Associate Director for Orientation and Transition Programs

Department Summary

It is the mission of Student Orientation Programs to introduce new and prospective students and their families to the university’s intellectual climate. In addition, we seek to improve the quality of the new student experience by providing assistance with academic, personal, and social adjustment to the university, demonstrating the University of Oregon’s commitment to teaching, learning, and scholarship.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Orientation and Transition Programs is an essential member of the Student Orientation Programs leadership team. The primary purpose of the Associate Director is to strategically develop, direct the implementation of, and evaluate the UO’s orientation and transition of new undergraduate students and their families, which is essential to meeting the University’s new student enrollment goals annually.

As such the Associate Director will supervise a team in the planning, development, and execution of on-campus and off-campus undergraduate orientation, transition, and anti-melt activities including but not limited to IntroDUCKtion, Week of Welcome, and Welcome to the Flock, and Winter Warm-up. The Associate Director will manage assessment strategies in consultation with SSEM Research.

The Associate Director will also develop strategic plan and direct implementation of other tactics focused on anti-melt initiatives including but not limited to texting campaigns, virtual engagement, transition programming, specialized programs for transfer, first-generation, and minoritized student populations. The Associate Director will also lead in the development of strategic plans for growth and implementation of new programs (e.g. extended orientation).

In addition to critical service on the SSEM Enrollment Planning Committee, the Associate Director will also be part of division-level task forces as needed, will work closely with partners in SSEM Strategic Communication on strategy and execution of communication plans, and serve as primary liaison to academic schools and departments in relation to orientation and transition events, paying special attention to key campus partnerships.

As such, the Associate Director will have access to confidential data to use in the execution of duties and evaluation of activities and have a great deal of latitude to make independent decisions on behalf of the unit. This position will supervise 2.0 (or more) FTE Officers of Administration, and determine policies and procedures for a student staff 65+ students.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in higher education administration or a related field.
• Experience hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating professional staff
• Four years’ work experience in Higher Ed. Administration, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, or related field, with at least two years supervising full-time staff.

Professional Competencies

• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, in support of an inclusive and welcoming environment.
• Background in orientation, transition, and transition field.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, highly collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
• Excellent organization, planning, public relations and presentation skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Expert-level competency in national best practices for implementation of orientation and transition programs for large, public, tier-1 research universities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in and/or knowledge of principles of strategic enrollment management.
• Spanish language fluency.

FLSA Exempt: Yes