The Placement Exchange Job Board

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Office of New Student Programs (ONSP) at the University of Michigan is looking for a new Assistant Director of Orientation Programs who will contribute to the leadership, direction, and evaluation of programs with a focus on the development, implementation, and evaluation of orientation for new first-year and transfer students and their families. Reporting to the Associate Director of New Student Programs, the assistant director will collaborate with a team of five in the planning and implementation of orientation programs for new students and guests, which includes over 13,000 participants annually. 

This position is best suited to a candidate that is familiar with the higher education landscape and decentralized, complex institutions; is detail-oriented, adaptable, and passionate about serving college students and their families in a fast-paced environment.

The University of Michigan is a premier public research university with over 51,000 students including 32,000 undergraduates, with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and affordability. U-M is in demand and for fall 2022 received nearly 90,000 applications from first-year and transfer students from Michigan, the nation, and the world. 

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Office of Enrollment Management (OEM) division provides campus-wide leadership in executing the strategic recruitment, admission, enrollment, new student programs, records management, and student financial aid support functions for the university.

Orientation Program Design and Delivery (60%)

• Supports the design and development of creative and innovative programming for new undergraduate students and their families that reflects current best practices in transition theory and student development, including content designed for underrepresented, first generation, and international populations.  

• Supports the development of both virtual and in-person orientation program content in consultation with faculty, students, administrators, academic advisors and student affairs units.

• Assists in the delivery of in-person orientation programs.

• Attend regional and/or national Student Affairs and NODA conferences and professional development offerings as a representative of ONSP and University of Michigan.

Parent and Family Engagement (20%)

• Serves as the primary point of contact in ONSP for parent and family orientation programs.

• Works collaboratively with campus partners to develop parent and family content for the orientation program, and serves as a liaison to units offering parent and family programming throughout the year.

• Works collaboratively with the OEM Marketing and Communications team to inform and enhance tailored communications for the parent and family audience related to orientation and transition. 

Supervision (15%)

• Serves as the primary supervisor for student staff including approximately 20 Orientation Leaders and one student coordinator.  May assist with hiring and training.

• Assists in the recruitment, selection, and training of undergraduate student staff. 

• Participate on assigned committees within the Office of Enrollment Management.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Bachelor’s degree plus three years of full-time administrative experience with a focus in developing and implementing programs for students or families in a higher education setting. 

• Proven experience working collaboratively and effectively with individuals from a variety of cultural, racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. 

• Experience building effective supervisory and advisory relationships.

• Strong communication, customer service, and interpersonal skills

• Demonstrated organizational and planning skills with attention to detail.

• Ability to work irregular hours including evenings and weekends during peak programming times.

• Master’s degree in higher education, college student personnel, or other related areas

• Experience in higher education, particularly with orientation, first year experience or student success programs.  

• Working knowledge of issues and challenges facing undergraduate students during times of transition.

• Past experience planning and implementing orientation programs, including content development for parents and families.

• Experience communicating in a language in addition to English

Benefits at the University of Michigan

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off

• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting

• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance

• Life insurance

• Long-term disability coverage

• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

This position may be eligible for flexible work opportunities at the discretion of the hiring department. Flexible work agreements are reviewed each term and subject to change dependent on the business needs throughout the course of employment.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

U-M COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

COVID-19 vaccinations, including one booster when eligible, are required for all University of Michigan students, faculty and staff across all campuses, including Michigan Medicine.  This includes those working remotely and temporary workers.   More information on this new policy is available on the U-M Health Response website or the UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint websites.

About University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A great university is made so by its faculty and staff, and Michigan is recognized as one of the best universities to work for in the country. The Michigan culture is known for engaging faculty and staff in all facets of the university to create a workplace that is vibrant and stimulating.For two consecutive years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has placed U-M in its "Great Colleges to Work For" survey. In particular, the university earns high marks for strong relations between faculty and administrators, a collaborative system of governance, strong pay and benefits, and a healthy work/life balance.

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