First-Year Experience Program Lead

Centenary University, A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation; Hackettstown (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ, seeks a Manager of First Year Experience to lead a coordinated first-year transition and retention program. You will coordinate outreach, peer support, and campus partnerships to help new students build belonging and develop the habits needed to persist through their first year.

You will work with Academic Success, Advising, Residence Life, and faculty to identify challenges, implement data-driven improvements, and support at-risk students.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred in higher education, student affairs, counseling, education, or a related field.
• Experience in first-year experience, student success, retention, academic advising, student engagement, orientation/transition programs, or related higher education work.
• Demonstrated ability to support students through transition, belonging, academic adjustment, and personal development.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead First-Year Transition and Student Success Initiatives.
• Coordinate programs and services from pre-arrival through first year completion.
• Create a coordinated sequence of transition touchpoints to set expectations and milestones.
• Monitor student transition, engagement, and persistence concerns and coordinate outreach.
• Partner with campus offices to connect students to resources and reduce barriers.
• Build belonging and connections to the Centenary community.
• Recruit, train, and support First Year Leaders and peer mentors.
• Coordinate cross-campus First-Year Experience partnerships and assess outcomes.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ, seeks a Manager of First Year Experience to lead a coordinated first-year transition and retention program. You will coordinate outreach, peer support, and campus partnerships to help new students build belonging and develop the habits needed to persist through their first year.

You will work with Academic Success, Advising, Residence Life, and faculty to identify challenges, implement data-driven improvements, and support at-risk students.