Director of New Student Orientation & Special Programs

Texas Southern University; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 87,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Southern University seeks a Director of New Student Orientation & Special Programs to lead the design, delivery, and assessment of orientation experiences. The role oversees staff and student workers, coordinates campus-wide partnerships, and ensures programs support enrollment, matriculation, and early student engagement.

The position requires strategic leadership, collaboration across units, and a commitment to inclusive student success, with a focus on first-time and transfer

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education administration or closely related field.
• Minimum five (5) years of professional experience in orientation or enrollment programs.
• Experience supervising staff and coordinating large programs with multiple stakeholders.
• Commitment to serving diverse student populations and inclusive practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and leadership for orientation and transfer programs.
• Develop learning outcomes and coordinate logistics for in-person and virtual experiences.
• Collaborate with academic colleges to integrate advising and registration into orientation.
• Supervise orientation leaders and staff, including training and performance management.
• Monitor program data, prepare reports, and optimize resource allocation.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Staff supervision

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Data analysis

Education

Master’s degree in higher education administration

Job description

Posting Details

Title Information

Security Sensitive Position?

Yes

Hours of Work

8:00 am - 5:00 pm M-F

Position Details

Position Information

Posting Number

TSU203799

Official TSU Title

Director of New Student Orientation & Special Programs

Grant Title

N/A

Job Description Summary / TWC Summary

The Director of New Student Orientation & Special Programsprovides strategic leadership for the design, delivery, assessment,and continuous improvement of Texas Southern University’sorientation and transition programs. The Director leadscomprehensive experiences for first-time freshmen, transferstudents, families, and other new student populations; supervisesprofessional and student staff; and coordinates campus-widepartnerships that help students move successfully from admissionthrough enrollment, matriculation, and early engagement. Theposition also supports admitted-student and otherenrollment-related special programs that strengthen yield,belonging, and student success.

Essential Duties Summary

Orientation Strategy and Program Leadership (45%)

• Provide vision, leadership, and operational oversight forsummer, fall, spring, and transfer orientation programs, includingfamily and supporter programming.
• Develop a comprehensive orientation model that aligns with TSUenrollment goals, academic priorities, student-success initiatives,and the needs of a diverse urban student population.
• Establish program learning outcomes and ensure orientationcontent supports academic readiness, financial preparedness, campusengagement, safety, wellness, belonging, and persistence.
• Coordinate orientation calendars, registration processes,schedules, facilities, communications, meals, transportation,accessibility, emergency planning, and other programlogistics.
• Develop and maintain in-person, virtual, and online orientationresources, publications, presentations, checklists, andstudent/family communications.
• Partner with academic colleges and advising units to integrateacademic advising, course registration, degree planning, andcollege-specific engagement into the orientation experience.
• Support New Student Convocation, Welcome Week, and othertransition programs that connect new students to TSU traditions,resources, and expectations.

Student Leadership and Supervision (20%)

• Recruit, select, train, supervise, mentor, schedule, andevaluate Orientation Leaders and other student staff who supportorientation and special programs.
• Design a comprehensive student-leader training curriculumfocused on customer service, leadership, communication, campusresources, inclusion, crisis response, confidentiality, andprofessional conduct.
• Supervise assigned professional and administrative staff,including participation in hiring, onboarding, goal setting,performance evaluation, coaching, and corrective action consistentwith university policy.
• Cultivate an accountable, collaborative, student-centered teamculture that reflects TSU’s values and commitment toexcellence.

Special Programs and Enrollment Support (15%)

• Plan and execute admitted-student programs, transfer studentevents, open houses, information sessions, campus visits,receptions, and other enrollment-related special programs asassigned.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Recruitment, Transfer Admissionsand Services, Financial Aid, the Registrar, Student Accounting,Housing, Academic Advising, Student Affairs, InformationTechnology, campus safety, and academic colleges to providecoordinated service to students and families.
• Use technology, social media, and targeted communications toincrease program registration, attendance, engagement, andcompletion of enrollment requirements.
• Ensure special programs are inclusive, accessible, culturallyresponsive, and appropriate for first-time freshmen, transferstudents, adult learners, veterans, international students,students with disabilities, and families.

Administration, Budget, Compliance, and Assessment (15%)

• Develop, administer, and monitor the unit budget; reconcileexpenditures; maintain appropriate records; ensure responsiblestewardship of university resources.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, purchasing, facilityreservations, insurance requirements, copyright and licensingobligations, and other administrative processes in accordance withTSU policies.
• Develop annual operating plans, program timelines, trainingmanuals, standard operating procedures, and after-actionreports.
• Collect and analyze registration, attendance, satisfaction,learning-outcome, yield, and persistence data; use findings toimprove program design and resource allocation.
• Prepare regular reports, presentations, and recommendations fordivisional and University leadership.
• Ensure compliance with applicable University policies andfederal and state requirements, including FERPA, accessibilitystandards, records management, risk management, and student safetyprotocols.

Campus and Community Partnerships (5%)

• Build effective partnerships across academic and administrativeunits to create a seamless transition experience for new studentsand families.
• Serve on University committees, task forces, and communitypartnerships as assigned, and represent Strategic EnrollmentServices at campus programs and external events.
• Perform other duties consistent with the scope and purpose ofthe position.

% FTE

1.0

Hiring Range

$87,339.81 - $111,358.25

Education

Master’s degree in higher education administration, college studentpersonnel, student affairs, enrollment management, counseling,education, or a closely related field.

Required Licensing/Certification

N/A

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to provide strategic direction while managing detailedprogram operations, competing priorities, and firm deadlines.
• Ability to lead through collaboration and influence acrossorganizational lines.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality,manage risk, and respond calmly to complex or time-sensitivesituations.
• Ability to analyze data, communicate findings, and implementevidence-based improvements.
• Ability to deliver excellent service and communicateeffectively with students, families, faculty, staff, seniorleaders, and external partners.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours duringpeak orientation and special-program periods, with occasionaltravel as required.

Work Experience

Required:

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professionalexperience in new student orientation, student transition programs,enrollment management, student affairs, student success, or a related higher education area.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience with professional staff,graduate assistants, and/or student employees.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing large-scaleprograms or events involving multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving diverse student populationsand creating inclusive, accessible, student-centeredexperiences.
• Strong written, oral, interpersonal, organizational, andproject-management skills.
• Ability to maintain the security or integrity of criticalinfrastructure, which may include communications systems, computernetworks and systems, cybersecurity systems, electrical grid,hazardous waste treatment or water treatment system.

Preferred:

• Experience leading orientation or transition programs at anurban public university, minority-serving institution, orHistorically Black College or University.
• Experience supporting first-time freshmen, transfer students,families, adult learners, veterans, international students, andother new student populations.
• Experience with student information systems, customerrelationship management platforms, event-registration systems,virtual orientation tools, survey platforms, and datadashboards.
• Experience with assessment, learning outcomes, programevaluation, budget administration, contracting, and vendormanagement.
• Knowledge of enrollment yield strategies, student developmenttheory, retention practices, and emerging trends in orientation andtransition programs.

Working/Environmental Conditions

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The position requires regular use of a computer and standard officeequipment and may require prolonged periods of standing or walkingduring programs and events. The employee must be able to moveprogram materials and equipment consistent with universityguidelines. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enablequalified individuals with disabilities to perform the essentialfunctions of the position.

UA EEO Statement

It is the policy of Texas Southern University to provide a workenvironment that is free from discrimination for all personsregardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin,individuals with disability, sexual orientation, or protectedveteran status in its programs, activities, admissions oremployment policies. This policy of equal opportunity is strictlyobserved in all University employment-related activities such asadvertising, recruiting, interviewing, testing, employmenttraining, compensation, promotion, termination, and employmentbenefits. This policy expressly prohibits harassment anddiscrimination in employment based on race, color, religion,gender, gender identity, genetic history, national origin,individuals with disability, age, citizenship status, or protectedveteran status. This policy shall be adhered to in accordance withthe provisions of all applicable federal, state and local laws,including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil RightsAct.

Manual of Administrative Policies and Procedures

Close Date

09/28/2026

Open Until Filled (overrides close field)

No

Special Instructions to Applicants

Open to all applicants.

Posting Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Do you have a Master’s degree in higher educationadministration, college student personnel, student affairs,enrollment management, counseling, education, or a closely relatedfield?
   • Yes
   • No
2. * Do you have a minimum of five (5) years of progressivelyresponsible professional experience in new student orientation,student transition programs, enrollment management, studentaffairs, student success, or a related higher educational area?
   • Yes
   • No
3. * Do you have demonstrated supervisory experience withprofessional staff, graduate assistants, and/or student employees?
   • Yes
   • No
4. * Do you have demonstrated experience planning and executinglarge-scale programs or events involving multiple stakeholders?
   • Yes
   • No

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter/Letter of Application
3. Official Transcripts

Optional Documents

1. Other Document
2. Reference Letter 1
3. Reference Letter 2
4. Reference Letter 3