Program Specialist, Student Transitions & Engagement (Hybrid/Time-Limited) - Student Affairs

Washington University in St. Louis

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

WashU's Division of Student Affairs seeks a programming professional for the position of Program Specialist, Student Transitions & Engagement. The Division of Student Affairs advances the educational mission of the university through resources and experiences outside the classroom that prepare our students for lifelong success. Reporting directly to the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Student Transitions & Engagement, the Program Specialist supports programming initiatives that assist new students and their families with their transition into the WashU community. This position provides support for undergraduate, graduate, and parent & family programmatic initiatives. This is a time-limited role of up to 2 years.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
• Relevant Experience (3 Years)

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of orientation, retention, and transition programs and services on a college campus, including advising and working with college students in a professional capacity. Undergraduate and graduate experience will be counted.
• 1-3 years of professional experience working in a university setting or related fields. Graduate assistantship experience in the field of Student Affairs will be counted toward professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience supervising undergraduate and graduate-level student staff.
• Knowledge of student development theory and demonstrated application developing and implementing student staff training.
• Comprehension of current issues related to transition issues, student engagement and student development.
• Above average knowledge of graphic design and publishing software.
• Master's degree

Responsibilities

• Program development, coordination, and assessment.
• Work with the Director and STAE Coordinators on programs that include, but not limited to, the orientation, transition, and retention of new undergraduate and graduate students and their families, in collaboration with academic and student affairs departments.
• This position gives particular attention to incoming summer orientation, first-year and second-year programming, and transfer and exchange students.
• Programs include New Student Fall Orientation, Parent & Family Orientation, First 40, second-year experience, Parent & Family Weekend, and Winter Welcome: New Student Spring Orientation.
• Duties include, but are not limited to, event planning, marketing, recruitment of volunteers, registration, ticket sales, budget management, day-of implementation, and after-hours on-call emergency management.
• Serve as a central coordinator for Parent & Family Weekend by collaborating with campus partners to support and enhance their affiliated events, developing and maintaining cross-campus partnerships, and ensuring a cohesive experience for families across the weekend.
• Manage and support multiple events, including logistical planning, on-site coordination, and event execution.
• Coordinate and schedule volunteers and student workers, oversee staffing and coverage throughout the weekend, procure event supplies and materials, and maintain a visible presence at events to provide real-time support, troubleshooting, and customer service for families, students, and campus partners.
• Oversee Parent & Family Weekend website content, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and timely updates for families before and during the weekend, and support assessment efforts by collecting feedback, analyzing participation data, and contributing to post-event evaluation and improvement.
• Oversee day-to-day office operations by managing and maintaining departmental websites to ensure up-to-date, accurate, and accessible information for students, families, and campus partners.
• Manage shared office email inboxes, including monitoring inquiries, responding to time-sensitive requests, triaging messages, and coordinating follow-up with appropriate staff members.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for the office by answering phone inquiries, providing accurate information, resolving issues when possible, and routing questions to appropriate resources.
• Ensure consistent, professional communication and operational continuity in support of the office’s mission and services.
• Coordinate printed publications, digital and social media, and website maintenance.
• Support, attend and participate in Student Affairs functions, meetings and programs, serve on various committees, and attend special events, including those on evenings and weekends.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

What This Job Offers

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