Director for Family Engagement

Job Posting

Title:

Director for Family Engagement Hiring Department:
Texas Student Life Position Open To:
All Applicants Weekly Scheduled

Hours:

40

FLSA Status:
Exempt from FLSAEarly

Start Date:

Sep 21, 2026

Position Duration:
Expected to Continue

Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUSJob Details

The Director for Family Engagement provides leadership and operational oversight for the University's comprehensive engagement of parents and families from admission through graduation. The position leads Family Engagement and Texas Parents as a stand- unit within Student Life and ensures that families are informed, connected, and equipped to support student success while respecting student autonomy and privacy.

The Director develops and implements the unit's strategy for family engagement; oversees signature programs including Family Orientation and Family Weekend; directs the Texas Parents Association, membership, and philanthropic initiatives; leads family communications and resource navigation; supervises staff; manages budgets and revenue-generating operations; and builds partnerships across the University. The position collaborates closely with Longhorn Orientation, Enrollment Management, colleges and schools, University communications, development partners, and other campus units to create a coordinated and welcoming family experience.

Establish and implement a university-wide vision and multi-year strategy for engaging parents and families across the student lifecycle, aligned with institutional priorities and Student Life goals.

Position Family Engagement as the University's primary resource for parents and families, with a clear philosophy that helps families support student learning, belonging, well-being, persistence, and timely graduation.

Provide the Assistant Vice President and campus partners with insight on emerging parent and family needs, expectations, concerns, and trends; translate those insights into responsive programs, communications, and services.

Ensure engagement strategies are welcoming and accessible to families with varied backgrounds, locations, languages, structures, and levels of familiarity with higher education.

Provide leadership and oversight for Family Orientation, Family Weekend, Mooov-In engagement, regional gatherings, webinars, resource fairs, receptions, and other in-person and virtual opportunities that connect families to the University.

Partner with Longhorn Orientation to align Family Orientation with the new-student transition while maintaining distinct family-focused content, operations, communications, registration, and assessment.

Develop a year-round engagement calendar that responds to key moments in the student experience and provides families with timely information and meaningful opportunities for connection.

Oversee Texas Parents awards, scholarships, recognition programs, and related selection and stewardship processes, including the Outstanding Student Award, Staff Merit Award, Mike Wacker Award, and Parents' Fund Awards.

Ensure programs reflect UT Austin traditions, high standards of hospitality, appropriate risk-management, and a consistent Longhorn family experience.

Lead a comprehensive communications strategy for parents and families, including the Texas Parents and Families Portal, websites, newsletters, social media, email campaigns, presentations, and urgent or time-sensitive messages.

Ensure communications are accurate, timely, coordinated with University messaging, and designed to help families understand campus resources, policies, deadlines, and appropriate pathways for student support.

Oversee high-quality response and referral services for families navigating a complex university environment, including the escalation of sensitive, urgent, or high-profile concerns.

Represent Family Engagement as a University spokesperson and presenter for family audiences and advise campus partners on effective parent and family communication.

Direct the Texas Parents Association, the University's official association for undergraduate parents and families, including membership strategy, benefits, retention, fulfillment, partner relations, and community-building efforts.

Provide strategic and financial oversight for a largely self-sustaining operation supported by…