Undergraduate Academic Onboarding Program Director - 530641

Socket.dev; Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 74,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Alabama is seeking an Undergraduate Academic Onboarding Program Director to provide strategic leadership and oversee the Legends onboarding initiative, serving 9,000+ first-year and transfer students annually. You will develop and implement multi-year plans to ensure sustainability, scalability, and continuous improvement across colleges.

The role advises senior leadership on structural and policy decisions affecting the first-year experience and partners with faculty and staff

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and six years of higher education experience or master's degree with four years.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Experience with program development, implementation, and assessment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the undergraduate onboarding initiative (Legends).
• Develop multi-year strategic plans to ensure sustainability and scalability.
• Advise senior leadership on policy and resource decisions affecting first-year experience.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to improve student success and retention.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Budget management

Student success

FYE trends

Collaboration

Motivation

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Ph.D. preferred

Job description

Pay Grade/Pay Range:

Minimum: $74,200 - Midpoint: $100,200 (Salaried E12)

Department/Organization:

200023 - The Office of Undergraduate Edu

Normal Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

Job Summary:

The Undergraduate Academic Onboarding Program Director provides strategic leadership and institutional oversight for the University's comprehensive undergraduate academic onboarding initiative (Legends) and associated efforts, serving approximately 9,000+ first-year and transfer students annually across all colleges. Develops and implements multi-year strategic plans to ensure sustainability, scalability, and continuous improvement. Advises senior leadership on structural, policy, and resource decisions affecting first-year academic experience.

Additional Department Summary:

Leads the design, governance, implementation, and long-term sustainability of the University's academic transition infrastructure. Ensures instructional quality, institutional alignment, assessment integrity, and scalable operational systems supporting student success and retention. Serves as a senior advisor to Academic Affairs leadership on first-year academic strategy, policy alignment, and institutional initiatives impacting undergraduate student retention and associated outcomes.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and six (6) years of higher education experience; OR master's degree and four (4) years of higher education experience.

Skills and Knowledge:

Strong leadership skills. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Budget management and resource allocation skills. Commitment to student success. Knowledge of current trends and best practices in FYE programming and student success. Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and students. Ability to motivate and inspire others. Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.

Preferred Qualifications:

Ph.D. or terminal degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, or related field and five (5) years of higher education experience with a focus on program development, implementation, and assessment.

Background Investigation Statement:

Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC's Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.

The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.