The Opportunity
As Student Life Manager at Gisma University of Applied Sciences, you will be responsible for shaping, developing, and delivering an outstanding student experience across campus. You will lead all student life, engagement, and co-curricular activities while also playing a key role in supporting student enrollment-related engagement activities that enhance recruitment, conversion, and onboarding success.
In this managerial role, you will act as a key driver of the student journey from pre-enrollment to graduation, overseeing peer leadership programs, campus events, and student-facing services. You will also manage and develop a cross-functional and international team based in Germany and abroad, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality student experience and engagement standards across locations.
You will collaborate closely with internal departments and external partners — including strategic cooperation programs such as GIZ initiatives — to strengthen both student experience and institutional impact.
Key Responsibilities
Student Experience, Enrollment Support & Campus Life
- Take ownership of the student experience across the full journey, including pre-enrollment engagement, onboarding, and campus integration
- Support enrollment-related activities through student engagement initiatives, campus visits, open days, and onboarding experiences
- Act as central point of contact for students, applicants, student representatives, and internal stakeholders
- Foster a strong sense of community, belonging, and engagement across all student groups
- Lead, manage, and develop a multinational student life and engagement team in Germany and abroad
- Ensure alignment of processes, standards, and student experience delivery across locations
- Provide clear leadership, coaching, and performance management for direct and indirect reports
- Drive collaboration across campuses and international stakeholders within the GUS/Gisma network
- Lead, develop, and manage the Peer Leader / Student Ambassador program
- Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate student staff and peer leaders
- Build structured leadership pathways and development opportunities for students
- Plan, coordinate, and execute campus events such as orientation weeks, graduation ceremonies, cultural events, guest lectures, student activities, and community events
- Support and enhance enrollment-driven events (open days, discovery days, onboarding sessions, applicant engagement events)
- Ensure high-quality delivery of both student-led and institution-led initiatives
- Develop innovative engagement formats to increase participation, conversion, and student involvement
- Manage relationships with external partners such as event providers, accommodation partners, and student service providers
- Coordinate and support institutional cooperation projects, including GIZ-funded or GIZ-related initiatives and programs
- Ensure effective implementation of external partnerships that contribute to student development, recruitment, and international engagement
- Oversee student life processes, systems, and service standards
- Monitor student engagement, satisfaction, enrollment conversion touchpoints, and participation metrics
- Identify and implement continuous improvements across student experience and enrollment support activities
- Manage budgets related to student life, events, and engagement activities