Senior Coordinator for Orientation Programs

Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University seeks a Senior Coordinator for Orientation Programs in the Office of Strategic Enrollment Management. This role leads graduate staff recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of Orientation Leaders, and partners with campus units to design and assess orientation initiatives for new students and families.

The position also supports Admissions recruitment and yield efforts, coordinates large-scale transition events, develops staff training, and contributes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Professional experience in higher education.
• Knowledge of student development theory, student identity development theory and leadership theory.
• Has a valid Driver's License.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking.
• Strong interpersonal skills and professional judgment and demeanor.
• Ability to stay focused, be efficient, overcome obstacles, and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify solutions to problems.
• Ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership, training, and supervision to student employees.
• Commitment to foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, select, and onboard new Orientation Leaders, Senior Orientation Leaders, and graduate staff.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate a student leadership team up to 50 and graduate interns.
• Develop leadership training curriculum focused on development, facilitation, conflict resolution, and resources.
• Manage scheduling and timekeeping for Orientation programs and events.
• Plan overall orientation experiences for new and transfer students.
• Collaborate to create engaging student programming aligned with goals.
• Assign groups and secure room reservations for sessions.
• Present at and facilitate Orientation programs; assist with materials and giveaways.
• Develop web content and communications; serve as Social Media Administrator.
• Assess training and student experiences; report findings to leadership.
• Develop data collection methods to evaluate program effectiveness.
• Support recruitment events, Open House, and campus visits; teach a one-credit course.
• Provide on-call support for Orientation programs and events.

Skills

Higher Ed Experience

Student Development Theory

Driver's License

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Time Management

Problem Solving

Independent Work

Leadership

Inclusivity

Program Planning

Student Retention

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Slate

Job description

Unit:

Office of Strategic Enrollment Management

Department:

Orientation and Transition Programs

Duties & Responsibilities:

As an integral member of the Orientation and Transition Programs(OTP) team within the Division of Strategic Enrollment Managementand Global Initiatives, the Senior Coordinator for OrientationPrograms supports the office’s mission to successfully transitionnew students and establish a foundation for their academic success.This position leads the recruitment, selection, training,supervision, and assessment of graduate staff and studentOrientation Leaders. Additionally, the Senior Coordinatorcollaborates with campus partners to design, execute, and evaluatecomprehensive orientation and transition initiatives for incomingstudents and their families. As a member of the StrategicEnrollment and Admissions team, this position also directlysupports Admissions recruitment, operations, and yieldefforts.

Student Staff Leadership

• Oversee the recruitment, selection, and onboarding process fornew and returning Orientation Leaders, Senior Orientation Leaders,and graduate student staff.
• Directly supervise, mentor, and evaluate the student teamleader team of up to 50 students (new, returning, and leadershiproles) and graduate interns/assistant.
• Develop student leader outcomes in line with office, division,and university goals and oversee the evaluation of studentleaders.
• Design and implement a comprehensive student leader trainingcurriculum focused on leadership development, group facilitation,conflict resolution, key campus resources, and emergencyresponse.
• Manage student staff scheduling for Orientation programs andevents, ensure appropriate staff assignments that meet programneeds, and oversee accurate timekeeping in RealTime.

Student Program Operations

• Support the planning of the overall orientation experience fornew students, including first-year and transfer students.
• Collaborate with campus partners and student leaders to createengaging and innovative student programming that aligns withoffice, division, and university goals.
• Assign student groups during Orientation sessions and ensureroom reservations that meet space needs for small groups.
• Present at and facilitate the student Orientation program.
• Assist with the selection of Orientation materials andgiveaways and maintain inventory to ensure sufficient materials arein the needed locations.
• Assist with the planning and execution of large-scaletransition events for students including Summer Send-Offs, NewStudent Convocation, Weeks of Welcome events, and new initiativesrelated to new student transition and retention efforts.
• Provide on-call support for overnight Orientation programs,student leader conferences, and events or trips related toorientation and transition programming.
• Develop content for web and other office communications andplatforms related to Orientation Leader recruitment, team updates,and orientation and transition programs.
• Serve as a Social Media Administrator for the office, assistwith the office’s social media accounts, and ensure adherence torelevant policies and brand standards with the support of a studentintern.

Program Assessment and Evaluation

• Assess and evaluate the student staff training and the studentstaff experience and present findings and recommendations todepartment leadership and key stakeholders.
• Develop the data collection methods to evaluate the studentOrientation program effectiveness based on determined studentlearning outcomes and office, division, and university goals.

Admissions Support

• Support recruitment, operations, and yield efforts, as needed.This includes, but is not limited to, staffing Open House andPreview Day events, other recruitment and yield events, processingapplications, and presenting for campus visits.
• Teach a section of a one-credit student success course orequivalent educational opportunity
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Other Position Details:

This position is primarily in-personbut does have the opportunity to create a flexible work arrangement(up to 40% working from home) to allow for a hybrid work scheduleduring the Orientation off-season. This position does require someevenings and weekend work in support of student staff training,Orientation and transition programs, and enrollment and yieldevents.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution or equivalentcombination of education, training, and experience.
• Professional experience in higher education. Relevant GraduateAssistant experience may be considered.
• Knowledge of student development theory, student identitydevelopment theory and leadership theory.
• Has a valid Driver's License.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, includingpublic speaking.
• Strong interpersonal skills and professional judgment anddemeanor.
• Ability to stay focused, be efficient, overcome obstacles, andmanage multiple priorities to achieve deadlines.
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify solutions toproblems.
• Ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership, training, andsupervision to student employees.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment ofrespect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty,staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or acommitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs,counseling or other related field.
• Three or more years of experience in higher education.
• Professional experience in a functional area(s) that supportthe transition and retention of students and families (e.g.Orientation and Transition programs, First-Year Experience,Orientation Access and Opportunity Programs, Multicultural Affairs,Residence Life, Student Activities, Academic Advising, LeadershipDevelopment, etc.).
• Previous experience planning, implementing and assessinglarge-scale university programs.
• Experience with Slate or other similar Orientation or eventregistration systems.

Salary Range:

Up to $55,000

Benefits

All full-time university staff are eligible for benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annualand holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planningand savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs,employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunitiesfor career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status:

Non-Exempt

Hours per Week:

40

Restricted Position:

No

ORP Eligible:

No

Flexible Work Arrangement:

Hybrid

University Job Title:

35114N - Sr Coordinator SS 1

Posting Closes:

October 5th at 11:55PM