JOB SUMMARY

Central Washington University is recruiting a Student Services Specialist to join our University Centers team in Des Moines, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. We’re offering a salary, depending on experience, from $45,303-$57,383 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

WHO WE ARE:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students’ Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.
Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You’ll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.
Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.
Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.
Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors’ Degree in Communications, Education, Anthropology and Sociology or equivalent experience, training, and/or education.
• Experience event planning, and implementing and evaluating student programs.
• Supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience working collaboratively with students and/or colleagues to foster a supportive and effective learning and work environment.OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters degree.
• An understanding of the higher education environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff/programs across multiple locations.
• Familiarity with the King County and Pierce County regions.
• Training and/or experience demonstrating the ability to manage budgets and/or fiscal operations, such as accounts payable and receivable, budgeting, bookkeeping and/or purchasing.
• Experience or interest in mentoring students from a variety of backgrounds.
• Life experiences that demonstrate an ability to contribute to CWU’s vision, mission, and values

COMPETENCIES

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines, and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive.
  Don’t meet every single requirement? At CWU, we’re committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you’re looking for!

THE ROLE:

With the Regional Director, the Student Services Specialist provides opportunities for CWU students to expand their leadership capacity. This position is responsible for supervision of student staff and coordination of Centers’ programming at CWU-Des Moines and CWU-Pierce County. This position works closely with the Regional Director of Des Moines to determine programmatic goals, learning outcomes, and evaluation measures. Progress to program goals will be reviewed during weekly meetings. The Student Life Resource Manager must also be capable or working independently as they will have significant influence in deciding how the Westside Centers’ goals are to be achieved. This position will regularly interact and collaborate with other Student Success, Academic and Administrative Offices, outside agencies, students and the general public. This position will also represent the Westside Centers on a regular basis during campus and community events.
University Center employees play a vital role in advancing the vision, mission, and values of Central Washington University by fostering enriching learning experiences and cultivating a welcoming, student-centered environment. Located away from the main campus, the University Center offers a unique, close-knit setting that supports student growth and success while maintaining strong ties to the broader university community. All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWU’s vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence.

SUPERVISOR DUTIES:

• Actively engage in recruitment and hiring new employees
• Clearly define performance expectations, ensure accountability, and provide ongoing informal feedback, coaching, and mentoring. Conduct formal performance evaluations
• Ensure employees have necessary resources
• Oversee and direct the work of staff; serve as mentor, coach, and leader, and resolve complaints or issues
• Promote professional development opportunities
• Develop and foster supportive working relationships, motivation and engagement
• Communicate information to staff on an ongoing basis to influence staff engagement and to be a part of a larger community
• Take corrective action in a timely manner
• Recognize and reward employees for good performance
• Schedule employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked; approve payable time and absence requests
• Adjust leadership style as needed to achieve results
• Recognize value of and promote a diverse workforce. Value and encourage diverse perspectives, creativity, and teamwork.