&
Orientation
Salary: $78,149.00 - $91,940.00 Annually
Job Type: FT Exempt Salaried Staff
Job Number: FY2706762
Closing: 11/9/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
Location: Main Campus - Orem
Division: VP Student Affairs
Position Announcement
Join Utah Valley University in a leadership role that directly
shapes the student experience from the moment new students begin
their journey. As the Director of First-Year Experience and
Orientation, you will guide the vision, strategy, and growth of
programs that help students successfully transition to university
life, connect with the campus community, and build a strong
foundation for academic success. This position offers the
opportunity to make a lasting impact on thousands of students and
their families through innovative programming, data-informed
decision-making, and meaningful collaboration across the
institution.
The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic environment where
strategy and student success intersect. Working closely with
university leaders, faculty, staff, students, and community
partners, you will lead campus-wide initiatives, oversee
high-profile programs such as orientation and convocation, and help
drive continuous improvement in the first-year experience. If you
are passionate about student development, organizational
leadership, and creating programs that support student achievement,
this role offers the chance to influence institutional priorities
while advancing UVU's commitment to student success and
engagement.
Summary of Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Planning: Develop, implement, and regularly evaluate a comprehensive, multi-year strategic plan for First-Year Experience and Orientation that aligns with the university's mission, strategic priorities, and student-success goals. Establish measurable objectives, priorities, and performance indicators for improving first-year student transition, belonging, engagement, persistence, academic success, and retention. Provide institutional leadership and subject-matter…
expertise regarding the first-year student experience, recommending policies, practices, and investments that strengthen student success.
First-Year Experience Portfolio Leadership: Provide strategic
oversight for a coordinated portfolio of first-year transition and
engagement programs, including new student orientation, new student
convocation, first-year seminar initiatives, family programming,
and other first-year student-success initiatives. Establish program
standards, learning outcomes, implementation frameworks, and
assessment expectations. Ensure programs form an intentional and
cohesive first-year experience rather than operating as stand-alone
activities.
Assessment, Research, and Continuous Improvement: Develop and
oversee a comprehensive assessment strategy for First-Year
Experience and Orientation. Establish key performance indicators
and use quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate program
effectiveness, identify participation and outcome patterns, and
recommend improvements. Prepare executive-level reports,
presentations, and recommendations related to first-year student
engagement, belonging, persistence, retention, and academic
success. Partner with institutional research and other campus units
to support data-informed planning and decision-making.
Institutional Partnerships and Cross-Campus Coordination: Lead
cross-campus planning and coordination related to the first-year
student experience. Develop strong partnerships with academic
affairs, advising, enrollment management, student support services,
institutional research, faculty, and other university stakeholders
to identify and address barriers affecting first-year student
success. Facilitate shared priorities, clarify responsibilities,
and promote coordinated practices that provide students and
families with a consistent and integrated experience.
Organizational and Resource Leadership: Provide leadership for
departmental personnel, budgets, scholarships and waivers,
technology, contracts, communications, and other resources
supporting First-Year Experience and Family Orientation. Establish
annual priorities and operational plans, align resources with
strategic objectives, and ensure responsible fiscal stewardship.
Identify opportunities for grants, partnerships, and other
resources that advance first-year student success initiatives.
First-Year Transition, Engagement, and Belonging: Provide
strategic leadership for initiatives that strengthen students'
transition to the university and support their academic and social
integration. Ensure first-year programs promote belonging, help
students navigate institutional expectations and resources, and
connect students with meaningful academic and co-curricular
opportunities. Champion practices that address the varied needs and
experiences of first-year students. Other Duties: Perform other
duties as assigned in support of the university's mission and
student-success priorities.
Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications
- Graduation from an accredited institution with a bachelor's
degree in higher education, student affairs, educational
leadership, counseling, organizational leadership, public
administration, or a related discipline, plus five years of
progressively responsible professional experience in higher
education, student success, first-year programs, orientation,
family programs, or a related area.
- Experience must include program administration, personnel
supervision, budget management, assessment, and cross-functional
collaboration.
- An equivalent combination of education and directly related
experience may be considered.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in higher education, student affairs,
educational leadership, public administration, organizational
leadership, or a related field.
- Progressively responsible leadership experience with first-year
experience, orientation, transition programs, family engagement, or
student-success initiatives.
- Experience developing and implementing strategic plans.
- Experience leading institution-wide or cross-divisional
initiatives.
- Experience establishing program outcomes and assessment
frameworks.
- Experience using student-success data to guide strategy,
resource allocation, and program improvement.
- Experience supervising professional staff and managing complex
budgets.
- Experience in presenting recommendations and results to senior
leadership.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Knowledge
- In-depth understanding of student development theories and best
practices in first-year experience and family engagement.
- Familiarity with higher education policies, accreditation
standards, and compliance requirements.
- Knowledge of data analysis techniques and student information
systems.
- Knowledge of current trends and strategies in university family
programming.
- Knowledge of current trends and strategies specifically related
to retention and completion of higher education students.
- Knowledge and understanding of predictive analytics and various
platforms available to higher education institutions, including
AI.
- Knowledge of current mentoring and coaching strategies for
higher education students.
Skills
- Strong leadership and organizational skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in data analysis and the use of student information
systems.
- Ability to design and implement effective programs and
interventions.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management.
- Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and
procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new
strategies and procedures.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to
work effectively with a wide range of internal and external
constituencies in a broad community.
- Strong critical thinking skills and ability to articulate
possible need for change or improvement, and how this may tie to
the overall university goals.
Abilities
- Ability to analyze data and develop actionable insights.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities
simultaneously.
- Ability to create a positive and inclusive campus culture.
- Ability to secure funding through grants and partnerships.
- Strong ability to collect and analyze data and to translate
that information into actionable strategies.
- Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
- Ability to critically analyze processes and procedures for
improvement of student retention and completion.
- Ability to successfully supervise and evaluate others.
- Ability to prioritize and to change priorities as needs
arise.
- Strong proven leadership ability, including interpersonal
skills.
EEO Statement:
UVU employment decisions are made on the basis of an applicant's
qualifications and ability to perform the job without regard to
race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), disability,
veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related
conditions, genetic information, or other bases protected by
applicable federal, state, or local law.
To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/uvu/jobs/5529428/director-first-year-experience-orientation
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