Executive Director for Student Transitions and Family Engagement

University of Colorado•Denver, CO

2d•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 works with STFE colleagues and student leaders to align programs with unit, divisional, and institutional priorities and support a coordinated, student-centered approach to student success. As a collaborator in the Division of Strategic Enrollment and Student Success, the Executive Director evaluates and implements approaches to support student success across in-person, hybrid, and remote environments. The role leads staff and student employees; manages program strategy, budgets, communications, assessment, and reporting; and develops partnerships across campus to improve student engagement, persistence, and success. The position is full-time and hybrid, generally requiring an onsite campus presence, with remote work potentially allowed up to one day per week at the supervisor’s discretion. Occasional evening 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, or related higher-education work.
Five years of experience in a supervisory or administrative position in higher education or a similar field, such as education, business, or nonprofit work.
Experience managing budgets.
Ability to lead a team of diverse faculty, staff, and community members.
Ability to devise and manage budgets effectively.
Commitment to academic excellence and student success.
Leadership skills in conceiving and advancing 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 and ability to build consensus and bring about constructive change using participatory processes.
Excellent organizational and coordinating skills.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing, public presentations, and individual or group consultations.
Ability to integrate equity and inclusion principles 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 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

Lead and develop professional staff and student employees through onboarding, performance management and evaluation, training, team building, and workplace wellness.
Provide strategic oversight of New Student Orientation and Family Engagement, including orientation for first-year and transfer students and their families, extended orientation, enrollment efforts, and 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 program, including peer mentoring for new undergraduates and student development opportunities.
Oversee the Lynx Summer Academy summer bridge program, including planning, recruitment, course selection, evaluation, and funding acquisition.
Build 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.
Lead continuous improvement across assigned programs and services using best practices, student feedback, and relevant data to evaluate effectiveness and strengthen outcomes.
Report to leadership on new-student orientation and registration, First-Year Experience persistence and retention, and Lynx Summer Academy persistence and retention.
Coordinate with Admissions and University Communications to improve and target timely communications with students and families.
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.