directors as a part of a diverse staff of six Community Directors in coordination with the Associate Director for Campus Life Engagement and Senior Associate Director for Campus Life Operations
- Lead the Campus Life Student Leader Selection or Training Committee in partnership with the Assoc Dir for Campus Life Engagement
- Review and approve university purchasing card expenditures
- Serve as a member of the Campus Life Coordinating Team
Marketing and Communications
- Develop and maintain Campus Life’s marketing and communications plan
- Evaluate branding of Campus Life and its components, and adjust as necessary to meet student needs
- Coordinate the development and production of Campus Life’s printed and web based publications and communications
- Serve as Campus Life Webmaster
- Coordinate departmental social media accounts and postings, and contributions to PLU’s CampusESP Parent & Family Portal
- Coordinate Campus Life involvement at Office of Admission events and ZeeMee responses on Campus Life topics
- Research and coordinate potential communication and co-curricular uses of eRezLife, in collaboration with the Senior Assoc Dir of Operations
Assessment/Data
- Lead, with the Director for Campus Life Engagement, assessment efforts of Campus Life initiatives
- Serve as a resource for the assessment of various departmental tactics and committees, including Campus Life Training Content and Selection Process
New Student Orientation
- In collaboration with the Dir for Campus Life Engagement, design, implement, and assess a university-wide new student orientation program (First Year, Transfer, International, and Family)
- Develop culturally responsive approaches to address learning and transition needs and concerns of students and families with the goal of increasing sense of belonging and agency in navigating the PLU environment
- Develop, disseminate, analyze, and report assessment outcomes for continuous improvement of orientation; include stakeholders in regular program review and related recommendations
- Collaborate within PLU to develop, edit and publish student communication
Celebration of Leadership
- Lead, with the Dir for Campus Life Engagement, the annual student Celebration of Leadership
Conflict Resolution/Crisis Management
- Provide university-wide crisis response on a rotating basis as a Student Life Administrator On Call
- Participate, with On Call partners and colleagues from Wellbeing Services & Resources and Campus Safety, in weekly debrief and planning meeting
- Provide support and follow-up for students and staff in conflict management and resolution
- Participate in the Student Rights & Responsibilities (conduct) System as an educator and high level review officer
- Assist the Dir for Campus Life Engagement with case management when assigning conduct and care cases to Community Directors via Maxient
General Responsibilities
- Teach or co-teach a student success related course
- Provide strategic, innovative, and efficient contributions to the shared work and outcomes of Campus Life, and its continuous improvement
- Maintain appropriate breadth and depth of current knowledge necessary for responsive Campus Life programs and services
- Actively participate in regular meetings that support departmental function and collaboration, including:
- Campus Life Staff Meeting, Coordinating Team Meeting and Associate Director meeting
- Regular individual contact meetings with each Community Director supervisee, and Director for Campus Life Engagement
- Monday Morning Meeting (Behavior Intervention Team)
- Other departmental, divisional and university committees as assigned
- Serve as a liaison between students, Campus Life staff, and other University personnel
- Attend university, division, and departmental trainings and maintain relationships with colleagues throughout the university
- Perform other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrated understanding and conceptualization of diversity to include various intersecting identities that include, but are not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, age, ability, socio-economic status and additional salient identities.
- Demonstrated intercultural capacity and strength in designing and facilitating culturally responsive, equitable, and engaging programs and services.
- Demonstrated investment in student engagement, persistence, and success.
- Knowledge of current trends in higher education, social justice and equity education, and student success and outcomes.
- Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
- Able to collaborate effectively, with strong interpersonal communication, and to build trust and cultivate intentional and varied relationships.
- Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative and ability to work as a contributing part of a team.
- Demonstrated management, leadership, and supervisory experience. Prior supervisory experience preferred.
- Demonstrated organizational, analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
- Work to understand the influence and impact of an ELCA Lutheran Higher Education.
- Budgetary experience.
- Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
- High level of confidence and adaptability with technology.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- 2 years of post-undergraduate student affairs or related experience.
- Finalist candidates must successfully complete pre-employment background checks.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in College Student Personnel, Higher Education, or related field
Work Conditions:
Regularly required to sit for long periods of time during the course of regular job duties
Other Information:
PLU is a small, private university where caring means more than kindness and consideration — it means a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice. Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities.
PLU offers an excellent benefits package including tuition remission for employees and their dependents, retirement plan, medical, dental, paid vacation and sick leave, major holidays off (including Christmas/New Year’s break), additional flexible time off, and many other great university benefits. PLU is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program as a 501©(3) tax-exempt organization. Click here for detailed benefits information.
For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or humr@plu.edu.