Director, Student Transitions and Family Programs

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Provide leadership long-term planning and strategic direction for the Office of Student Transitions and Family Programs ensuring alignment with divisional and institutional priorities related to belonging student success retention and persistence.

• Develop and implement a strategic plan aligned with the divisional and institutional priorities.

• Ensure orientation and transition programs are mission-aligned and grounded in best practices and professional standards.

• Oversee the departments operations including staffing programming and communications.

• Lead the departments strategic planning assessment and data collection efforts.

• Develop strategy for supporting special populations (transfer off-campus Global Bachelor of Fine Arts (GBFA) commuter international etc.) across the student lifecycle.

• Lead a comprehensive orientation and transition strategy that supports students across identity groups (first-year transfer international off-campus special populations) and entry points of the onboarding process (prospective admitted pre-arrival orientation to first-year experience).

Administrative & Operational Management

• Develop and administer the departmental budget including allocations for Orientation Family Engagement Transfer/Off-Campus programming and special population initiatives ensuring responsible fiscal management and compliance with College financial guidelines.

• Provide direct supervision training and development for two professional staff members and oversight of student staff supporting office initiatives.

• Establish and maintain clear supervision training and evaluation structures for student and professional staff engaged in orientation and transition work.

• Provide ongoing professional development and performance coaching to professional staff and student leaders supporting orientation family engagement and transition programs.

• Guide the development implementation and continual refinement of orientation transition and family engagement programs.

• Ensure compliance with institutional policies and external standards.

• Establish and assess student learning outcomes for orientation and transition programs ensuring alignment with divisional and institutional learning frameworks.

Partnerships & Representation

• Represent STFP on divisional and institutional committees including those related to first-year experience student success and major campus events.

• Build collaborative partnerships with Admissions Enrollment Management Advising Institutional Advancement Alumni Relations Housing & Residence Education Office of International Student Affairs Academic Affairs Financial Aid and other key stakeholders.

• Serve as the primary liaison to divisional leadership regarding student and family trends emerging concerns and opportunities for improved support.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with Emerson Los Angeles and Kasteel Well campuses to ensure consistency and connection across sites.

• Serves on and takes an active role in the Commencement Committee.

Program Oversight

• Provide leadership support to Orientation planning Family Engagement initiatives and Transfer/Off-Campus support structures.

• Ensure programs are evaluated regularly and use assessment results to inform improvements.

• Support all major College events led by the department or involving the department (e.g. Commencement Family Weekend major welcome programming).

• Lead efforts to eliminate barriers to participation in orientation and family engagement programs including cost language disability access and scheduling needs.

• Develop a comprehensive annual assessment plan for orientation family engagement and transition programs using surveys focus groups benchmarking and analytics.

• Use data to identify trends improve program effectiveness drive strategic decisions and report outcomes to divisional and institutional leaders.

Communications & Content Oversight

• Maintain and develop content that reflects the departments mission programming and initiatives.

• Ensure consistency accuracy and compliance in all communications content for the Office of Student Transitions and Family Programs

• Oversee the review and approval process for emails social media and website updates in coordination with Student Affairs Communications and Marketing & Communications with responsibility for time-sensitive and crisis communications including those requiring responsiveness beyond standard business hours.

• Provide strategic leadership for the development and ongoing evolution of the parent and family portal partnering with campus stakeholders to curate create and disseminate timely relevant and engaging content that supports families throughout the student lifecycle.

Divisional and Institutional Responsibilities

• All Student Affairs staff are expected to actively participate in and support major divisional and institutional programs and events including but not limited to student and staff training Move-in and Move-out Orientation Family & Friends Weekend Picture Yourself at Emerson Commencement the Student Organizations Fair and other key community-building initiatives.

• Evening and weekend participation is expected for campus events and student engagement activities.

• Some domestic travel expected for Road to Emerson/Summer Send Off programs

• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform job.

• Masters Degree or in Higher Education Student Affairs College Administration Counseling or a related field required.

• 7-10 years of progressive experience in higher education administration required including supervision and budget management required.

• Experience leading large-scale programs or committees preferred.

• Experience supporting special populations (transfer international commuter off-campus etc.) preferred.

• Experience in family engagement strategies preferred.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES May be representative but not all-inclusive of those knowledge skills and abilities commonly associated with the job.

• Strong leadership communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive student success practices.

• Exceptional accuracy attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects establish priorities and follow through on tasks.

• Confident public speaking skills and the ability to present to large and small groups.

• Proficiency with computer software and ability to learn new systems.

• Demonstrated success in developing assessment plans and using data for strategic decision-making.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• This position is generally sedentary in nature movement throughout the area is required from time to time.

• Ability to have continuous oral and written communication with students co-workers and supervisors is essential.

• Repetitive movements occasional lifting of up to 30 pounds reaching lifting stooping and the ability to read a computer screen detect color-coding and read fine print will be expected.

WORK ENVIRONMENT Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• General office conditions. Exposed to moderate noise levels

• May occasionally be exposed to inclement weather conditions

Disclaimer: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested subject to all applicable state and federal laws. Certain job duties described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

In addition to a competitive salary Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20 hours per week.

Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses dental plans generous time-off programs and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits such as life and disability coverage as well as commuter offerings are available.

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.