Executive Director of Orientation and Family Engagement

Job Posting Title:

Executive Director of Orientation and Family Engagement

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Hiring Department:

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

Purpose

The Executive Director of Orientation and Family Engagement leads the vision, strategy, and execution of the University’s student and family onboarding experience. In this highly visible role, the Executive Director shapes how new students and their families first understand, connect with, and experience the University. This leader ensures that Orientation, Family Engagement, and Texas Parents programs not only welcome students but inspire belonging, academic readiness, and long‑term engagement.

Serving as the University's chief architect of the onboarding and family experience, the Executive Director builds a cohesive, institution‑wide approach to transition programming. This role partners closely with the Dean of Students, the Vice President, Enrollment Management, University Events and Experience, First‑Year Experience, academic colleges, and key campus collaborators to deliver a unified, polished experience from the moment a student commits to the University.

The Executive Director oversees Orientation and Texas Parents staff, including direct supervision of the Director of Orientation and the Associate Director of Texas Parents. The Executive Director establishes long‑term strategic direction, advances a high‑touch customer service model, and ensures the fiscal health and sustainability of the portfolio through budget oversight, revenue generation, fundraising, and donor/partner cultivation.

The Executive Director leads efforts to set the tone, brand, and overall feel for Orientation and Family Engagement programs. Through thoughtful program design, robust communication strategies, and strong partnerships across campus, they create seamless experiences—whether welcoming thousands of new students, coordinating high‑profile events, or ensuring families are informed and engaged throughout their student’s journey.

In addition to program leadership, the Executive Director is the institution’s central coordinator for family communication, ensuring consistent messaging, timely updates, and a personalized, responsive customer experience. They guide crisis and reputational risk mitigation for major events, direct assessments and national landscape scans, implement ROI and satisfaction measurement tools, and ensure alignment with evolving University policies, laws, and national best practices.

Ultimately, this leader ensures that every student and family encounter with the University reflects the institution’s mission, values, and commitment to student success.

Responsibilities

Core Areas of Focus

Strategic Leadership & Experience Design

The Executive Director designs and continually elevates a comprehensive Orientation and family experience that prepares students for academic life, fosters community involvement, and sets the foundation for their long‑term engagement. This includes developing the program’s identity and feel, integrating Orientation with academic and co‑curricular units, and implementing metrics to evaluate program impact and customer satisfaction.

Operational & Financial Stewardship

This role oversees multi‑million‑dollar budgets, staffing, and operational processes; leads revenue generation strategies; conducts fundraising; and cultivates relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and government partners. The Executive Director ensures efficient operations through assessments, national environmental scans, and adherence to relevant laws, policies, and trends.

Program Development, Events, & Communication

The Executive Director leads the development of major University programs, including new student, transfer, and family orientations; Family Weekend; and other high‑profile initiatives. They serve as the primary liaison to University Events and Experience and external vendors, and they coordinate institution‑wide communication strategies for families. This includes crisis mitigation planning, consistent messaging, and stewardship of the University’s Orientation and Family Engagement brand. 

Supervision & Team Development

The Executive Director provides vision and supervision for the Director of Orientation, the Associate Director of Texas Parents, and the broader staff portfolios that