Department: Erb Memorial Union
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: $50,000 - $55,000 per year
Compensation Band: OS-OA05-Fiscal Year 2025-2026
FTE: 1.0
Application Review Begins
April 20, 2026; position open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants
Please provide a resume and cover letter that demonstrates how you meet minimum qualifications, professional competencies, and any preferred qualifications (especially those related to sustainability, environmental justice, and creating career readiness/professional development).
Department Summary
The Division of Student Life supports the university’s academic mission and strategic plan through comprehensive programs and services that promote and advance student learning and success while fostering an inclusive and vibrant campus community. Student Life includes four major portfolios, the Office of the Dean of Students, Experiential Learning & Engagement, Health & Wellbeing, and Division Administration. Key programs and departments within the division include but are not limited to University Health Services, Erb Memorial Union, Physical Education & Recreation, Parent and Family Programs, Major Student Events (Commencement, Homecoming, University Day), Fraternity and Sorority Life, Counseling, Health Promotion, Multicultural and Identity Based Support Services, Student Government Engagement & Success, Student Conduct and Community Standards, and Support for Students in Crisis and Students of Concern.
The Erb Memorial Union (EMU) is a department of the Division of Student Life. The EMU is a multifaceted auxiliary service that employs over 90 professional staff and 400 student staff, and serves over 15 thousand daily users during the academic year. The EMU welcomes students, faculty, staff, the community and visitors to campus, and its mission is to provide learning experiences and opportunities for personal growth in an open, inclusive, and resource-rich community where students and staff collaborate to inspire and sustain extraordinary programs and services that promote diversity and social interaction. The EMU is student centered and is operated in collaboration with a student Board, who are actively involved in determining the character and scope of the department and approve the budget recommendations of all EMU services and programs.
The Student Sustainability Center (SSC) is a collaborative space for student-led initiatives that foster environmental justice, social well-being, and ecological resilience. The SSC empowers students to engage pressing and relevant sustainability issues through leadership development, career preparation, campus programming, projects driven by student needs and interests, and sustainability-oriented community. We help students develop a just vision for society, build resilience, and prepare to live in a climate-altered present and future.
Position Summary
The Program Assistant Director will report to the SSC Program Director. The purpose of the position is to advise student leaders and supervise employees working on SSC programs, services and initiatives. The position will support students in creating high quality events and programs and respond to student interest to ensure student-led initiatives are meaningful, engaging and impactful.
This position also serves as a creator of and an advocate for development of social, campus climate, and current event programming that aligns to the stated goals of the SSC, the EMU, and the University’s strategic plan, Oregon Rising, particularly in the areas of career readiness and flourishing. The position will be responsible for developing student-staff career preparation and helping student staff create experiential learning opportunities that prepare students to contribute, innovate, and lead in sustainability careers and the modern workplace. The assistant director will also serve as a resource and active member of the larger EMU Student Engagement Programs staff.
In this role, the individual will have a high level of decision making that has the potential to impact campus wide and community stakeholders. The position will create and maintain campus community relationships with diverse units such as the Many Nations Long House, The Northwest Indian Language Institute, the Office of Sustainability, Willamette River Natural Area, Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence, Office of Basic Needs, and others. Contact with community is anticipated to be significant and impactful, including developing long-term relationships with community organizations related to sustainability and environmental justice fields.
The position is responsible for oversight of budget and implementation of contracts, and will hire, direct, schedule, evaluate, train and manage the activities of student staff and volunteers. The Assistant Director may also assist in the selection process for student scholarship positions.
This position requires some off-hours and weekend work for specific events or activities, including being on-call. This position serves as the program lead when the Program Director is on leave.
Minimum Requirements
• Bachelor’s Degree
• One year experience of event planning or management
• One year experience advising students or student organizations
Professional Competencies
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, in support of an inclusive and welcoming environment.
• Ability to mentor student employees in developing career preparation including communication, critical thinking, and leadership; ability to develop career readiness programming and skill development support.
• Strong organizational, efficiency, and time management skills.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Strong presentation and public relation skills; ability to give public presentations and adjust communication to appropriate audiences.
• Ability to work with, guide, advise and supervise students and staff.
• Ability to navigate complex policy and procedures, such as Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Preferred Qualifications
• Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education or related field
• Knowledge of career competency frameworks and ability to help students identify and articulate transferable skills from sustainability programming experience
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative partnerships
• Experience creating or facilitating internships in the areas of sustainability, environmental justice, student affairs or leadership development
• Budget management experience
• One year supervision experience of student or professional staff
• Familiarity with issues of climate anxiety, food equity, community gardens, habitat restoration, waste reduction and/or leadership development
FLSA Exempt:
All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit our website.
The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please email us or call 541-346-5112.
UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed here.
In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online.
