Director, First-Year Experience & Leadership Growth

Messiah University; Grantham (PA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA seeks a Director of First Year Experience & Leadership Development to design, implement, and assess programs that support a successful transition for new and transfer students. The role provides vision for orientation, leadership opportunities, and strategic collaboration across campus with emphasis on belonging and student success.

The position requires a Master’s degree and 3–5 years of higher education experience, with a focus on first-year experiences,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, education, counseling, leadership, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of related experience within higher education, student affairs, student development, or a related field, including experience with programs supporting student transition, engagement, leadership development, or student success.
• Experience with first-year experience and/or orientation programs, student leadership development, supervision or advising of student leaders, and assessment of student learning or program outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the University's primary resource for first-year transition and student leadership development.
• Provide strategic leadership for the University's comprehensive transition experience, including Welcome Week, Winter Orientation, Becoming U, and related initiatives for new, transfer, and commuter students.
• Lead assessment and continuous improvement efforts related to first-year learning outcomes, student engagement, belonging, leadership development, and retention.
• Provide leadership for the University's shared student leadership curriculum and related leadership development experiences.
• Co-chair the First-Year Experience Committee and collaborate broadly to ensure an integrated first-year experience.
• Co-chair the First-Year Transition Team in partnership with Enrollment Technology and Communications staff, providing strategic leadership for coordinated communications and transition planning that supports prospective and incoming students from enrollment through matriculation. Collaborate with campus partners to develop and maintain a comprehensive communication plan, gather timely updates and key deadlines, and ensure digital resources and website content are current, accurate, and aligned to foster a seamless and welcoming transition to Messiah University.
• Provide leadership for commuter and transfer student initiatives that support student success, engagement, and belonging.
• Participate in professional development to grow in expertise related to responsibilities.

Skills

Student development

Leadership development

Assessment/data analysis

Communication

Collaboration

Program management

Supervision

Christian mission

Education

Master’s degree in higher education

Job description

Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA seeks a Director of First Year Experience & Leadership Development to design, implement, and assess programs that support a successful transition for new and transfer students. The role provides vision for orientation, leadership opportunities, and strategic collaboration across campus with emphasis on belonging and student success.

The position requires a Master’s degree and 3–5 years of higher education experience, with a focus on first-year experiences,