New Jersey - Eastern Pennsylvania - Delaware HERC

Join a vibrant campus community whose excellence is reflected in its diversity and student success. West Chester University's Division of Academic Affairs invites internal applications for the position of Senior Associate Director of New Student Programs (SUA3).  

West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, selected post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good. 

WCU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with many wellness programs; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities. 

Reporting to the Director of New Student Programs, the Senior Associate Director provides leadership for orientation and extended transition initiatives; oversees staffing operations; collaborates with campus partners to deliver cohesive, student-centered programs; and plays a critical role in supporting student transition, engagement, and retention efforts.  

The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience in orientation and transition programming for new student populations including first-year, transfer, first-generation, and adult students; supervising and developing student staff; managing complex operations and communications; and building collaborative relationships across a diverse campus community.  

Responsibilities include:

• Provide leadership for the planning, implementation, and assessment of orientation and transition programs for first-year, transfer, and targeted student populations 
• Coordinate major transition initiatives including summer orientation, winter orientation, convocation, and class photo
• Support the development and delivery of online and pre-orientation content in collaboration with campus partners 
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and mentor undergraduate and graduate student staff 
• Oversee staff scheduling, performance management, evaluations, and recognition efforts 
• Support orientation registration, communications, and data tracking in coordination with Admissions, Enrollment Communications, and Marketing 
• Maintain and update program materials, websites, and communication platforms to ensure accuracy and consistency 
• Monitor participation and attendance and coordinate outreach to students who miss required programs 
• Utilize university systems and platforms to support program operations and assessment 
• Collaborate with campus partners to enhance the new student experience 
• Stay informed of best practices and emerging trends in orientation, transition, and student success through professional development 
• Work occasional evenings and weekends as needed 
• Other duties as assigned 

• Bachelor's degree
• Two years of professional experience implementing orientation, transition, or retention-focused programming in a higher education setting
• Experience supervising student staff
• Experience with Slate CRM
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, and Excel 

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or a related field
• Experience planning, implementing and supervising programs and large-scale campus events
• Experience tracking and analyzing data
• Experience marketing programs and events through various social platforms 

About West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester University (WCU) of Pennsylvania is among the top regional comprehensive public universities in the nation, serving more than 17,500 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels with a national reputation for excellence, value, and student success. Founded in 1871 as an institute for teacher preparation, West Chester offers more than 118 undergraduate and 103 graduate programs in more than 50 fields of study. In addition to the main campus in West Chester, the University offers programs through its graduate center, the Philadelphia campus, and online. Five colleges and two schools comprise the University: Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Business and Public Management, Education and Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Sciences and Mathematics, as well as the School of Music, and the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies. Located in Chester County (25 miles from downtown Philadelphia) the area combines the best of enjoyable daily living with easy access to the full spectrum of country and city attractions. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

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