Assistant Director – Orientation & Leadership

Job Description

New Student & Family Programs at Virginia Tech enhances the student experience by fostering an inclusive, supportive, and learning-centered environment. Staff are actively engaged in the lives of our students and are committed to providing outstanding programs and services that enhance new student transition. New Student & Family Programs is dedicated to supporting the mission of the Division of Student Affairs. As such, our staff strive to engage every student in the Division’s five Aspirations for Student Learning, which include: being dedicated to creating a community that commits to unwavering curiosity, pursues self-understanding and integrity, practices civility, prepares others for a life of courageous leadership, and embraces the University’s motto Ut Prosim as a way of life.

Along with the new student & family programs team, the assistant director is critical to the development and implementation of purposeful and learning-centered programs and services. The assistant director reports to the director and works collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and community partners to manage the student leaders leadership training and development.

Additionally, the assistant director will adopt and practice the Principles of Community as fundamental to Virginia Tech’s on-going efforts to increase access and inclusion and to create a dynamic community that nurtures learning and growth for all of its members. The Virginia Tech Principles of Community are described at: https://inclusive.vt.edu/vtpoc0.html.

Duties and Responsibilities
1. Coordinate and manage Orientation Logistics; event coordination and management, staff and volunteer supervision, and troubleshooting.
2. Oversight of the orientation check in process, space needs, and student payroll.
3. Recruit +100 undergraduate diverse student leaders (Orientation Team Advisors 4, Orientation Team +50, International Orientation Team 15, and Welcome Week Leaders +60).
4. Coordinate a three round selection process for the various student leaders needed for the execution of all Orientation and Transition programs for students and families.
5. Develop and articulate training and development goals and ensure training opportunities align with stated goals for all student leaders (fall, spring, summer and welcome week trainings).
6. Assess effectiveness of student leadership programs utilizing training and development goals, the Student Development Outcomes, and the Student Learning Outcomes.
7. Manage course curriculum and implement for LDRS 2964 (Field Study Student Leadership Course – 2 credits spring and 1 credit fall).
8. Manage student leader work schedules for all programs, responsibilities and maintain human resources guidelines and expectations for the student leaders with a focus on wellbeing.
9. Assist in the development of student leader facilitation guides during orientation rooted in transition theory, Principles of Community, Aspirations for Student Learning, and ExperienceVT.
10. Create and implement evaluation process for all student leaders based on learning outcomes and work responsibilities.
11. Collaborate with campus partners to ensure student leaders are trained to be able to assist students with their orientation and transition to VT.
12. Prepare and maintain appropriate periodic/special operations reports, budgets, and surveys.
13. Serve as an advocate for first year students, international students, new transfer students, and students in transition.
14. Participate in, and contribute to, professional development/activities (including research, conferences, and publications)
15. Perform additional duties as assigned to support New Student & Family Programs

Required Qualifications

*Master’s degree in student personnel, higher education or a related field and work experience in collegiate student affairs, student activities, orientation, transfer, or first year programming.
*Demonstrated orientation and transition experience
*Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion and the ability to work with a diverse group of constituents.
*Experience in designing and implementing programming or large-scale events.

Preferred Qualifications

*Working knowledge of student learning and development theory and practice as well as the needs/issues of First year and Transfer students.
*Demonstrated experience implementing an online orientation.
*Demonstrated organizational, leadership, communication and public relations skills.
*Ability to design and implement formal assessment and evaluation processes.
*Capacity for organizing a wide range of diverse tasks efficiently and effectively.
*Advising/supervision experience with ability to lead undergraduate student staff.
*Ability to establish and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and administrators participating in transition programs.

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

43,000 - 48,775

Review Date

April 5, 2021

Additional Information

The successful Candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jeananne Knies at jtiffany@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: March 12, 2021
Applications close: