Scheduled Hours
37.5
Position Summary
WashU's Division of Student Affairs seeks a student-centered professional for the position of Assistant Director, Taylor Family Center for Student Success. The Division of Student Affairs advances the educational mission of the university through resources and experiences outside the classroom that prepare our students for lifelong success.
The Assistant Director leads programs that strengthen community and promote wellness for first-generation and low-income (FLI) students. With a strong emphasis on civic engagement and student belonging, this role designs and implements initiatives that foster connection, identity development, and culturally responsive support.
Key responsibilities include coordinating signature events such as the First Year Retreat, Welcome Dinner, First Gen Week, End-of-Year Celebrations, and the Senior Send-Off, all aimed at building community and celebrating student milestones. The Assistant Director collaborates with campus partners—including Residential Life, Athletics, the Center for Diversity & Inclusion, and the
Gephardt Institute—to integrate wellness, civic learning, and equity-focused programming into the student experience.
The role also responds to emerging student needs with flexible, student-centered programming and supports ongoing initiatives like End of Week Unwinds that help reduce stress and promote balance. Additionally, the Assistant Director manages program budgets and strategically allocates
resources, including grants, to support student access to research, internships, and global opportunities.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
Community Building & Student Engagement
- Lead efforts to cultivate a strong sense of belonging and connection among FLI students. This includes coordinating cornerstone events such as the First Year Retreat, Welcome Dinner, Senior Send-Off, and End-of-Year celebrations. Design and implement programming that fosters community, cultural affirmation, and peer support throughout the academic year.
Wellness & Inclusive Support Strategies
- Promote the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of FLI students through culturally competent programming. Partner with Residential Life, Athletics, and the Center for Diversity & Inclusion to embed wellness and inclusion into the student experience. Develop proactive and responsive strategies to address student stress, isolation, and other emerging needs.
Resource Management
- Oversee program budgets, including the allocation of grants and financial resources that support student participation in research, internships, and global experiences.
Civic Engagement & Campus Partnerships
- Collaborate with the Gephardt Institute and other campus partners to create opportunities for FLI students to engage in civic and community-based learning. Align programming with the university’s values of equity and social responsibility, and help students explore ways to lead and serve beyond campus.
Program Operations & Resource Access
- Oversee the management and day-to-day operations of resource-based programs such as the End of Week Unwinds. Ensure these services are accessible, responsive to student needs, and consistently promoted as part of a holistic student support model.
Adaptive Programming & Continuous Improvement
- Monitor trends and feedback to develop flexible, student-centered programming that meets evolving needs. Continuously assess the impact of initiatives and refine approaches to ensure relevance, effectiveness, and alignment with institutional goals for student success.
Supervision of student workers.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions
Physical Effort
Equipment
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
Certifications:
No specific certification is required for this position.
Work Experience:
Relevant Experience (3 Years)
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in student affairs, higher education, or related field.
- Demonstrated experience supervising undergraduate and graduate-level student staff.
- Demonstrated experience and knowledge of retention and transition programs and services on a college campus, including advising and working with college students in a professional capacity.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite Package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook).
- Comfort with utilizing new technologies as appropriate (Box, WordPress/Formidable, Google Forms).
- Knowledge of student development theory and demonstrated application developing and implementing student staff training.
- Comprehension of current issues related to transition issues, student engagement, and student development.
- Demonstrated experience in assessment and program evaluation.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills, including, but not limited to, editing and copywriting, public speaking, and group facilitation.
- Event planning experience.
- Customer service experience.
- Demonstrated success in working with diverse populations.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Master's degree
Certifications:
No additional certification unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:
Adaptability, Communication, Creative Approaches, Microsoft Office, Organizational Savvy, Personal Initiative, Project Administration, Relationship Building, Teamwork
Grade
G11
Salary Range
$53,100.00 - $90,600.00 / AnnuallyThe salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please emailCandidateQuestions@wustl.eduor call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Personal
Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
Wellness
Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
Family
We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.Washington University is dedicated to building a community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.
