Assistant Director

Pittsburg State University is accepting applications for an Assistant Director in the department of First Year Programs that is responsible for providing leadership, coordination, and assessment of initiatives designed to support the successful transition, engagement, and retention of first-year students. This position develops and implements programs such as orientation, first-year experience curriculum, and student success initiatives; delivers proactive advising and intervention for at‑risk students;

and utilizes data‑informed practices to improve outcomes. The Assistant Director collaborates with campus partners to advance institutional retention goals and enhance the overall first-year student experience.

• Provides leadership for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of first-year experience programs, including New Student Orientation, Gorilla Gateway, transition programs, and extended orientation initiatives (e.g., Gorillas Pursuing Success/GPS)
• Develops curriculum, learning outcomes, and program materials that support student transition, engagement, and academic success
• Oversees the selection, training, scheduling, and supervision of student leaders, including development of training programs and/or credit-bearing coursework
• Coordinates logistics and delivery of orientation sessions and transitions programming, ensuring a high-quality and consistent student experience

• Advises a caseload of exploratory/undeclared students, assisting with goal setting, academic planning, and timely progression toward degree completion
• Provides proactive outreach, support, and intervention for students experiencing academic or personal barriers, including referrals to campus resources
• Supports and/or coordinates early alert and student success initiatives, including outreach, follow-up, and case management for at-risk students
• Maintains accurate advising and student interaction records and utilizes advising data to inform student support strategies

• Leads assessment efforts for First Year Programs, including development of student learning outcomes, data collection, analysis, and reporting of program effectiveness
• Utilizes institutional data (retention, persistence, engagement metrics) and student feedback to inform program improvements and decision-making
• Collaborates with campus partners to align first-year initiatives with institutional strategic goals related to retention and student success
• Assists in preparing reports and presentations that communicate program outcomes and impact to stakeholders

• Develops and implements strategic communication plans to engage prospective, incoming, and current first-year students using CRM systems, texting platforms, email campaigns, and other communication tools
• Coordinates targeted outreach initiatives to increase student participation in programs and services
• Supports communication and engagement efforts with families of first-year students during orientation and transition periods
• Leads or supports student outreach teams, including hiring, training, and supervision of student staff involved in communication initiatives

• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with academic departments, student services offices, and campus stakeholders to enhance student support and streamline referrals
• Partners with faculty to support first-year curriculum initiatives, including first-year seminars, academic success programming, and classroom-based interventions
• Represents First Year Programs on campus committees and initiatives related to student success and retention

• Supervises, trains, schedules, and evaluates student employees and orientation leaders
• Provides ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional development opportunities to student staff
• Assists with onboarding and development of new staff within First Year Programs as needed