Program Specialist, Student Transitions & Engagement; Hybrid​/Time-Limited - Student Affairs

Position Summary

Scheduled

Hours:

37.5. WashU's Division of Student Affairs seeks a programming professional for the position of Program Specialist, Student Transitions & Engagement. The Division of Student Affairs advances the educational mission of the university through resources and experiences outside the classroom that prepare our students for lifelong success. Reporting directly to the Director of Strategic Initiatives, the Program Specialist supports programming initiatives that assist new students and their families with their transition into the WashU community.

This position provides support for undergraduate, graduate, and parent & family programmatic initiatives. This is a time-limited role of up to 2 years.

• Work with the Director and STAE Coordinators on programs that include orientation, transition, and retention of new undergraduate and graduate students and their families, in collaboration with academic and student affairs departments.
• Give particular attention to incoming summer orientation, first‑year and second‑year programming, and transfer and exchange students. Programs include New Student Fall Orientation, Parent & Family Orientation, First 40, second‑year experience, Parent & Family Weekend, and Winter Welcome:
  New Student Spring Orientation.
• Duties include event planning, marketing, recruitment of volunteers, registration, ticket sales, budget management, day‑of implementation, and after‑hours on‑call emergency management.

• Serve as central coordinator for Parent & Family Weekend by collaborating with campus partners to support and enhance affiliated events, developing and maintaining cross‑campus partnerships, and ensuring a cohesive experience for families across the weekend.
• Manage and support multiple events, including logistical planning, on‑site coordination, and event execution.
• Coordinate and schedule volunteers and student workers, oversee staffing and coverage throughout the weekend, procure event supplies and materials, and maintain a visible presence at events to provide real‑time support, troubleshooting, and customer service for families, students, and campus partners.
• Oversee Parent & Family Weekend website content, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and timely updates for families before and during the weekend, and support assessment efforts by collecting feedback, analyzing participation data, and contributing to post‑event evaluation and improvement.

• Oversee day‑to‑day office operations by managing and maintaining departmental websites to ensure up‑to‑date, accurate, and accessible information for students, families, and campus partners.
• Manage shared office email inboxes, including monitoring inquiries, responding to time‑sensitive requests, triaging messages, and coordinating follow‑up with appropriate staff members.
• Serve as primary point of contact for the office by answering phone inquiries, providing accurate information, resolving issues when possible, and routing questions to appropriate resources.
• Ensure consistent, professional communication and operational continuity in support of the office’s mission and services. Coordinate printed publications, digital and social media, and website maintenance.
• Support, attend and participate in Student Affairs functions, meetings and programs, serve on various committees, and attend special events, including those on evenings and weekends.

Other duties as assigned.

• Normal office environment.
• Ability to travel to various on‑ and off‑campus locations.
• Typically sitting at a desk or table with repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement.
• Office equipment required.

• Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
• No specific certification or professional license is required.
• Relevant
  
  Experience:
  
  3 years.
• Driver’s license is not required.

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of orientation, retention, and transition programs and services on a…