Senior Assistant Director for New Student and Parent Programs

Senior Assistant Director for New Student and Parent Programs

The Senior Assistant Director for New Student and Parent Programs provides institutional leadership and support for New Student Orientation and Parent Programs. The Senior Assistant Director will create, plan, oversee and implement all orientation programs including Orientation for new students and parents as well as Welcome Weekend. The Senior Assistant Director will also coordinate all aspects of Family Weekend as well as new student and parent programs in collaboration with campus partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• New Student and Parent Orientation (40%)
• Lead, develop, and implement the content and structure of Orientation for first year students and transfer students as well as their parents including but not limited to in-person engagement, parent and student webinars, virtual student events, and online learning modules.
• Support programmatic efforts during Orientation including but not limited to setting up, leading Orientation Staff debrief meetings, providing effective customer service to all participants, and overseeing facilitation of schedules and sessions.
• Assist with the assembly of program materials (e.g. schedule of events, handouts, evaluations, promotional material, etc.).
• Evaluate existing programs and related activities to determine effectiveness in meeting the goal of a seamless transition into the University.
• Provide content and input during the editorial process for Orientation publications (print and online).
• Collaborate with and support the Undergraduate Admission Office with any initiatives focusing on prospective and admitted students and their parents to ensure a successful transition to the University.
• Collaborate with the Registrar Office, Bursar Office, One Stop Enrollment Services Center, Drahmann Academic Advising Center, Residential Learning Communities, and other campus partners to maintain the Orientation database, manage new student information, and communicate with new students between deposit and enrollment.
• Collaborate with campus partners to brainstorm, develop, implement, and evaluate new programs and initiatives that support new students during their transition to college and during their first year at the University.
• Counsel students, parents, faculty, and staff regarding programs, services, and initiatives for new students.
• Serve on University committees to represent the Center for Student Involvement in building relationships with campus colleagues who assist with Orientation.
• Serve as a member of the New Student Programming Group.
• Serve as a liaison to campus partners and non-affiliates of the University regarding issues related to new students.
• Coordinate the maintenance of and updates to the Orientation website and mobile application.
• Administer the Orientation budget ensuring that expenses do not exceed expected revenues.
• Welcome Weekend (15%)
• Lead, develop, implement, and evaluate Welcome Weekend.
• Collaborate with campus partners to host and promote Welcome Weekend events.
• Provide content and input during the editorial process for Welcome Weekend publications (print and online).
• Parent and Family Programming (15%)
• Lead, develop, implement, and evaluate Family Weekend.
• Collaborate with campus partners to host and promote Family Weekend events.
• Provide content and input during the editorial process for Family Weekend publications (print and online).
• Work with the Director of Parent and Family Communication & Engagement to ensure Parent and Family Orientation runs concurrently and is aligned with New Student Orientation.
• Coordinate the maintenance of and updates to the Family Weekend website and mobile application.
• Collaborate with the Director for Parent & Family Communication and Engagement to brainstorm, develop, implement, and evaluate new programs, services, and initiatives that support parents and families.
• Student Staff Training, Development, and Supervision (20%)
• Recruit, select, train, and deploy student staff who support the Senior Assistant Director with developing and implementing New Student and Parent Orientation, Welcome Weekend, and Family Weekend.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate student staff.
• Design and facilitate the ASCI 26: Orientation Student Leadership course, Orientation Leader Retreat, and Orientation Leader Final Training in collaboration with the Associate Director.
• Provide leadership, direction, and support to those directly supervised on a consistent basis which may include but not limited to one-on-one meetings and student staff team meetings.
• Other (10%)
• Support department staff to answer phone calls and respond to emails.
• Provide advice, consultation, and support for CSI strategic planning, assessment, programming, and responses to issues and trends.
• Interpret for students and enforce University and departmental policies.
• Act as a liaison to other departments and offices within the University and related outside groups as appropriate to areas of responsibility.
• Promote and encourage collaboration between CSI and other University departments and offices.
• Confer with, counsel, and advise students, faculty, staff, and parents regarding programs, services, and opportunities offered by CSI.
• Serve on University committees as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the CSI Director and CSI Associate Director.

Provides Work Direction To

• Student Program Assistants (2-3)
• Student Leadership Team (3-4)
• Returning Orientation Leaders (2-3)
• New Orientation Leaders (20-25)
• Graduate Interns (1-2) - dependent on financial resources

Receive Work Direction From

• CSI Associate Director
• CSI Director

Professional Activities Related to Job Performance

• Attend and represent the University at the National Orientation Directors Association meetings.
• Assess new professional organization engagement opportunities appropriate to job responsibilities.
• Research and present information on best practices in orientation, transition, retention, and the first year experience.

Qualifications

• Education
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Advanced degree in Higher Education, Advising, Counseling or related area preferred.
• Years of Experience
• 3-5 years of progressively responsible work in a student services-related field or commensurate experience required.
• Demonstrated experience with planning and implementing programming related to Orientation for new students, parents, and families as well as to Welcome Weekend and Family Weekend in a college or university setting preferred.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred. This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, and Experience

• Understanding and support of the Jesuit tradition of education and a commitment to the fundamental values of service to others, community, and diversity as well as commitment to and demonstration of skills, knowledge, and awareness to serve the unique needs of the diverse campus community of Santa Clara University.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully build strategic and sustainable cross-organizational partnerships, including collaboration skills to work with multiple stakeholders, internal and external to the university.
• Knowledge of the processes, trends and best practices in new student orientation.
• Ability to understand how orientation programs support the University's commitment to student success and belonging.
• Ability to involve others in the decision-making processes.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with students, parents, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds, in support of an inclusive and welcoming environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to effectively work with diverse students, faculty, staff and parents.
• Sufficient understanding of student development theories and best practices related to orientation and student transitions.
• Strong organization and time management skills.
• Ability to design and evaluate services by using needs and program assessments.
• Experience with supervision of students.
• Ability to have a high tolerance for ambiguity and extensive consultation to build consensus and to earn student, faculty and administrative support.
• Demonstrated experience working with young adults.
• Enthusiasm in working with students and families.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met