The Director of First-Year Experience and Leadership Development serves to create, support, and facilitate student engagement for first-year students and develop student leadership initiatives that support our entire campus community. This individual serves as a leader in fostering a campus culture within the Holy Cross tradition and works to advance the College’s mission of respecting the inherent dignity of each person. The Director oversees significant aspects of the first-year experience, including chairing the First-Year Experience Committee, organizing the First-Year Experience Course, and advising the First-Year Class Committee. The Director will also be responsible for designing, implementing, and assessing leadership development programs, including the Anchors Leadership Development Program, and collaborating with campus partners to foster a culture of leadership that aligns with the College’s mission and commitment to holistic student development. In addition, the Director serves as a generalist in Student Affairs by providing direct personal and academic support to students, working with assigned committees, and supporting divisional and institutional programs. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

First-Year Experience 

• Chairs the First-Year Experience Committee and coordinates all aspects of the First-Year Experience course, including learning outcomes, curriculum development, recruitment of staff, faculty, and student facilitators, training, classroom scheduling, and assessment. 

• Identifies learning outcomes for the FYE program, creates program assessments to collect data and inform curriculum, and reports findings regularly. 

• Collaborates with Academic Affairs and other key departments such as Admission, Student Engagement, Academic Advising, and Intercultural Affairs to support and engage first-year students in an effort to maximize overall student success and retention. 

Student Leadership Development 

• Designs and oversees a comprehensive leadership development curriculum that supports students at all levels of their leadership journey. 

• Manages and expands signature leadership programs such as the Anchors Leadership Development Program. 

• Evaluate and assess the leadership development program regularly, adjusting the program as necessary. 

• Serves as a consultant and participates in the development and execution of training and leadership programs for all Student Affairs Departments (e.g. Resident Assistant training, ABS Leaders, Moreau Student Ministers, etc.) 

• Collaborates with faculty and staff to create co-curricular leadership experiences that enhance students’ personal and professional growth. 

Student Advising/Mentoring 

• Advises First-Year class committee of the Student Government Association. 

• Provides support and advising for first-year students seeking out personal or academic support. 

College Leadership 

• Serves as a key member of the Student Affairs leadership team and works collaboratively with colleagues within the Division. 

• Seeks ways within Student Affairs to evidence and support student understanding of the Holy Cross values and as such possesses an appreciation for liberal arts in the Catholic tradition. 

• Oversees student programs as indicated and serves as an advisor for first-year student events. 

• Attends trainings, retreats, and planning sessions as needed. 

• Participates in campus-wide events such as Skyhawk Welcome Days, Accepted Student Days, etc. as requested. 

• Maintains a high profile at student programs and athletic events. 

• Works nights and weekends as required. 

• Serves on and chairs College committees as assigned. 

• Partners with other Student Affairs staff as indicated and seeks out opportunities to work with others. 

• Serves in Student Affairs Staff On-Call rotation. 

• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Education and Experience 

A Master’s degree in student personnel, higher education, or a related field is required. Program development, particularly leadership-related, skills are desirable. 

Interested applicants are asked to submit a resume and cover letter via the URL link:  

https://jobs.stonehill.edu/postings/25373 

Applicants who will enrich the diversity of the campus community are strongly encouraged to apply. Stonehill College is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. 

About Stonehill College

Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1948, Stonehill is a private Catholic college located just 22 miles from downtown Boston on a beautiful 384-acre campus in Easton, Massachusetts. With a student to faculty ratio of 13:1, the College engages its 2,400+ students in 80+ rigorous academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and pre-professional fields. Faithful to the Holy Cross tradition in education, Stonehill College is committed to developing the moral, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social competencies of its students and seeks to build and sustain a campus community that embraces diversity and inclusion in its teaching, learning, living, and working. Stonehill values a diversity of persons, opinions, and cultural and religious perspectives. In fulfillment of its motto, Lux et Spes (“Light and Hope”), the College cultivates in its students the competence to think, act, and lead with courage towards creating a more just and compassionate world.

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