Position Announcement

Join Utah Valley University in a leadership role that directly shapes the student experience from the moment new students begin their journey. As the Director of First-Year Experience and Orientation, you will guide the vision, strategy, and growth of programs that help students successfully transition to university life, connect with the campus community, and build a strong foundation for academic success. This position offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on thousands of students and their families through innovative programming, data-informed decision-making, and meaningful collaboration across the institution.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic environment where strategy and student success intersect. Working closely with university leaders, faculty, staff, students, and community partners, you will lead campus-wide initiatives, oversee high-profile programs such as orientation and convocation, and help drive continuous improvement in the first-year experience. If you are passionate about student development, organizational leadership, and creating programs that support student achievement, this role offers the chance to influence institutional priorities while advancing UVU’s commitment to student success and engagement.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Planning: Develop, implement, and regularly evaluate a comprehensive, multi-year strategic plan for First-Year Experience and Orientation that aligns with the university’s mission, strategic priorities, and student-success goals. Establish measurable objectives, priorities, and performance indicators for improving first-year student transition, belonging, engagement, persistence, academic success, and retention.
• First-Year Experience Portfolio Leadership: Provide strategic oversight for a coordinated portfolio of first-year transition and engagement programs, including new student orientation, new student convocation, first-year seminar initiatives, family programming, and other first-year student-success initiatives.
• Assessment, Research, and Continuous Improvement: Develop and oversee a comprehensive assessment strategy for First-Year Experience and Orientation. Establish key performance indicators and use quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate program effectiveness, identify participation and outcome patterns, and recommend improvements.
• Institutional Partnerships and Cross-Campus Coordination: Lead cross-campus planning and coordination related to the first-year student experience. Develop strong partnerships with academic affairs, advising, enrollment management, student support services, institutional research, faculty, and other university stakeholders.
• Organizational and Resource Leadership: Provide leadership for departmental personnel, budgets, scholarships and waivers, technology, contracts, communications, and other resources supporting First-Year Experience and Family Orientation.
• First-Year Transition, Engagement, and Belonging: Provide strategic leadership for initiatives that strengthen students’ transition to the university and support their academic and social integration.
• Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned in support of the university’s mission and student-success priorities.

Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications

Graduation from an accredited institution with a bachelor’s degree in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, counseling, organizational leadership, public administration, or a related discipline, plus five years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, student success, first-year programs, orientation, family programs, or a related area.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, public administration, organizational leadership, or a related field.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

In-depth understanding of student development theories and best practices in first-year experience and family engagement.

EEO Statement:

UVU employment decisions are made on the basis of an applicant’s qualifications and ability to perform the job without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), disability, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or other bases protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.