Associate Director of Student Orientation

Education/Experience

Required:

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, education, student affairs, counseling, communications, English, or a related field.

Preferred:

• Coursework or certifications in student leadership development, training facilitation, or organizational leadership.
• Strong foundation in student development theory and best practices for mentoring and training student leaders.
• Experience planning and managing large-scale orientation programs or events for students and their families/supporters.

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Student Orientation at Radford University plays a pivotal role in developing, implementing, and assessing comprehensive orientation programs that support new students and their families/supporters in their transition to the university. This position collaborates with campus partners to create an inclusive and engaging orientation experience that fosters student success, belonging, and retention.

Reporting to the Director of Student Connection Programs, the Associate Director of Student Orientation oversees the planning and execution of new student orientation at Radford University’s Radford and Roanoke campuses for in-person and online orientation, including summer and mid-year orientation sessions. Responsibilities include recruitment, training, and supervision of student orientation leaders, coordination of program logistics, and assessment of orientation outcomes to ensure continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in student development, event planning, and leadership training. They should demonstrate a commitment to student inclusion, and possess excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.

This role is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and student-centered professional to make a meaningful impact on the new student experience at Radford University.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in higher education administration, education, student affairs, counseling, communications, or a related field.
• Experience: At least 3–5 years of experience in orientation, first-year experience, academic support, large scale event planning, or related areas in higher education.
• Program Development & Management: Experience planning, implementing, and assessing orientation programs, transition initiatives, or student engagement efforts.
• Student Leadership & Supervision: Demonstrated experience in recruiting, training, and supervising student leaders and/or professional staff.
• Inclusion: Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that supports students from diverse backgrounds, including first-generation students and historically underrepresented populations.
• Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage students, families/supporters, faculty, and campus partners.
• Event Planning & Logistics: Demonstrated ability to coordinate large-scale programs, manage multiple priorities, and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment.
• Technology & Assessment: Proficiency with technology platforms related to orientation (e.g., event registration systems, learning management systems, MS Office, and communication tools) and experience with program assessment and data-informed decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional Experience: More than five years of professional experience in orientation, first-year experience, student affairs, or related areas.
• Leadership & Supervision: Experience supervising professional staff, graduate assistants, or multiple student leadership teams.
• Budget & Resource Management: Experience managing budgets, processing financial transactions, and securing resources for programs.
• Technology & Data Analysis: Proficiency with orientation software (e.g., Slate) and experience using data for program assessment and decision-making.
• Crisis Management & Conflict Resolution: Ability to respond to student concerns, manage crises, and facilitate conflict resolution.
• Family & Supporter Engagement: Experience developing programs and communication strategies for families/supporters of new students.
• Higher Education Knowledge: Understanding of student development theory, best practices in orientation, and trends in student success initiatives.