Associate Vice President, Student Life

Job Description Summary

The Associate Vice President of Student Life provides strategic leadership and oversight for key areas of the student experience at Saint Leo University. Reporting to the Vice President of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation, this position leads programs and services that promote student engagement, well-being, belonging, personal development, and a strong campus community consistent with the University’s mission and core values.

The Associate Vice President of Student Life serves as a senior leader within the Division of Student Affairs and collaborates with students, faculty, staff, University leadership, and campus partners to create a safe, supportive, engaging, and student-centered campus experience.

Job Description

Areas of Oversight:

• Office of Residential Experience and Community Standards
• Student Engagement and Leadership
• Office of Student Well-Being
• Campus Dining and Auxiliary Services
• Campus Ministry
• Derek J. Mitchell Recovery Program
• Threat Assessment & Behavioral Intervention Team (TABIT)
• Student Conduct

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and support to the Vice President of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation in divisional planning, policy development, and University-wide initiatives.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and strategic direction for assigned Student Affairs departments, programs, and services.
• Develop and implement initiatives that strengthen student engagement, belonging, well-being, leadership development, and retention.
• Provide oversight of Campus Dining and Auxiliary Services, including Benedict’s Coffeehouse, Jimmy John’s, vending services, Field BBQ & Grill, and the University’s partnership with Genuine Foods.
• Lead and oversee the student conduct process, including investigations, hearings, sanctions, appeals, and maintenance of conduct records.
• Review and administer the Student Code of Conduct and Guide to Residential Living to ensure clear, fair, consistent, and educational processes.
• Chair and oversee the CARE Team, coordinating early intervention, case management, referrals, and support for students experiencing academic, personal, behavioral, or well-being concerns.
• Provide leadership and coordination for TABIT and threat assessment processes in collaboration with appropriate University partners.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Athletics, Campus Safety, Human Resources, and other University departments to provide coordinated student support.
• Develop proactive outreach, education, prevention, and intervention initiatives that promote student well-being, accountability, safety, and community standards.
• Promote compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and University policies related to student affairs, student rights, accessibility, privacy, and campus safety.
• Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate professional, graduate, and student staff within assigned areas.
• Use assessment, data, and student feedback to evaluate programs and services and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Represent Student Affairs on University committees, initiatives, and special projects.
• Provide leadership during student emergencies and crisis situations, including after-hours response as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Division of Student Affairs and University priorities.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of student affairs, student development, student engagement, and student support practices within a higher education environment.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and best practices related to student conduct, student rights, accessibility, privacy, and campus safety.
• Knowledge of behavioral intervention, threat assessment, crisis response, community standards, and student care practices.

Skills:

• Strong leadership, supervisory, staff development, and team-building skills.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with students, families, faculty, staff, University leadership, and external partners.

Abilities:

• Ability to provide strategic leadership across multiple Student Affairs departments and functional areas.
• Ability to manage complex and sensitive student matters with sound judgment, discretion, fairness, and professionalism.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to student emergencies, crises, and time-sensitive situations.
• Ability to develop and evaluate programs, policies, and initiatives that enhance the student experience.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately manage sensitive student information and records.

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, college student personnel, psychology, social work, or a related field required.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, student affairs, student life, or a related area preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and providing leadership across programs or functional areas.
• Experience with student conduct, behavioral intervention, crisis response, student care/case management, or related areas.
• Experience providing leadership across multiple Student Affairs functional areas preferred.
• Experience participating in an on-call or after-hours student crisis response structure preferred.

ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are a representation of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office and University, handle various types of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.

NOTICE: This job description intends to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. Saint Leo University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student, and graduate success.

Why Work at Saint Leo?

What it’s Like to Work Here: Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at Saint Leo University is “Community.” Our team members all share the Saint Leo core values, positive attitudes, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to provide excellent student centered service. Our mission is educating and preparing students for life and leadership in a challenging world. Thank you for your interest in joining the Saint Leo PRIDE!

We are committed to providing our employees with the support they need. At Saint Leo, we offer an array of medical, dental, and vision packages as well as several add-on perks to make your benefits package truly customizable to you and your family needs. Available benefits based on employment status (Full Time vs Part Time).

• FREE Tuition - Employee, Spouse, and Dependents*
• Tuition Exchange Opportunity - Dependent of Employees*
• Generous Paid Leave - Sick, Vacation, and Holidays
• Comprehensive Group Health Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Group Medical Plan includes Teledoc, Surgery Plus, Wellness Incentive Program and more!
• 100% Employer-Funded Health Reimbursement Account
• 100% Employer-Paid Short Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer-Funded Employee Assistance Program (healthcare and dependent options)
• Employer-provided life insurance
• Discounted On-Campus Dining Meal Plans
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Wellness Center

*Eligibility based on meeting required service period

2025 ICUBA Benefits Guide_St Leo