Executive Director Student, Transitions and Family Programs

Job Summary

The Executive Director for New Student, Transition, and Family Programs serves on the Division of Student Affairs Leadership Team and reports to the Assistant Vice President for Student Success and Transition. The Executive Director is responsible for the development, planning, and implementation of a high‑profile, dynamic, and student‑centered New Maverick Orientation for all new students and their families, as well as other programs that serve special populations in the UTA community.

The Executive Director collaborates with Student Affairs departments and a broad array of Academic Affairs administrative units, including Admissions, Student Success, and academic college leadership, to develop programs and services that provide students a seamless transition to the University and promote student engagement, success, and retention.

The annual salary for this position ranges from $80,000 to $100,000. The final offer will be based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and overall fit for the role.

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, counseling, college student personnel, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of student affairs or related professional work experience.
• Prior experience in new student orientation and first‑year experience programs is required.

• Seven (7) or more years of professional experience, with significant experience in orientation/first‑year programs, as well as familiarity with programs and services for family members, first‑generation students, former transfer students, and other student communities who receive support from the departments overseen by the role.

• Develop, plan, and implement a high‑profile, dynamic, and student‑centered orientation program (including 1‑day, 2‑day, and virtual options) for all new first‑year, transfer, and international undergraduate students and their families, serving more than 14,000 incoming students and their 2,000 family members annually. This position will also further develop our graduate orientation programs.
• Oversee the daily management of the New Student, Transition, and Family Programs within Student Affairs, directly supervising multiple professional staff members and paraprofessionals, including the Director of Transition Programs and Services, the Director of Parent and Family Engagement, the Program Assistant Director of Orientation Programs, the Program Assistant Director of Leadership and Development Programs, and an Administrative Assistant.
• Lead the implementation and facilitation of new student programming, including, but not limited to New Maverick Orientation, Blaze Camp, Early Arrival Move‑In Orientation, Maverick Kickoff, Convocation, and other related Student Affairs initiatives.
• Create and advance a strategic vision and priorities for New Student, Transition, and Family Programs that support the successful transition and retention of new students, with particular attention to populations served by the department.
• Lead the development and implementation of short‑and‑long‑term goals, initiatives, and assessment plans to evaluate program effectiveness, learning outcomes, and overall impact of orientation and transition services.
• Manage and serve as the primary campus administrator for orientation and transition technology platforms, including Visual Zen, Advantage Design Group Online Orientation, and Canvas orientation modules, ensuring functionality, compliance, and effective user experience.
• Support the development and implementation of family programming and communication, including Friends and Family Weekend, guest orientation and welcome events, and First Generation, Transfer, and Off‑campus initiatives to cultivate strong partnerships with families of all UTA students.
• Direct the development and management of orientation registration processes in Visual Zen in coordination with Admissions.
• Serve on and coordinate with the university‑wide Yield, Onboarding, and Retention (YORC) Committee and other campus stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition for new, transfer, international, and graduate students into…