Program Director for New Student and Family Engagement

University of Notre Dame•Notre Dame, IN

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs seeks a mission-centered, collaborative, innovative, and highly organized Program Director to lead the University's efforts to welcome and engage incoming undergraduate students, parents, and families. This role provides strategic leadership for welcome and orientation programs for first-year and transfer students entering the University throughout the academic year, including students matriculating in January, June, and August. The Program Director will serve as champion for the University’s welcome of new students and families, and steward the vision, coordination, communication, and execution of these experiences, with particular responsibility for Welcome Weekend - one of the University’s most visible signature events - and related pre-matriculation and post-Welcome Weekend initiatives. In addition, the Program Director will develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for parent and family engagement, beginning with the transition to Notre Dame and extending throughout the student experience. This work will include establishing a coordinated approach to outreach and engagement, developing opportunities for meaningful parent and family engagement, and helping University leaders and campus partners respond thoughtfully and effectively to parent and family questions, concerns, and needs. The successful candidate will be able to lead complex and highly visible initiatives, build strong partnerships throughout the Division of Student Affairs and the wider University, inspire campus-wide investment and engagement, and translate a compelling vision into thoughtful and well-executed programs and processes. The Program Director will help establish a strong foundation for students and their families as they begin their journey of education in mind and heart at Notre Dame, creating experiences for all students that foster belonging, community, and formation while reflecting and bringing to life the University's Catholic, Holy Cross identity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required.
3 - 4 years of experience.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing complex programs, initiatives, or processes in a higher education or similarly complex organizational environment.
Experience coordinating across departments or organizational units and building collaborative relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.
Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communication.
Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise initiative, manage competing priorities, and maintain a high level of attention to detail.
A demonstrated commitment to the University’s Catholic and Holy Cross mission and the ability to implement policies, programs, services, and initiatives that are consistent with the University’s mission and values.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, education, communications, or a related field preferred.
Mission-centered leadership: a deep appreciation for and understanding of Notre Dame's Catholic, Holy Cross mission and the role of Student Affairs in the formation of the whole person.
Vision and strategic thinking: The ability to see the larger institutional picture, articulate a compelling vision, identify strategic opportunities, and move from ideas to implementation.
Exceptional communication: outstanding written and verbal communication skills and the ability to serve as a clear, credible, and engaging representative for the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Project management and execution: exceptional organization, attention to detail, follow-through, and proactive planning. The candidate must be able to manage multiple complex and time-sensitive projects simultaneously while maintaining focus on long-term priorities.
Collaboration and relationship-building: The ability to cultivate trust, invite meaningful participation, build campus-wide ownership, and move diverse stakeholders toward a shared goal, particularly in a highly collaborative environment without direct supervisory authority.
Creativity and innovation: A willingness to question established approaches, identify new possibilities, and creatively leverage partnerships and institutional resources to improve programs and processes.
Assessment and continuous improvement: The ability to use evidence, feedback, and thoughtful stakeholder engagement to evaluate programs, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions.
Team orientation and humility: A commitment to shared work and collective success, with a willingness to contribute to and elevate the work of colleagues and the broader Division rather than pursue individual accomplishments.
Professionalism and judgment: The maturity, discretion, adaptability, and interpersonal skills necessary to represent the Division and University effectively in a wide range of settings and with a wide range of constituents.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for welcome and orientation programs for first-year and transfer students.
Serve as champion for the University’s welcome of new students and families.
Steward the vision, coordination, communication, and execution of welcome experiences.
Lead Welcome Weekend and related pre-matriculation and post-Welcome Weekend initiatives.
Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for parent and family engagement.
Establish a coordinated approach to parent and family outreach and engagement.
Develop opportunities for meaningful parent and family engagement.
Help University leaders and campus partners respond to parent and family questions, concerns, and needs.
Lead complex and highly visible initiatives.
Build strong partnerships throughout the Division of Student Affairs and the wider University.
Inspire campus-wide investment and engagement.
Translate a compelling vision into thoughtful and well-executed programs and processes.
Help students and families experience that they are welcomed into a community defined by relationship, belonging, formation, and a shared commitment to the University's Catholic, Holy Cross character.