Director, Orientation Programs

Months Per Year

12

Work Model

Onsite

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Seattle University's Core Competencies

Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.

Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.

Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.

Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact.

Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.

Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

Job Description Summary
The Director of Orientation Programs serves as the institutional leader for visioning, strategic direction, and delivery of new student orientation and transition support initiatives for all incoming undergraduate first year and transfer students across the First Hill and South Lake Union campuses. This includes attention to support of traditionally underrepresented student populations and an expansive understanding of the unique onboarding needs of each school or college’s programs at both campus locations. The Director leads the university’s efforts to continuously strengthen and align the path from deposit to matriculation.

Position Description

The Director of Orientation Programs serves as the institutional leader for visioning, strategic direction, and delivery of new student orientation and transition support initiatives for all incoming undergraduate first year and transfer students across the First Hill and South Lake Union campuses. This includes attention to support of traditionally underrepresented student populations and an expansive understanding of the unique onboarding needs of each school or college’s programs at both campus locations.  The Director leads the university’s efforts to continuously s trengthen and align the path from deposit to matriculation.

The Director is expected to function in a collaborative manner with a high degree of visibility and contact with students, families, staff, faculty, and administration. This role requires innovation and knowledge of leading-edge practices to enhance the experience of current student populations.  In alignment with the university’s commitment to student success, retention, and persistence, the director will use a framework of social justice and Jesuit education to deliver a comprehensive entry-year experience and celebration of key milestones.

Essential Functions:
Strategic Leadership and Vision: 40%

• Lead university-wide strategy for new student onboarding in alignment with Seattle University’s mission and institutional priorities.

• Assume responsibility for incoming students post-deposit up to and through the start of their first term.

• Design, implement, and assess in-person and online new student transition curriculum.

• Analyze and prepare data and metrics reports and presentations for campus partners and senior leadership in regular cadence leading up to start of each term.

• Strategize and deliver proactive and reactive responses to student progress through New Student Checklist tasks, with emphasis on high melt risk students.

• Craft and implement individualized support for unique populations, including but not limited to: Adult learners, BIPOC students, Commuter students, Exchange students, First Generation students, Honors students, International students, LGBTQ+ students, Scholar cohorts, Student Athletes, Transfer students, and Veteran and Military-Connected students.

• Maintain knowledge of unique onboarding needs for Cornish College of the Arts student experience.

• Implement behavior-driven anti-melt student and family communications plan to drive completion of essential onboarding tasks on New Student Checklist.

• Develop strategic plans, goals, and measurable objectives for Orientation Programs.

• Lead regular new student cohort check-in meetings and deliverables in collaboration with Admissions, Housing and Residence Life, and University Advising.

• Lead strategic collaborations with 35+ university departments to collectively deliver a seamless orientation experience

• Regularly conduct benchmarking with peer institutions and review research and leading-edge work in the field to evaluate for utility at Seattle University.

Program and Event Coordination: 35%

• Manage 20+ university-wide in-person orientation events annually including one-day, multi-day, overnight, and weeklong experiences

• Oversee daily program and event operations including schedule, content, space reservation/setup, catering, parking/transportation, equipment rentals, campus access, contracts, staffing, technology, and more.

• Coordinate parent, family, and supporter onboarding, including virtual/in-person events and communications in collaboration with Parent & Family Engagement

• Manage design, operation, and enhancements of Orientation Portal in Slate CRM, centralizing New Student Checklist, Advising & Registration, event registration, and communications

• Serve as lead event coordinator for New Student Convocation in collaboration with Office of the Provost.

• Coordinate Early Bird Immersion early arrival programs in collaboration with relevant campus partners, supporting event operations, registrations, and scholarships

• Co-lead Move-In Experience Committee with staff in Housing & Residence Life

• Serve as university administrator for ALEKS Math Placement Assessment

• Design new student resource guides and online learning modules to support incoming student and family learning and preparedness.

• Co-coordinate advising and registration processes for incoming students in collaboration with University Advising.

• Collaborate on Common Text program with University Core and First-Year Academic Engagement.

• Partner with Marketing & Communication on digital and print design assets in alignment with university branding

• Establish and continuously enhance strategic integration of faculty and academic affairs across orientation programming and services.

Departmental Leadership: 25%

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff, including one full-time administrative coordinator, two part-time graduate assistants, and 45+ undergraduate orientation leaders.

• Conduct assessment, evaluation, and data reporting of departmental programs.

• Develop multi-year, sustainable financial plans and manage departmental budget to align.

• Maintain breadth and depth of knowledge of operational processes across First Hill and South Lake Union campus to support event management and new student onboarding.

• Serve as primary speaker for all orientation events.

• Benchmark, calculate, and manage revenue related to orientation fees, guest fees, and other related program fees.

• Serve as a member of Student Success Leadership Committee.

• Oversee departmental web presence (website, social media) and Orientation (Guideboo