Associate Director of Student Orientation

Title: Associate Director of Student Orientation

Agency: Academic Affairs-10

Location: Radford

FLSA: Exempt/ Not eligible for overtime

Hiring Range: Commensurate with experience

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

• Education: Master’s degree in higher education administration, education, student affairs, counseling, communications, or a related field.
• Experience: At least 3–5 years of experience in orientation, first-year experience, academic support, large scale event planning, or related areas in higher education.
• Program Development & Management: Experience planning, implementing, and assessing orientation programs, transition initiatives, or student engagement efforts.
• Student Leadership & Supervision: Demonstrated experience in recruiting, training, and supervising student leaders and/or professional staff.
• Inclusion: Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that supports students from diverse backgrounds, including first-generation students and historically underrepresented populations.
• Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage students, families/supporters, faculty, and campus partners.
• Event Planning & Logistics: Demonstrated ability to coordinate large-scale programs, manage multiple priorities, and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment.
• Technology & Assessment: Proficiency with technology platforms related to orientation (e.g., event registration systems, learning management systems, MS Office, and communication tools) and experience with program assessment and data-informed decision-making.

• Additional Experience: More than five years of professional experience in orientation, first-year experience, student affairs, or related areas.
• Leadership & Supervision: Experience supervising professional staff, graduate assistants, or multiple student leadership teams.
• Budget & Resource Management: Experience managing budgets, processing financial transactions, and securing resources for programs.
• Technology & Data Analysis: Proficiency with orientation software (e.g., Slate) and experience using data for program assessment and decision-making.
• Crisis Management & Conflict Resolution: Ability to respond to student concerns, manage crises, and facilitate conflict resolution.
• Family & Supporter Engagement: Experience developing programs and communication strategies for families/supporters of new students.
• Higher Education Knowledge: Understanding of student development theory, best practices in orientation, and trends in student success initiatives.