Executive Director for Student Transitions and Family Engagement

University of Colorado•Denver, CO

3d•$105,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director for Student Transitions and Family Engagement (STFE) provides leadership, direction, and long-term planning for programs that support students through key transitions and foster early engagement in the university experience. The portfolio includes New Student Orientation and Family Engagement, First-Year Experiences, Peer Advocate Leaders, and the Lynx Summer Academy. The Executive Director leads professional staff and student employees and collaborates with colleagues, student leaders, and partners across the Division of Strategic Enrollment and Student Success and the university. The role continually evaluates and implements approaches to student success across in-person, hybrid, and remote environments, and advances coordinated, student-centered programs and services. This is a full-time, 1.0 FTE position with a stated salary range of $105,000–$115,000. The position generally requires an onsite campus presence, with remote work potentially allowed up to one day per week at the supervisor’s discretion. Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be required. The position is not eligible for overtime compensation or visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a related field.
Seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education leading student enrollment, retention, graduation efforts, and/or related higher education experience.
Five years of experience in a supervisory or administrative position in higher education or a similar field, such as education, business, or nonprofit.
Experience managing budgets.
Demonstrated ability to lead a team of diverse faculty, staff, and community members.
Demonstrated ability to devise and manage budgets effectively.
Demonstrated commitment to academic excellence and student success.
Leadership experience and skills in conceiving and carrying forward new initiatives.
Ability to identify problems, analyze data, and make recommendations.
Ability to be creative, innovative, and willing to take risks to accomplish institutional goals.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to build consensus and bring about constructive change using participatory processes.
Excellent organizational and coordinating skills.
Effective written, public presentation, and individual or group consultation communication skills.
Ability to integrate principles of equity and inclusion into programs and practices.
Ability to partner with faculty, administrators, staff, and students across the university.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to prioritize among multiple tasks and manage multiple projects with distinct timelines.

Nice To Haves

Earned doctorate in educational leadership, higher education, or a related field from an accredited institution.
Experience in a comprehensive urban university.
Experience with traditional-age, older, and diverse student populations.
Evidence of effectively creating and executing programs based on best-practice-informed models.
Experience with grant administration, pre-award and/or post-award.
Experience working with EAB Navigate360.
Demonstrated experience leading a team of diverse faculty, staff, and community members.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and development for professional staff and student employees, including onboarding, performance management and evaluation, training, team building, and workplace wellness.
Provide oversight and strategic management of New Student Orientation and Family Engagement, including experiences for first-year and transfer students and their families, extended orientation, enrollment efforts, onboarding, and reengagement initiatives.
Oversee First-Year Experience programs, including First-Year Seminar and College Success (UNIV 1110) course offerings and faculty recruitment, training, and development.
Oversee the Peer Advocate Leader (PAL) program, including peer mentoring for new undergraduates and student development opportunities.
Oversee the Lynx Summer Academy for first-year students, including program planning, recruitment, course selection, evaluation, and funding acquisition.
Foster collaboration and partnerships with academic departments, student support offices, faculty, staff, and other university stakeholders to coordinate services, identify student needs, and develop integrated approaches to engagement, persistence, and success.
Establish and advance continuous improvement efforts using best practices, student feedback, and relevant data to evaluate program effectiveness, strengthen student outcomes, and align initiatives with university and Student Success goals.
Report to leadership on orientation and registration of new students, First-Year Experience persistence and retention, and Lynx Summer Academy persistence and retention.
Coordinate with Admissions and University Communications to improve communications with students and families and ensure outreach is timely, specific, and targeted.
Oversee program budgets and work with Directors to ensure resources are effectively deployed and processed in accordance with institutional procedures and policies.
Participate in committee work with Strategic Enrollment and Student Success and academic affairs colleagues to improve access, transitions, student success, and development.
Represent CU Denver and STFE at on- and off-campus events and programs.
Serve on campus committees, working groups, and task forces related to Student Success initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned.