OFFICIAL JOB TITLE: Assistant Director of Office of Student Engagement and Leadership (OSEL)
DIVISION: Student Affairs
DEPARTMENT: Office of Student Engagement & Leadership
BARGAINING UNIT STATUS: ESU CAT: 13
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
REPORTS TO: Director of Student Engagement & Leadership
SUPERVISES: Provides direct supervision of up to 34 part-time student employees (Student Orientation Coordinators and Orientation Leaders)
SUMMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION: The Assistant Director assists in strategic leadership for a comprehensive orientation, transition, and family engagement programs that support student success from admission through the first year and beyond. As a member of the Office of Student Engagement & Leadership, the Assistant Director assists in developing and implementing innovative, assessment-driven initiatives that foster successful student transitions, belonging, engagement, retention, and persistence. The position provides leadership for orientation programs serving first-year, transfer, international, graduate, and family populations while collaborating with Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, faculty, and campus partners to deliver seamless onboarding experience. The Assistant Director oversees program planning, assessment, budget administration, communications, technology, operational logistics, and student staff to ensure high-quality, student-centered experiences that advance institutional enrollment and student success goals.
In carrying out these responsibilities, the incumbent follows the University’s best practices to build and/or support student academic success and retention and assist in meeting strategic objectives for persistent and timely graduation of all the student population.
EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assists in the planning, coordination, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of comprehensive orientation, transition, and family engagement programs, including one-day, two-day, virtual, and specialized programming designed to support the unique needs of first-year, commuter, veteran, and transfer students, as well as their families
- Assists the Director of OSEL in developing and executing a strategic vision for New Student, Transition, and Family Programs that promotes student success, belonging, engagement, persistence, and retention through evidence-based and assessment-driven practices
- Leads the implementation of New Student Orientation, Family Orientation, Welcome Week, and related transition initiatives, while supporting the Office of Student Engagement & Leadership to support major university traditions and campus-wide engagement programs
- Recruits, selects, trains, supervises, and evaluates Orientation Coordinators, Orientation Leaders, and student staff, fostering leadership development, teamwork, and a student-centered culture
- Builds and maintains collaborative partnerships with Enrollment Management, Admissions, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, faculty, and campus partners to deliver seamless transition experiences and support institutional enrollment and retention goals
- Represents Student Affairs in Admissions recruitment initiatives, including Open Houses, Accepted Student programs, and other enrollment events that showcase the student experience and campus engagement
- Develops and implements comprehensive communication strategies for new students and families, including websites, electronic communications, publications, orientation materials, and online transition modules to ensure an accessible, engaging, and informative onboarding experience
- Partners with Marketing & Communications to direct orientation registration processes using Slate technology platforms, and online resources, ensuring efficient operations, data integrity, regulatory compliance, and exceptional user experience
- Serves as a member of the Student Success and Advisor Leadership Team to coordinate orientation schedules, enrollment capacities, registration processes, and cross-functional transition initiatives
- Collaborates with campus partners to implement co-curricular programs, leadership initiatives, and engagement opportunities that promote student involvement, belonging, and successful transition to university life
- Serves as a resource to students, families, faculty, and staff regarding orientation, transition, leadership development, campus involvement opportunities, and university resources
- Assists in developing, administering, and monitoring departmental budgets, providing fiscal oversight, revenue management, budget forecasting, expenditure analysis, and responsible stewardship of university resources
- Coordinates assessment efforts by establishing program goals, measuring learning outcomes and participation, analyzing data, and using results to improve orientation and transition programs and demonstrate institutional impact
- Serves on university committees, task forces, and divisional initiatives in support of institutional priorities and student success
- Support the programs and services of the department as needed
- Performs other job-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned and/or the job description changed periodically to reflect changing organizational needs
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- EDUCATION: Master’s degree in higher education administration, counseling, college student personnel, or related
field
- EXPERIENCE: Previous experience (over one year) of professional experience in student affairs, including experience
new with new student orientation, first-year experience programs, or closely related student transition and engagement initiatives
- OTHER:
- Must be available to respond to situations that arise during holidays, weekends, or evenings
- Some weekend, evenings, and holiday hours
- Occasional local regional and national travel to off-campus locations
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated (over three years) of professional experience, preferably including experience with orientation and first-year programs and familiarity with programs and services supporting families, first-generation students, transfer students, and other student populations served by the department
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Knowledge of student development, transition, leadership, and engagement theories, with the ability to apply evidence-based practices that promote student success, belonging, retention, and persistence
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, with the ability to create welcoming and inclusive programs that serve students and families from diverse backgrounds
- Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and public speaking skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with students, families, faculty, staff, and external partners
- Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience, including the ability to recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate professional staff, student employees, and volunteers
- Strong organizational, project management, and event planning skills, with the ability to successfully manage multiple priorities and large-scale programs in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to build collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative units to achieve shared institutional goals
- Experience using assessment, data, and learning outcomes to evaluate programs, guide decision-making, and support continuous improvement
- Demonstrated fiscal management skills, including budget planning, resource allocation, and financial stewardship
- Ability to advise and support students and families by exercising sound judgment, resolving concerns, and connecting them with appropriate campus resources
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and student success technologies, with the ability to quickly learn new software and information systems
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and maintain confidentiality
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
- Proficiency with standard office software applications (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent)
SALARY: $74,000 - $83,000
UMass Dartmouth offers exciting benefits such as:
- 75% Employer-Paid Health Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability
- State Pension Retirement Plan
- Optional Retirement Savings Plans
- Tuition Credit (Employee, Spouse, & Dependents)
- Twelve (12) paid holidays
- Paid personal, vacation, and sick time
- And More!
Benefits for ESU Union: ESU
Applicants must be authorized for employment in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship is not available.
To apply please submit a letter of interest, a current resume and the contact information for three professional references.
The deadline for internal ESU applicants is November 13, 2026.
The review of applications will be ongoing until the position is filled.