Assistant Director of Student Cultural Engagement

At Bethel, belonging is more than a feeling. It’s created through relationships, meaningful experiences, and people who take the time to listen, connect, and care. As our Assistant Director of Student Cultural Engagement, you’ll help students from a wide range of backgrounds find connection, discover community, and thrive at Bethel.

Our Assistant Director of Student Cultural Engagement provides leadership that helps shape a vibrant, engaging, and development-focused student experience at Bethel University. This role supports the personal, academic, and leadership growth of our students involved with our Kingdom Culture groups, as well as commuter and Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) students.

• →Develop and implement engagement strategies that foster belonging, connection, and community among PSEO, commuter, multi-cultural, and other assigned student populations. Develop and coordinate programs, events, and opportunities that respond to the needs and interests of assigned student populations.
• → Build intentional relationships with students through regular one-on-one connections, group meetings, community gatherings, and informal engagement. Develop and support student-centered spaces, traditions, and experiences that foster community and connection, including the Cultural Connections Center and The Underground (a large event space).
• →Regularly assess student engagement and belonging and use student feedback and institutional data to inform programs and priorities. Support Welcome Week each fall.
• →Serve as a primary advisor and institutional resource for Kingdom Culture (intercultural clubs and organizations) and other assigned student organizations and communities. Advise student leaders in leadership development, event planning and processes, communication, and collaboration.
• →Support students in developing programs and initiatives that reflect community goals and contribute to Bethel's mission and encourage belonging and connection.
• →Provide leadership and oversight for co-curricular engagement and community-building initiatives for PSEO and commuter students.
• →Partner with Admissions and Early College/Academic Advising in supporting PSEO students' transition, engagement, and continued connection to Bethel. Develop engagement and re-engagement strategies that strengthen PSEO students' pathways to continued enrollment at Bethel after high school graduation.
• →Provide relationship-based support and care to students within assigned student communities, serving as a consistent and accessible point of contact Meet individually with students to listen, provide guidance, identify needs, and connect students with appropriate university resources
• →Serve as a member of the Bethel Care Team and Academic Care Team to support student needs. Develop proactive support and outreach strategies for students who may be less connected to traditional campus structures

Bethel’s mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel’s employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments.  As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel’s Christ-centered covenant community.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. 

Required Education: Bachelor’s degree

Required Experience: 2+ years’ of related experience

Typical days and hours of work vary throughout the week (Sunday - Saturday) during the school year. The expectation is to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management. Evening and some weekend work is required during the school year to support student events. This is a 40 hour per week, 12 months per year position.

• Experience supporting and engaging diverse student or young adult populations.
• Ability to build effective relationships with students, families, colleagues, and community members while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• Knowledge of student development theory and Christian higher education.
• Strong leadership, communication, interpersonal, organizational, and supervisory skills.
• Ability to manage budgets, technology, and administrative responsibilities effectively.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and ability to learn relevant student support systems.
• An understanding of the needs and experiences of prospective and current students.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis and lifting and carrying up to 15 lbs. occasionally.