Orientation Manager

Central Washington University is recruiting an Orientation Manager to join our Orientation and Transition Program team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $43,716 - $58,380 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

The Role:

This position, with direction from the Director of Orientation and Transition Programs, will oversee the implementation and coordination of technology, online curriculum and communication for orientation, student transitions and support network programming and communication. Assist in the coordination of all elements of the orientation program and recruitment related events. Initiate programing/initiatives to support onboarding of new students and families. All employees are expected to support CWU's commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment.

Digital Outreach and Communication:
- Foster a sense of belonging.
- Coordinate orientation and transition publications and resources (both digital and print medium). Stakeholder groups/departments include Academic Advising, Registrar, Student Involvement, Health & Wellness, Colleges, Alumni, President's Office, Diversity and Equity Center, Student Engagement and Success partners, Dining, Catering, Housing/Conference Services, along with others.
- Coordinate internal communications related to planning and promotion of orientation and recruitment events with campus partners and other stakeholders.
- Implement and coordinate the communication plan for incoming students and their support networks. This includes the monthly Parent & Support network newsletter.
- Update orientation curriculum within platform as a systemwide solution.
- Develop and maintain resources that highlight programs and services which support student success and persistence.
- Facilitate initiatives and leads calling campaigns before, during and after New Student Orientation to assist yield and summer melt efforts.

Orientation/Transition Planning and Implementation:
- Partner with stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition from high school to first year to second year with the purpose of aiding retention.
- Work collaboratively on opportunities to onboard and orient transfer students to the CWU environments through passive and active programming models.
- Plan, Coordinate and Implement, Week of Welcome educational programs relating to safety, wellness, alcohol and drug prevention, academic registration availability to all incoming students to CWU and to current students through community development.
- Implements the use of Suitable, student engagement application to facilitate, track engagement during Week of Welcome.
- Develops, maintains and facilitates participation in activities directed toward communities that value and support diversity, multiculturalism, equity and inclusiveness.
- Serve as a campus resource and referral contact for students and support network members.
- Support yearly assessment effort to continuously improve the orientation and events experiences. Manage dissemination of appropriate assessment tools to students and their support networks.
- Seasonal on call responsibilities.

Team Supervision & Mentorship:
- Actively engages in the recruitment and hiring of seasonal Orientation Leaders as necessary.
- Oversee and coordinate Orientation Leaders and volunteers.
- Provide leadership for Orientation Leaders and be willing to work in an office environment that will require some evening and weekend responsibilities.
- Clearly defines performance expectations, ensure accountability, and provides ongoing informal feedback, coaching, and mentoring.
- Ensures employees have necessary resources.
- Oversees and directs the work of staff; serves as mentor, coach, and leader, and resolves complaints or issues.
- Develops and fosters supportive working relationships, motivation, and engagement.
- Takes corrective action in a timely manner.
- Schedules employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked; approve payable time and absence requests.
- Adjusts leadership style as needed to achieve results.
- Recognizes value of and promotes diverse workforce. Values and encourages diverse perspectives, creativity and teamwork.
- Plan and implement Orientation Leader training modules to include topics such as community building, FERPA, How to Lead, Tough Conversations, safety, support resources and peer mentoring. Facilitates campus partners inclusion and participation in Orientation Leader training efforts.

Retention and Persistence Efforts:
- Partner with the offices and services across campus to create a coordinated proactive program highlighting strategies that support student persistence through the start of the first/third year.

Initiative to Support Institutional Goal to Become Hispanic Serving Institution:
- Co-Facilitate Todos Somos Familia and Inicia Tu Futuro planning committee
- Co-chair the committee that is responsible for planning all activities for Todos Somos Familia, Inicia Tu Futuro and related orientation publications.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree.
• Demonstrated experience working with implementation or daily support of technology driven initiatives.
• Well-developed interpersonal communication skills, including oral and written communication.
• Evidence of ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and the ability to foster communities that support diversity.
• Experience with large-scale event planning and coordination.
• Demonstrated willingness and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.
• OR any combination of education and/or experience which clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the job.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with New Student Programs/Orientation or transferable student affairs related experience.
• Supervisory and/or mentorship experience.
• Demonstrated experience using complex databases/CRM systems.
• Experience supporting underserved populations through school, public agency or community support programs.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (professional proficiency).
• Life experiences that demonstrate an ability to contribute to CWU's commitment to inclusion and diversity.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for students through various activities.

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Salary: This position is based on the range 42 of the Washington State Classification Listing, which has a minimum annual salary of $43,716 and maximum annual salary of $58,380. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)

Working Conditions: Daily work is conducted in an office setting with site visits to assigned area residence halls, student rooms, common areas, and community rooms. Bending/carrying/pulling/pushing/lifting associated with loading/unloading of supplies, recruitment materials and signage is required. Some weekend and evening hours may be assigned as needed. Occasional on-call responsibilities during summer orientation events may be required.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.