Program Director, Student Affairs Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

The University of Notre Dame, founded in 1842 in Notre Dame, Indiana, is a premier American research university. As a Catholic institution, it uniquely blends faith with intellectual inquiry, striving for excellence in teaching, research, and serving the common good. Notre Dame offers a dynamic and rewarding environment for its diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, who are all dedicated to fostering an inclusive campus and being a force for good in the world. With world-class facilities, acclaimed academic programs, and a strong commitment to innovation and ethical leadership, Notre Dame is an ideal place to make a meaningful impact.

Job Description

Guided by the University’s Catholic, Holy Cross mission, the Division of Student Affairs promotes the holistic education of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students so that all may flourish at the University of Notre Dame and beyond. Through this shared work, services, and partnerships, Student Affairs seeks to honor individual experiences and foster a sense of belonging; deepen engagement in faith; and cultivate meaningful relationships that empower students and enable them to develop in mind, body, and spirit.

The Program Director for Student Affairs Operations reports directly to the Director of Finance and Operations and is an integral member of the Division’s recruiting, hiring, staff engagement, and development efforts. The Program Director's primary focus is to design, implement, and support the Division’s efforts around recruiting, hiring, retaining, and professional development of a talented and mission-centered Division including six primary areas: Belonging and Engagement, Campus Ministry, Career and Professional Development, Residential Life, Student Development, and Student Health and Wellness as well as the Office of the Vice-President for Student Affairs.

Additional responsibilities center around the Division’s general operations including, but not limited to, serving as a divisional liaison with Compliance, Human Resources, Office of General Counsel, and Office of Information Technology.

Recruitment, Hiring and Retention :

• Envision, implement, and oversee Division recruiting and hiring strategies.
• Develop best hiring practices and work closely with various Division areas on open positions, searches, and other hiring initiatives.
• Advise hiring leaders on overall talent strategy, market conditions/candidate availability/recruitment strategies, and selection decision-making.
• Partner with unit hiring leads to draft, refine, and position job descriptions.

• Continually assess and improve recruiting processes to enhance efficiency, equity, and candidate experience. 

• Develop and sustain relationships with various organizations; institutions; and individuals, internal and external to the University, to expand and deepen recruiting networks and applicant pools.
• Utilize social media and other means to market Student Affairs at Notre Dame and to engage and source interested candidates. Maintain contact and a database of interested individuals exploring working in Student Affairs at Notre Dame.

Professional Development and Staff Engagement :

• Develop, implement, and lead Division on-boarding and new employee training and development opportunities.
• Collaborate with Human Resources and external training and development resources to design training and development programs for all staff levels, experience, and interest. 
• Provide critical leadership on the creation and implementation objectives and key results for Goal 6 of the Division’s Strategic Plan which focuses on Staff Recruitment, Development, and Retention. 
• Create pathways to cross train, gain experience, and share best practices across units and positions. 
• Continually assess and improve professional development and staff engagement opportunities to enhance the overall experience of Division staff. 

Division of Student Affairs Team:

• Serve as a member of a highly collaborative Student Affairs team and embrace the opportunity to significantly contribute to other strategic initiatives and priorities of the Office of the VPSA. 
• Regularly collaborates with other areas within the Division of Student Affairs (Campus Ministry, Career and Professional Development, Residential Life, Sister Thea Bowman Center, Student Development, and Student Health and Wellness), student clubs and organizations, and other University units to enhance the department’s work building connections and relationships with students.
• Manage the Division’s Senior Fellow Initiative where over 70 senior student leaders provide programmatic and leadership across campus.
• Oversee the Division’s Student Employment Hiring Process which includes hiring over 1,000 student employees across the 6 areas of Student Affairs. Assist with the summer NUFP internship program.
• Assist with Divisional Operations priorities including but not limited to space management, compliance, risk management and training oversight, contract review and approval, annual CWP process, and endowment stewardship processes.

This position reports to the Director of Finance and Operations for Student Affairs and is a full-time, 12-month, in-person campus position with occasional late-night and weekend responsibilities throughout the academic year.

Qualifications

Education Qualifications: Bachelor's degree required with a Master’s degree preferred. 

3-4 years of experience within these skill qualifications:

● Knowledge of current trends and issues within higher education, particularly related to the experience of recruiting, hiring and developing staff within Student Affairs.

● Ability to develop and implement strategic recruiting initiatives including the collection and assessment of data to support planning and evaluate impacts.

● Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with a diverse group that includes all six units within Student Affairs in all roles and at all levels

● Strong oral, written, and digital communications skills

● Ability to work strategically and cooperatively in a team environment

● Conscientious management of confidential and sensitive information with integrity and caution

● High standard of excellence for self and others and ability to collaborate with and achieve results through the work of others

● Strong ability to develop and sustain strategic partnerships and relationships within and outside of Student Affairs and the University, and ability to represent Division vision and priorities to internal and external stakeholders

● A demonstrated commitment to the University’s Catholic and Holy Cross mission and the ability to implement policies, programs, services, and initiatives that are consistent with the University’s mission and values.

 

 

Additional Information

Salary is Commensurate with experience

Applications will be accepted through October 26, 2026

RESUME & COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED to be considered for this position. Please add in the attachments section of your application.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.