"Associate Director of First Year Experience"

Position Summary

The Associate Director of First Year Experience is an advocate for the Office's mission to offer support, resources, and programming to our first-year students while enhancing class and community engagement. This position's primary responsibility is to serve as the director of the New Student Orientation Program including its year-round efforts to plan, evolve, and implement the 4-day program for incoming new students and transfers. These responsibilities include selection of student leadership staff and weekly meetings (usually in the evening) with the Steering Committee (17 students); planning the New Student Orientation program in all its facets during the spring and summer; oversight and organization of the 140+ student staff selection process during the Spring semester; and working intensely in August with staff training and the actual 4-day Orientation program before fall classes begin. The Associate Director also supports the Senior Director of First Year Experience in the planning and implementation of campus initiatives for first-year students, including living-learning communities (Communitas), student leadership programming and development, mentoring and personal growth opportunities, and social events.

Due to the nature of the Orientation program, this role should expect to work nights and weekends throughout the entire month of August, as well as occasional nights and weekends during the academic year.

Duties and Responsibilities

As director of the New Student Orientation Program:

• Coordinate and implement all components of the New Student Orientation program offered to incoming undergraduates first-year and transfer new students, including oversight of the 4-day Orientation program in August, and recruitment, selection, and training of 140+ student orientation staff members.
• Continue to develop the Orientation program, through a holistic and mission-centered lens, working with campus partners and with student staff to support a program that meets the needs and best interests of our community through initiatives and programmatic development that positively impacts new students, including new transfer students, as well as new student families.
• Coordinate weekly meetings with the Steering Committee (17 students) throughout the spring semester (usually 2 hours in the evening).
• Provide oversight and guidance of the Recruitment and Selection of the 140+ Student Staff Members throughout our spring semester, organizing a multi-level process including group interviews and individual interview teams for the 3 different Orientation Staff Member (OSM) roles.
• Responsible for communications to students and families regarding the first-year experience and Orientation, including spring and summer print and digital/electronic communications.
• Provide intentional leadership development opportunities for the student staff to offer holistic personal growth opportunities through their role as a student leader.
• Provide evening and weekend support of staff and the program year-round and especially in August.

In support of the Office of First Year Experience:

• Create strong partnerships with campus partners within and outside of the Division of Student Life; be the office's liaison to the departments including the student and professional staff; collaborate on programming and community-centered initiatives; enhance residential experience with value-added components; provide assistance to students in need of community connection while navigating the transition to Villanova; support students who may be facing unique challenges while on campus.
• Support the Senior Director in working with Communitas, Villanova's learning communities. The Associate Director will strengthen the Communitas experience utilizing the partnership with Residence Life, and contributing to the Student Facilitator training, semester touchpoints, and celebratory events.
• Support new or existing initiatives within Student Life including supporting the Nova Nook (food/toiletry pantry), representing the office on various campus planning committees including Commencement, Family Weekend, and other campus-wide initiatives (that includes occasional weekend responsibilities per academic calendar).

Perform other duties and assist with projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Formal Education

• Master's degree in related field.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience preferably in higher education, working directly with students through advising, mentoring, programmatic experience; or a similar role in comparable setting.

Work Skills

• Excellent communication, both oral and written, as well as competence within social media platforms.
• Experience in planning events, running meetings, facilitating conversations, and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to build consensus and work as a team towards a common goal.

Specific Job Knowledge

• An understanding and appreciation of Student Development Theory; commitment to the mission of Catholic higher education and an understanding of the accompanying values and their impact on efforts in Student Affairs.

Equipment Knowledge

• Knowledge of general office equipment, including personal computers, word processing, Excel, Office 365 and/or other spreadsheet programs.

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours

Evening and weekend work required.

Salary Posting Information

This position falls within salaried grade 14 and the range for this position is $61,000-71,500. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate's qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.

Why work at Villanova?

• Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University's founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
• Villanova has been included among the nation's best colleges and universities. VU's inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 "Best Colleges" rankings is another indication of the University's continued prominence and forward momentum.
• Villanova's most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.