Executive Director of Orientation and Family Engagement

University of Texas at Austin

3d•$150,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director of Orientation and Family Engagement leads the vision, strategy, and execution of the University’s student and family onboarding experience. In this highly visible role, the Executive Director shapes how new students and their families first understand, connect with, and experience the University. This leader ensures that Orientation, Family Engagement, and Texas Parents programs not only welcome students but inspire belonging, academic readiness, and long‑term engagement. Serving as the University's chief architect of the onboarding and family experience, the Executive Director builds a cohesive, institution‑wide approach to transition programming. This role partners closely with the Dean of Students, the Vice President, Enrollment Management, University Events and Experience, First‑Year Experience, academic colleges, and key campus collaborators to deliver a unified, polished experience from the moment a student commits to the University. The Executive Director oversees Orientation and Texas Parents staff, including direct supervision of the Director of Orientation and the Associate Director of Texas Parents. The Executive Director establishes long‑term strategic direction, advances a high‑touch customer service model, and ensures the fiscal health and sustainability of the portfolio through budget oversight, revenue generation, fundraising, and donor/partner cultivation. The Executive Director leads efforts to set the tone, brand, and overall feel for Orientation and Family Engagement programs. Through thoughtful program design, robust communication strategies, and strong partnerships across campus, they create seamless experiences—whether welcoming thousands of new students, coordinating high‑profile events, or ensuring families are informed and engaged throughout their student’s journey. In addition to program leadership, the Executive Director is the institution’s central coordinator for family communication, ensuring consistent messaging, timely updates, and a personalized, responsive customer experience. They guide crisis and reputational risk mitigation for major events, direct assessments and national landscape scans, implement ROI and satisfaction measurement tools, and ensure alignment with evolving University policies, laws, and national best practices. Ultimately, this leader ensures that every student and family encounter with the University reflects the institution’s mission, values, and commitment to student success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, hospitality management, public administration, nonprofit management, higher education, or a related field
Minimum of 5-8 years of management experience in nonprofits, corporations, or higher education, including fiscal oversight and staff supervision
Experience designing and implementing high visibility, large-scale events
Experience implementing customer service protocols, including for high-profile clients
Experience measuring ROI and providing reports to executive leadership for events and other initiatives
Experience conducting and planning assessment activities
Ability to collaborate and share resources based on programmatic needs
Strong fiscal acumen, including knowledge of corporate partnerships, fundraising, revenue generation, and financial forecasting
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders
Professional demeanor and ability to maintain sensitive information
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business, hospitality management, public administration, nonprofit management, higher education, or a related field
More than 8 years of management experience in nonprofits or corporations, including fiscal oversight and staff supervision
Experience with high level project management and directing multifaceted units
Demonstrated work with and understanding of reputational and financial risks
Experience with customer satisfaction metrics (e.g., Net Promoter Score, CSAT, CES, or other service level agreement metrics)
Experience building partnerships and collaborating across departments
Experience supervising Associate Director or Director level staff (or equivalent)
Proven ability to assess program outcomes qualitatively and quantitatively
Demonstrated ability to enhance revenue streams

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Experience Design The Executive Director designs and continually elevates a comprehensive Orientation and family experience that prepares students for academic life, fosters community involvement, and sets the foundation for their long‑term engagement. This includes developing the program’s identity and feel, integrating Orientation with academic and co‑curricular units, and implementing metrics to evaluate program impact and customer satisfaction.
Operational & Financial Stewardship This role oversees multi‑million‑dollar budgets, staffing, and operational processes; leads revenue generation strategies; conducts fundraising; and cultivates relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and government partners. The Executive Director ensures efficient operations through assessments, national environmental scans, and adherence to relevant laws, policies, and trends.
Program Development, Events, & Communication The Executive Director leads the development of major University programs, including new student, transfer, and family orientations; Family Weekend; and other high‑profile initiatives. They serve as the primary liaison to University Events and Experience and external vendors, and they coordinate institution‑wide communication strategies for families. This includes crisis mitigation planning, consistent messaging, and stewardship of the University’s Orientation and Family Engagement brand.
Supervision & Team Development The Executive Director provides vision and supervision for the Director of Orientation, the Associate Director of Texas Parents, and the broader staff portfolios that deliver Orientation and Family Engagement programming. They foster a collaborative culture, oversee cross‑unit staffing models, and guide teams in delivering polished, high‑impact services and events.

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