Job Description

The Director of Orientation and First-Year Experience provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for programs that support new students in their transition to college life. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing comprehensive orientation programs and year-round first-year experience initiatives that foster student engagement, belonging, social life, retention, and academic success. The Director also supports sophomore student engagement. The Director serves as a key partner in advancing the institution's commitment to holistic student development and will collaborate closely with colleagues across the College.

Department/Division Overview:

The Division of Student Life at Denison University fosters a dynamic and supportive campus culture where holistic student development thrives. Recognizing that learning extends far beyond the classroom, into residence halls, student organizations, athletics, and campus leadership, our team works collaboratively to empower students to build community, respect self and others, and prepare for impactful post-graduate lives.

Responsibilities:

Cultivate a campus experience that facilitates student engagement, social inclusion, intellectual curiosity, and personal exploration in collaboration with students and colleagues. Manage all orientation programs, as well as social programming to support students and their transition to Denison University.

• Plan, coordinate, and execute comprehensive new student orientation programs for first-year students and support orientation programs for other student populations.
• Collaborate with a broad range of campus stakeholders to design inclusive orientation and sophomore experience content that integrates academic and co-curricular components.
• Implement and lead a year-long First-Year Experience (FYE) program designed to promote academic success, social integration, and personal development.
• Design and implement assessment tools to evaluate program effectiveness and student outcomes; use data to inform decisions, improve programming, and support retention and student success efforts.
• Oversee the staff, general planning, budgets, and assessment of all orientation programs.
• Partner with the Provost’s Office to create opportunities for engagement with faculty to support the holistic development of our students as well as support the orientation and academic advising efforts of first-year students.
• Service in on-call rotation.

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field
• 5+ years of professional experience in higher education/student affairs preferred.
• Understanding of how the first-year experience is situated within a selective, rigorous four-year residential college environment.
• Evening and weekend work required, including flexibility of work hours and availability to attend to emergent situations on campus as needed.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and computer skills required. Proficient in Google, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.

Preferred Requirements:

• 7+ years of professional experience in higher education/student affairs preferred.
• Prior experience in the preparation and presentation of workshops preferred.

Why Choose Denison?

Denison University is a leading, fully residential liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, located just outside the Columbus metro area. Established in 1831, Denison blends a rigorous academic foundation with an award-winning approach to student mentorship and career readiness. With a vibrant campus community of 2,400 students and around 1,000 employees, Denison offers employees a supportive work environment dedicated to educational excellence and professional growth.

Denison provides a number of staff-focused benefits, with some highlights:

• 10% contribution to your retirement
• 22 vacation days
• 3 floating holidays
• Comprehensive and inexpensive healthcare benefits
• Paid campus closure from Christmas to New Years
• Free parking and gym membership
• Free classes for employees

Want to learn more about us? Visit Denison.edu for more information.