Associate Director, New Student Transition Programs

The University of Arizona • Tucson, AZ

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director for New Student Transition Programs is a member of the Orientation and New Student Transitions leadership team and provides strategic and operational leadership for the department’s undergraduate transition initiatives. The role leads the design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of programs such as New Start, Destination Arizona, and Wildcat Welcome, as well as future transition programs. These experiences support student belonging, engagement, academic readiness, and successful navigation of the university.

The Associate Director supervises professional staff, provides coaching and professional development, leads program operations, and oversees student leadership and employment structures within assigned areas. The position coordinates program timelines and resources, contributes to budget planning and fiscal stewardship, supports procurement and contract processes, and ensures compliance with university policies and applicable regulations.

The position builds partnerships with academic colleges, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, advising units, and other campus stakeholders. It also implements assessment and evaluation processes, uses student feedback and institutional data to improve programs, supports reporting, and participates in committees and professional engagement related to student success. The role may perform other duties in support of departmental, Enrollment Management, and university initiatives.

The University of Arizona states that visa sponsorship is not available for this position. The position is based at the Tucson Campus and is full-time at 1.0 FTE, with 40 hours worked per week. The target hire date is December 7, 2026.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional-level experience.
• At least 5 years of related work experience, including 2 years of managerial experience, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Conceptual knowledge and expertise in concepts, principles, and practices related to new student transition programs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• Experience overseeing orientation, transition, bridge, first-year experience, or student engagement programs.
• Experience supervising professional staff and student employees.
• Experience leading complex programs, initiatives, or functional areas.
• Experience managing multiple priorities, projects, budgets, and stakeholder relationships.
• Experience using assessment and data to improve programs and student outcomes.
• Experience building collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative units.
• Active involvement in regional or national professional organizations related to orientation, transition, student affairs, or student success.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of undergraduate transition programs and initiatives, including New Start, Destination Arizona, and Wildcat Welcome.
• Design transformative transition experiences that support student belonging, engagement, academic readiness, and navigation of university resources and systems.
• Assess student needs, emerging trends, and program outcomes; recommend and implement approaches to improve student learning, engagement, and transition outcomes.
• Supervise professional staff and provide leadership, coaching, mentorship, and professional development.
• Communicate departmental leadership direction, priorities, and expectations to staff and ensure alignment across assigned programs.
• Oversee program operations, implementation timelines, resource coordination, and project management to ensure effective delivery.
• Oversee student leadership and student employment structures within assigned program areas.
• Share operational leadership and collaborate across program areas to support department-wide orientation, transition, and onboarding experiences.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with academic colleges, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, advising units, and other campus stakeholders.
• Assist with budget planning, resource allocation, and fiscal stewardship; monitor program expenditures and operational resources.
• Support procurement, contract management, and administrative processes, and ensure compliance with university policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.
• Implement assessment strategies and evaluation processes; use assessment findings, student feedback, and institutional data to improve programs and operations.
• Support departmental assessment and reporting by collecting, analyzing, and communicating program results.
• Perform other duties and participate in committees, workgroups, project teams, and special assignments supporting student success and institutional priorities.
• Engage with professional associations, emerging trends, and best practices, and build collaborative relationships that support program delivery and organizational effectiveness.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Life insurance and disability programs.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members.
• Retirement plans.
• Access to University of Arizona recreation and cultural activities.
• Work-life programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager