Program Director for New Student and Family Engagement

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

Founded in 1842, the University of Notre Dame is a leading American research university that offers a distinctive voice in higher education. As a Catholic institution with a strong tradition of faith and intellectual inquiry, Notre Dame is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service to the common good.

Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, the University is home to a vibrant campus community of students, faculty, and staff who are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment and advancing the University’s mission to be a force for good in the world. With world-class facilities, renowned academic programs, and a deep commitment to innovation and ethical leadership, Notre Dame provides a dynamic and rewarding workplace for those who seek to make a meaningful impact.

Job Description

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs seeks a mission-centered, collaborative, innovative, and highly organized Program Director to lead the University's efforts to welcome and engage incoming undergraduate students, parents, and families. This role provides strategic leadership for welcome and orientation programs for first-year and transfer students entering the University throughout the academic year, including students matriculating in January, June, and August. The Program Director will serve as champion for the University’s welcome of new students and families, and steward the vision, coordination, communication, and execution of these experiences, with particular responsibility for Welcome Weekend - one of the University’s most visible signature events - and related pre-matriculation and post-Welcome Weekend initiatives.

In addition, the Program Director will develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for parent and family engagement, beginning with the transition to Notre Dame and extending throughout the student experience. This work will include establishing a coordinated approach to outreach and engagement, developing opportunities for meaningful parent and family engagement, and helping University leaders and campus partners respond thoughtfully and effectively to parent and family questions, concerns, and needs.

The successful candidate will be able to lead complex and highly visible initiatives, build strong partnerships throughout the Division of Student Affairs and the wider University, inspire campus-wide investment and engagement, and translate a compelling vision into thoughtful and well-executed programs and processes. The Program Director will help establish a strong foundation for students and their families as they begin their journey of education in mind and heart at Notre Dame, creating experiences for all students that foster belonging, community, and formation while reflecting and bringing to life the University's Catholic, Holy Cross identity.

The Opportunity

This is an especially important moment for the Division of Student Affairs’ work with new students and parents and families of all undergraduate students. The University has established a strong foundation for Welcome Weekend and other new student initiatives, with significant recent attention to core mission, operations, communication, collaboration, and the overall student experience. The next phase of this work offers substantial opportunity to build on that foundation: to imagine what the new student experience at Notre Dame should become, to respond thoughtfully to the diverse ways students enter the University, and to establish a coherent and proactive approach to parent and family engagement. The Program Director will play a central role in that work. Through strong leadership, thoughtful collaboration, excellent execution, and a deep commitment to Notre Dame's mission, the Program Director will help students and families experience from the very beginning that they are welcomed into a community defined by relationship, belonging, formation, and a shared commitment to the University's Catholic, Holy Cross character.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, education, communications, or a related field preferred.

Experience of 3 - 4 years with these skill Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing complex programs, initiatives, or processes in a higher education or similarly complex organizational environment.
• Experience coordinating across departments or organizational units and building collaborative relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communication.
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise initiative, manage competing priorities, and maintain a high level of attention to detail.
• A demonstrated commitment to the University’s Catholic and Holy Cross mission and the ability to implement policies, programs, services, and initiatives that are consistent with the University’s mission and values.

Key Characteristics: 

• Mission-centered leadership : a deep appreciation for and understanding of Notre Dame's Catholic, Holy Cross mission and the role of Student Affairs in the formation of the whole person. Ability to translate the University's mission into thoughtful programs, communications, and experiences for students and families.
• Vision and strategic thinking : The ability to see the larger institutional picture, articulate a compelling vision, identify strategic opportunities, and move from ideas to implementation.
• Exceptional communication : outstanding written and verbal communication skills and the ability to serve as a clear, credible, and engaging representative for the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. 
• Project management and execution : exceptional organization, attention to detail, follow-through, and proactive planning. The candidate must be able to manage multiple complex and time-sensitive projects simultaneously while maintaining focus on long-term priorities.
• Collaboration and relationship-building : The ability to cultivate trust, invite meaningful participation, build campus-wide ownership, and move diverse stakeholders toward a shared goal, particularly in a highly collaborative environment without direct supervisory authority.
• Creativity and innovation : A willingness to question established approaches, identify new possibilities, and creatively leverage partnerships and institutional resources to improve programs and processes.
• Assessment and continuous improvement : The ability to use evidence, feedback, and thoughtful stakeholder engagement to evaluate programs, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions.
• Team orientation and humility : A commitment to shared work and collective success, with a willingness to contribute to and elevate the work of colleagues and the broader Division rather than pursue individual accomplishments.
• Professionalism and judgment : The maturity, discretion, adaptability, and interpersonal skills necessary to represent the Division and University effectively in a wide range of settings and with a wide range of constituents.

Additional Information

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Applications will be accepted through October 11, 2026

RESUME & COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED to be considered for this position. Please add in the attachments section of your application.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.