Associate Director, First-Year Advising and Orientation

Overview of Position

The Academic Advising Center (AAC) at Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) seeks a proactive, collaborative, and student-centered Associate Director of First-Year Advising and Orientation to lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the TUJ’s first-year advising and onboarding experience.

This position will be based at TUJ’s Hillside Center and will oversee Academic Advising staff members at the Hillside Center and at TUJ Kyoto. The Associate Director will be based in Tokyo and is expected to conduct regular visits to TUJ Kyoto, at least once per semester, to support collaboration and consistency.

The Associate Director serves as a key member of the AAC leadership team and is responsible for overseeing advising, orientation, and transition programming for first-year undergraduate students. This role plays a critical part in shaping the first-year experience and ensuring that new students successfully transition into the academic and social environment at TUJ. With TUJ’s continued growth, this position will lead strategic efforts to enhance first-year support structures and improve student success and retention from matriculation through the first year.

The AAC emphasizes a holistic, student-centered approach that supports student development across the academic lifecycle. Building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with colleagues across TUJ and Temple University’s Main Campus is essential to success in this role.

Primary Responsibilities

First-Year Advising and Orientation Leadership

AAC has a differentiated caseload model. As of Fall 2026, first-year students will be assigned to a first-year advisor. Students with 30 or more credits will be assigned to a major-based advisor.

Develop and implement a comprehensive first-year advising model that supports academic success, engagement, and persistence.
Oversee new student advising processes, including academic planning and course registration.
Work with internal and external campus partners to lead the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of New Student Orientation programs in Tokyo and Kyoto, including online orientation via Slate, Welcome Week and related onboarding experiences.
Design and refine onboarding processes using systems such as Slate, Navigate, and Banner to ensure an efficient and student-friendly experience.
Collaborate with Associate Directors for Major-Based Advising to ensure a smooth and intentional transition of students from first-year advising to major-based advising structures.

Staff Supervision and Development

AAC Associate Directors supervise individual members of the advising team and coordinate training across the AAC team.

Train, supervise, and evaluate professional staff and/or coordinators supporting new student initiatives.
Foster a collaborative team environment focused on student success, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Develop onboarding and ongoing training resources to ensure consistent, high-quality advising and program delivery.
Promote opportunities for professional growth and collaborate with team members to develop professional development plans.

Operations and Program Administration

AAC Associate Directors support AAC’s operations and programs across all TUJ locations. This role will focus on our Hillside Center and Kyoto location.

Utilize Navigate, Slate, and Cognos to analyze data related to orientation participation, registration, and first-year outcomes to inform decision-making and program improvements.
Develop and implement communication strategies to ensure timely, clear, and accessible information for incoming and first-year students.
Lead and contribute to cross-functional initiatives related to student success, retention, and academic transition.
Represent AAC and TUJ in institutional committees, meetings, and events related to student onboarding and success.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Caseload Management and Student Support

AAC Associate Director will have a partial caseload, balancing student-facing work with strategic and managerial responsibilities. Advising responsibilities include:

Provide student support during all phases of the student life cycle from orientation through graduation.
Engage with students who have diverse backgrounds, nationalities, language skills, and levels of familiarity with post-secondary education.
Provide students with access to the information and resources necessary for the attainment of academic, professional, and personal goals.
Act as an advocate and referral source to provide consistent outreach and follow-up services to students to ensure effective student support.
Work with the Banner Student Information System to process workflows and manage an effective student information ecosystem.

Work Location

This position is a hybrid role with a minimum of three days per week in the Academic Advising Center in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan as determined by the Director of Academic Advising. Standard TUJ office hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Associate Director will work as part of a team to manage extended office hours as necessary.

Qualifications and Experience

Master’s degree
At least three years of experience in a higher education setting
Excellent teamwork, interpersonal, student service, and organizational skills
Experience with intercultural educational programs
Knowledge of SIS, LMS and SSMS systems
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

Master’s degree in education, higher education administration, counseling, a discipline related to a TUJ major, or closely related degree
Direct experience as an academic advisor or in a closely related, student-facing field
Experience with new student/transfer orientation and/or first-year advising
Experience teaching first-year experience courses
Evidence of program development/assessment
Experience with Banner SIS and/or Canvas LMS, and/or Slate SSMS system
Experience working at a multi-campus institution

Find Your Best Opportunity

Tell them AcademicJobs.com sent you!