Executive Director of Orientation and Family Engagement

Executive Director of Orientation and Family Engagement

The Executive Director of Orientation and Family Engagement will lead the university's comprehensive onboarding experience for new students and their families. Housed within the Office of the Dean of Students, this role ensures a seamless transition from admission to active student life, aligning Orientation efforts with student involvement, leadership development, and wrap-around support services. The Executive Director will directly supervise the Associate Director of Orientation and the Associate Director of Texas Parents, collaborate closely with First-Year Experience and other DOS units, and serve as the primary liaison for academic units at the University in relation to Orientation.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Integration

Design and implement a comprehensive Orientation program that reflects the mission of the University, focusing on preparing for academics at UT, fostering involvement, and creating a welcoming environment for all Longhorns

Integrate Orientation experiences across academic units and with key involvement opportunities, such as student organizations, leadership programs, and family engagement initiatives to create a holistic onboarding experience

Collaborate with Enrollment Management, University Events and Experience, and academic units to ensure alignment with institutional goals and enrollment trends

Supervision & Team Development

Provide direct supervision and strategic guidance to the Associate Director of Orientation and the Director of Texas Parents and oversee the entire Orientation and Texas Parents staff portfolios

Support cross-functional collaboration among DOS units, including First-Year Experience, Student Outreach and Support, Student Organizations, and major departmental initiatives, such as Conversation Navigation and curricular and co-curricular alignment

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

Partner with Enrollment Management and CSUs to maintain continuity in messaging and planning across the student lifecycle

Serve as the primary liaison for University Events and Experience to create a uniform experience for all students and families attending Orientation

Direct university outreach to families, ensuring transparent and timely communication about University resources and events

Represent DOS in and lead campus-wide committees and initiatives related to student transition and engagement

Ensure consistency in the student experience by scaffolding support and involvement towards other DOS initiatives and unit programs

Operational Oversight & Assessment

Lead logistical planning for Orientation sessions, including scheduling, registration, and data tracking

Manage departmental budgets and staffing resources, ensuring efficient operations and strategic investment

Conduct regular assessments and national environmental scans to evaluate program effectiveness and inform continuous improvement

Remain informed and up-to-date regarding national and state laws, national trends, and University policies that may impact Orientation efforts and family engagement

Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

Master's degree in student affairs, higher education, or a related field.

At least 8 years of progressive experience in Orientation or related programs, including experience at a leadership level.

Experience supervising professional staff.

Knowledge of federal and state laws, and University policy.

Experience conducting planning and assessment activities.

Excellent communication skills with the ability to acquire information / ideas from others.

Ability to collaborate and share resources based on programmatic needs.

Demonstrated ability to factor functional concerns / needs into strategy.

Capability to delegate functional tasks to direct reports and engages others in achieving strategic initiatives.

Experience managing a budget or advising on finances.

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, administration, and external stakeholders.

Professional demeanor and ability to maintain sensitive information.

Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills including presentations, written correspondence, and reports.

Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

10 years or more experience in Orientation or related programs.

Experience creating and implementing a vision for transition programs.

Experience with parent and family engagement.

Experience at a large, public institution.

Demonstrated work with and understanding of reputational and financial risks.

Experience building partnerships and collaborating across departments, particularly academic units and enrollment management.

Experience supervising Associate Director or Director level staff.

Proven ability to assess program and learning outcomes qualitatively and quantitatively.

Salary Range

$135,000+, commensurate with experience.

Work Shift

May require weekend and / or evening work.

Required Materials

• Resume / CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers : You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers : As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.