Professional Staff Search

Community Directors are an integral part of the educational community at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU). They collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to create and manage purposeful and dynamic learning environments across campus that support student wellbeing and thriving. They have a broad knowledge of student development theories and implement these theories into daily practice, particularly in support of retention and persistence for historically marginalized students (e.g., Students of Color, First Generation, LGBTQIA+, and other students). Finally, Community Directors are reflective educators who are able to communicate with diverse individuals and communities. Community Directors report to the Associate Director(s) for Campus Life. The CD position is a 40-hour/week, non-exempt (i.e., hourly) position. CDs report to one of the two Associate Directors for Campus Life. Learn more about the CD experience using the right-hand menu links above!

• Supervise 6-8 Commuter Advocates and 2 Campus Life Coordinators.
• Provide leadership and vision to programs and services focused on retention, well-being, outreach, and support for commuter students; advocate for these students’ needs at the University level.
• Direct overall operations for the ARENA (a collaborative workspace for student leaders across campus, including purchases and space management) and the CAVE (a learning community for commuter students).
• Assist Associate Director in supporting Clubs & Orgs, including Engagement Fairs, training, marketing, purchases, liaising with Engage Ambassadors, and other support as needed.
• Serve as a liaison between commuter students, Campus Life staff, and other University personnel.
• Perform regular walkthroughs of the CAVE and ARENA to survey maintenance needs.
• Coordinate & supervise student leaders in staffing the CAVE and ARENA spaces.
• Participate in the coordination of Campus Life student leader training and professional development activities, including coordinating specific activities for CAs and EAs.

• Direct overall residence operations in 3 residential communities.
• Manage housing processes such as room moves, occupancy information.
• Perform weekly walkthroughs of hall(s) to survey maintenance needs.
• Serve as Emergency Building Coordinator.
• Participate in one’s residential communities through formal programming and intentional interaction.
• Supervise 13 Resident Assistants.
• Support communications for/with residential students, as part of Campus Life master marketing/communication planning.

• $18.75 per hour (7/1/2024 – 8/31/2024) moving to $19.95 per hour starting 9/1/24 ($41,496/yr) with benefits
  • This position has a flexible, 40-hour/week hourly work schedule, including a commitment to sustainable weekly schedule that keeps to 40 hours/week
  • Overtime (time and a half) rate for any hours worked over 40 per week when this is unavoidable due to crisis response, move in/out, or other anticipated or unanticipated busy times of the year
  • Washington State does not have state income tax
• On-campus semi-furnished apartment ($13,194/year value)
• Meal plan ($6,412.00/year)
• Excellent benefits to working in Washington State, PLU, and within the Campus Life department, including:
  • Reproductive rights are protected by WA state law.
  • Generous paid time off, including a bonus 40 hours of summer flex time off and winter holiday time off with university closure from 12/25 through 1/1 (at noon for Campus Life depending on winter opening schedules).
  • Free reserved parking spot and option to purchase an unlimited regional transit pass, which is currently $8.26 for 2023-2024.
  • PLU has no summer on-call responsibility for Community Directors.
  • Pet Policy allowing each Community Director to have up to 2 pets.
  • Partner Policy allowing each Community Director to have 1 partner (no legal marriage documentation required).

• Support campus-wide retention and well-being priorities, particularly for historically marginalized students.
• Participate in the all-residence hall on-call duty rotation with all Community Directors, providing initial crisis response.
• Provide support and follow-up for students and staff in conflict management and resolution.
• Serve as an educator and review officer within the Student Rights & Responsibilities (conduct) system.

• Collaborate with colleagues within Campus Life to design, implement, and assess university-wide initiatives, such as LUTE Welcome, clubs & organizations, leadership development and recognition, and other programs.
• Teach a PLUS 100: Transition to PLU course.
• Coordinate proactive and responsive care for students that supports their retention, success, and thriving, including: Student Care Network follow up, LuteConnects, etc.
• Direct the co-curricular development of one’s learning communities.
• Participate in the coordination and implementation of Campus Life student leader selection, training and professional development activities.
• Collaborate with Campus Life and university colleagues to support the design and implementation of a student leadership curriculum.
• Attend university, division, and departmental training.
• Demonstrate a willingness to continue one’s own learning and support student learning and development surrounding multicultural competencies, issues of social justice, power, privilege, and oppression.
• Work with students to develop an understanding of how cultures profoundly shape different assumptions and behaviors.

• Actively participate in regular meetings with Campus Life, Community Director Staff; and individual meetings with Associate Director for Campus Life.
• Actively lead weekly student leadership meetings, which may occur on weekday evenings during the academic year.
• Serve on various University-wide committees as a Campus Life departmental representation (to be determined).
• Perform other duties as assigned.