Director- First Year Experience & Orientation

Utah Valley University; Orem (UT); On-site; USD 78,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Utah Valley University seeks a Director of First-Year Experience and Orientation to guide strategy, programs, and assessment for student transition and engagement. You will lead orientation, convocation, and family programming while partnering with academic affairs, enrollment management, and student services to advance student success.

The role emphasizes data-informed decision-making, program development, and performance improvement across the institution, with a focus on growth and impact for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, counseling, or related field plus five years of relevant experience.
• Experience in program administration, personnel supervision, budget management, assessment, and cross-functional collaboration.
• An equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year strategic plan for First-Year Experience and Orientation.
• Provide strategic oversight for orientation, convocation, first-year seminars, and family programming.
• Develop assessment strategies and use data to improve participation, belonging, persistence and retention.
• Lead cross-campus coordination with academic affairs, enrollment management, and student support services.
• Oversee departmental resources, budgets, contracts, and communications to support student success.
• Drive initiatives that strengthen transition, belonging, and engagement for first-year students.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Data-informed decision-making

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Salary: $78,149.00 - $91,940.00 Annually
Job Type: FT Exempt Salaried Staff
Job Number: FY2706762
Closing: 11/9/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
Location: Main Campus - Orem
Division: VP Student Affairs

Position Announcement

Join Utah Valley University in a leadership role that directly shapes the student experience from the moment new students begin their journey. As the Director of First-Year Experience and Orientation, you will guide the vision, strategy, and growth of programs that help students successfully transition to university life, connect with the campus community, and build a strong foundation for academic success. This position offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on thousands of students and their families through innovative programming, data-informed decision-making, and meaningful collaboration across the institution.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic environment where strategy and student success intersect. Working closely with university leaders, faculty, staff, students, and community partners, you will lead campus-wide initiatives, oversee high-profile programs such as orientation and convocation, and help drive continuous improvement in the first-year experience. If you are passionate about student development, organizational leadership, and creating programs that support student achievement, this role offers the chance to influence institutional priorities while advancing UVU's commitment to student success and engagement.

Summary Of Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Planning: Develop, implement, and regularly evaluate a comprehensive, multi-year strategic plan for First-Year Experience and Orientation that aligns with the university's mission, strategic priorities, and student-success goals. Establish measurable objectives, priorities, and performance indicators for improving first-year student transition, belonging, engagement, persistence, academic success, and retention. Provide institutional leadership and subject-matter expertise regarding the first-year student experience, recommending policies, practices, and investments that strengthen student success.
• First-Year Experience Portfolio Leadership: Provide strategic oversight for a coordinated portfolio of first-year transition and engagement programs, including new student orientation, new student convocation, first-year seminar initiatives, family programming, and other first-year student-success initiatives. Establish program standards, learning outcomes, and implementation frameworks, and assessment expectations. Ensure programs form an intentional and cohesive first-year experience rather than operating as stand-alone activities.
• Assessment, Research, and Continuous Improvement: Develop and oversee a comprehensive assessment strategy for First-Year Experience and Orientation. Establish key performance indicators and use quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate program effectiveness, identify participation and outcome patterns, and recommend improvements. Prepare executive-level reports, presentations, and recommendations related to first-year student engagement, belonging, persistence, retention, and academic success. Partner with institutional research and other campus units to support data-informed planning and decision-making.
• Institutional Partnerships and Cross-Campus Coordination: Lead cross-campus planning and coordination related to the first-year student experience. Develop strong partnerships with academic affairs, advising, enrollment management, student support services, institutional research, faculty, and other university stakeholders to identify and address barriers affecting first-year student success. Facilitate shared priorities, clarify responsibilities, and promote coordinated practices that provide students and families with a consistent and integrated experience.
• Organizational and Resource Leadership: Provide leadership for departmental personnel, budgets, scholarships and waivers, technology, contracts, communications, and other resources supporting First-Year Experience and Family Orientation. Establish annual priorities and operational plans, align resources with strategic objectives, and ensure responsible fiscal stewardship. Identify opportunities for grants, partnerships, and other resources that advance first-year student success initiatives.
• First-Year Transition, Engagement, and Belonging: Provide strategic leadership for initiatives that strengthen students' transition to the university and support their academic and social integration. Ensure first-year programs promote belonging, help students navigate institutional expectations and resources, and connect students with meaningful academic and co-curricular opportunities. Champion practices that address the varied needs and experiences of first-year students. Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned in support of the university's mission and student-success priorities.

Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications

• Graduation from an accredited institution with a bachelor's degree in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, counseling, organizational leadership, public administration, or a related discipline, plus five years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, student success, first-year programs, orientation, family programs, or a related area.
• Experience must include program administration, personnel supervision, budget management, assessment, and cross-functional collaboration.
• An equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, public administration, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• Progressively responsible leadership experience with first-year experience, orientation, transition programs, family engagement, or student-success initiatives.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans.
• Experience leading institution-wide or cross-divisional initiatives.
• Experience establishing program outcomes and assessment frameworks.
• Experience using student-success data to guide strategy, resource allocation, and program improvement.
• Experience supervising professional staff and managing complex budgets.
• Experience in presenting recommendations and results to senior leadership.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of student development theories and best practices in first-year experience and family engagement.
• Familiarity with higher education policies, accreditation standards, and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of data analysis techniques and student information systems.
• Knowledge of current trends and strategies in university family programming.
• Knowledge of current trends and strategies specifically related to retention and completion of higher education students.
• Knowledge and understanding of predictive analytics and various platforms available to higher education institutions, including AI.
• Knowledge of current mentoring and coaching strategies for higher education students.

Skills

• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis and the use of student information systems.
• Ability to design and implement effective programs and interventions.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management.
• Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work effectively with a wide range of internal and external constituencies in a broad community.
• Strong critical thinking skills and ability to articulate possible need for change or improvement, and how this may tie to the overall university goals.

Abilities

• Ability to analyze data and develop actionable insights.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to create a positive and inclusive campus culture.
• Ability to secure funding through grants and partnerships.
• Strong ability to collect and analyze data and to translate that information into actionable strategies.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• Ability to critically analyze processes and procedures for improvement of student retention and completion.
• Ability to successfully supervise and evaluate others.
• Ability to prioritize and to change priorities as needed.
• Strong proven leadership ability, including interpersonal skills.

EEO Statement

UVU employment decisions are made on the basis of an applicant's qualifications and ability to perform the job without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), disability, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or other bases protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.