Assistant Director for Transition and Welcome Programs

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POSITION SPECIFICS Penn State University Park is seeking a student-centered, detail-oriented, and collaborative Assistant Director for Transition and Welcome Programs to lead major undergraduate transition initiatives and support signature university-wide events. This position plays a critical role in welcoming new students and families, supporting undergraduate success, and delivering impactful transition experiences at scale. The Assistant Director is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing key university-wide programs that support undergraduate transitions and institutional ceremonies. This role leads change-of-campus and transfer student initiatives, oversees welcome programs, manages the planning cycle for President’s New Student Convocation, and provides substantial leadership and logistical support for New Student Orientation (NSO), which welcomes more than 9,000 new students to University Park each summer. This role offers the opportunity to shape the first experiences of Penn State students, contribute to meaningful traditions, and collaborate with partners across the University to support student transitions and success. This position is housed within Student Orientation and Transition Programs, a partnership between Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education, and supervises a full-time program coordinator and student volunteers. Key Responsibilities Lead the development, planning, and execution of university-wide transition and welcome programs, including change-of-campus and transfer student initiatives, welcome programs for new undergraduate students, President’s New Student Convocation, in partnership with internal and external stakeholders Provide leadership and logistical support for New Student Orientation (NSO), including assisting with program development, implementation, and daily operations and serving as a member of the NSO Director Team, rotating responsibilities to deliver presentations to large audiences, facilitate sessions and program logistics, respond to and resolve student and family concerns Manage complex event planning cycles, timelines, and deliverables for large‑scale programs Supervise a full-time program coordinator and oversee student volunteers, fostering professional growth and effective teamwork Collaborate across academic and administrative units to ensure cohesive, student-focused programming Develop clear, engaging digital content and presentation materials to support program delivery and communication Uphold a commitment to inclusion, student success, and continuous program improvement Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Strong project and event management skills, with exceptional attention to detail Ability to manage high-volume, high-impact programs in fast-paced environments Excellent communication and presentation skills, with a student-centered approach Demonstrated strength in collaboration and cross-unit partnership Comfort supervising staff and managing student employees or volunteers Ability to think strategically while executing detailed logistics MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS Master's Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. SALARY & BENEFITS The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $59,580.00 - $86,400.00. Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. 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Our ideals stem from our origins as Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant institution, which allow us to continue to bring positive impact to humanity through our teaching, research, and engagement mission. And across the world is a community of Penn Staters – more than half a million strong – driven by that same spirit to serve our local and global communities. At Penn State, passion is met with collaboration in an environment that is rooted in shared pride for the accomplishments of our fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Penn Staters cheer each other on to build a culture committed to service and engagement. Our University values represent our core ethical aspirations for all our daily activities and actions as students, faculty, staff, and volunteers at Penn State. Our values are as follows; Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. We Are Penn State. One Community. Impacting Many.