Associate Director - New Student Programs (Project Management)

About the University of Oklahoma

Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma (OU) is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic, and health-care needs of the state, region, and nation. OU consists of three campus locations in Oklahoma as well as several centers abroad. The Norman campus serves as home to all the university's academic programs except health-related fields. OU enrolls almost 32,000 students, has more than 2,800 full-time faculty members, and has 21 colleges offering 172 majors at the baccalaureate level, 156 majors at the master's level, 81 doctoral-level majors and 54 graduate certificates.

The OU campus community is committed to maintaining an environment where individuals work collaboratively with mutual respect and assure the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity. The Division of Student Affairs strives to enhance students' academic success by developing student skills, cultivating diverse, campus life experiences and enriching the university community through programs and services.

About New Student Programs

New Student Programs' goal is to ensure a seamless transition process for incoming students to the University of Oklahoma. In collaboration with departments across campus, New Student Programs welcomes students to the OU community and connects them to resources, provides opportunities to find community among their peers, and equips students with tools to be successful throughout their time on campus and beyond.

About the Associate Director, New Student Programs position

Reporting to the Director of New Student Programs, the Associate Director for Orientation Programs is responsible for fostering a commitment to student success by actively developing, implementing, and maintaining programs and services that enrich student learning, build and maintain a strong sense of community, and support the social and personal development of incoming undergraduate students at the University of Oklahoma. The position provides leadership, budgetary oversight, supervision, program development, administration, and programming for Camp Crimson, Camp Crimson: Winter Welcome, Camp Crimson reunions, and Freshman Week. This includes setting the strategic goals for programs under this position's purview, direct supervision of the Orientation Programs Assistant Director and Program Coordinator, budget management for each program, overseeing the collection of data and improvement of programs based on data, and ensuring program offerings align with the division's curricular goals and university's strategic plan.

Occasional evening / weekend work will be required for this exempt position.  This position requires the incumbent to handle high stress situations including student mental/physical illness, rape, suicide, and racial incidents.

 Job Duties:

• Responsible for the administration and planning of Camp Crimson, a 4.5 day orientation camp for new students in the fall semester; Camp Crimson: Winter Welcome, a 2 day orientation camp for new students in the spring semester; Camp Crimson reunions, events throughout the fall semester to keep students connected with their Small Group Leaders; and Freshman Week, a week of programming in late September/early October designed to offer programming and support for new students. This position will lead the efforts on program development and execution in a manner that is collaborative and consultative with other units within the Division of Student Affairs, campus, and local community. 
• Supervises the team responsible for coordinating, delivering, and facilitating robust programming for varying stages in the academic journey. Focuses on student learning centered educational initiatives and content to promote the Student Affairs learning aims: community impact, personal development, and overall wellness. This includes recruiting, selecting and training approximately 50 undergraduate students to make up the Executive Team, and 200-300 Small Group Leaders per year. The Executive Team is selected in the fall with an overnight retreat in January and regular meetings throughout the spring. Operations Staff (approximately 6 students who are part of the Executive Team) are summer employees supervised by the Orientation Programs team. Small Group Leaders are selected in the spring with 2-3 trainings in April, and an in-depth training prior to Camp Crimson. These trainings are designed and facilitated by the Orientation Programs team.
• Oversees administrative operations: This position meets with campus partners to ensure operations are effectively executed. This includes working with participant data, ensuring the billing, scholarships, and collection of fees is completed, as well as the marketing and communications efforts for each program.
• Provides budgetary oversight for the programs: This position will manage a budget of approximately $1,300,000 to execute Camp Crimson, Camp Crimson: Winter Welcome, Camp Crimson reunions, and Freshman Week.  This position calculates anticipated annual revenue, proposes updates to registration fee amounts, and plans programming and student compensation budgets based upon anticipated revenue.
• Supervises professional staff including on- and off-boarding, training and evaluating performance: This position will directly supervise the Assistant Director and the Program Coordinator for Orientation Programs; and indirectly supervises up to 2 Graduate Assistants, 50 student Executive Team members, and 250-350 Small Group Leaders.
• Interprets policies and procedures and resolves problems.  Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and University policies: This position will be familiar with University, state, and federal regulatory requirements, will ensure professional and student staff are trained appropriately. 
• Plans program development, conducts need assessments, and evaluates program effectiveness including collecting, compiling, interpreting, and maintaining various forms of data for the program.
• Prepares reports, training materials, and other program documentation, directives, and communication.
• Performs various duties as needed to successfully fulfill the function of the position.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field, AND:

• 36 months in student programming, student services or a closely related experience.

Equivalency/Substitution: Will accept 48 months related experience in lieu of the Bachelor's Degree for a total of 84 months experience.

Skills:

• Knowledge of student development theory
• Thorough knowledge of undergraduate orientation and transition programs, especially through summer and welcome week orientation models
• Ability to read and interpret policy as well as State and Federal guidelines including knowledge of or ability to learn university and department principles and procedures involved in risk
• A high level of personal and professional integrity
• A commitment to and respect of the sensitivity of students' disabilities, health concerns, socioeconomic status, immigration and citizenship status, through actions and interactions
• Ability to demonstrate multicultural competence, knowledge and experience working and interacting effectively with diverse groups of staff, faculty, and student populations
• Ability to prioritize, exercise initiative, and demonstrate sound judgment, while effectively executing numerous tasks in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment
• Skills in active listening, critical thinking, negotiation, problem solving, reasoning, organizing, written and verbal communication, and multitasking
• Supervisory skills such as hiring, training, and providing feedback to student staff
• Ability to communicate well and build rapport with students, faculty, and staff including the ability to work collaboratively with internal and external constituencies
• Effective verbal and written communication including the ability to present and facilitate workshops, programs, and events
• Computer skills, including proficiency in navigating and maintaining databases
• Detail oriented for accuracy of data and information
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects and deadlines

Advertised Physical Requirements:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Ability to bend, lift, stoop and carry
• Ability to engage in repetitive motions
• Standard office environment
• Frequent exposure to pressure caused by deadlines and busy periods
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies.

Supervision:

• This position will supervise the Assistant Director and Program Coordinator for Orientation Programs as well as up to 2 Graduate Assistants throughout the year and up to 5 seasonal Graduate Assistants during peak times.

Department Preferences:

• Master's degree in student affairs, higher education, counseling, or related field and/or equivalent experience/training
• Experience with extended orientation programs (camps, welcome weeks, etc.)
• Experience planning and executing large campus events
• Experience hiring, training, supervising student staff

Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy.  To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing.

Why You Belong at the University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma fosters an inclusive culture of respect and civility, belonging, and access, which are essential to our collective pursuit of excellence and our determination to change lives. The unique talents, perspectives, and experiences of our community enrich the learning, and working environment at OU, inspiring us to harness our innovation, creativity, and collaboration for the advancement of people everywhere.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, and health care services that the University operates or provides.