What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager of Orientation & Access position at The University of New Mexico?
Position Summary
The Division of Student Affairs at the University of New Mexico (UNM) is pleased to announce a newly created role within the College Enrichment and Outreach Programs focused on influencing positive student outcomes through comprehensive orientation and access initiatives. The Manager of Orientation & Access position will be pivotal in shaping the strategic direction of New Student Orientation programs and is an exciting opportunity for an innovative leader passionate about shaping student transition programming and advancing the institution’s mission centered on equitable academic excellence and student success practices.
The Manager of Orientation & Access position is best suited for a student affairs professional whose passion for student success, strong understanding of best practices in orientation and student transition, and ability to implement empirically-based programs to drive student enrollment, retention, and degree attainment is prominent. This position will have primary oversight of the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of orientation programs that serve over 7,000 new students annually, including First-Year, Transfer, Branch Transition, Returning, and Online students.
Situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico, UNM is the state's flagship institution and serves a diverse population of over 25,000 students, offering a unique blend of cultural richness, academic excellence, research, and transformative student engagement experiences.
The professional selected for this position will :
- Lead the development, execution, and evaluation of New Student Orientation programs, ensuring they are engaging, inclusive, and accessible to all incoming students.
- Incorporate current research and empirical best practices in Orientation, Transition, and Retention to continuously improve program delivery and effectiveness.
- Develop and implement programs that increase access to higher education for underrepresented, first-generation, and rural students, ensuring that all students feel supported as they transition to UNM.
- Oversee a ~$1 million annual budget, generated by Student Fees and Donor Designations, ensuring sustainable program funding and fiscal responsibility.
- Manage a team of professional and student staff members who are responsible for various aspects of New Student Orientation including hiring, performance evaluation, goal-setting, coaching, training, work allocation, and problem resolution.
- Lead collaborative efforts with academic colleges, student support units, and other key stakeholders to ensure orientation programs are aligned with institutional goals for student success and retention.
- Develop and manage effective and timely communication plans to ensure incoming students and their families are well-informed about orientation timelines, expectations, and processes.
- Contribute to cross-collaborative efforts with unit-level colleagues to ensure a seamless transition from orientation to ongoing student engagement programs, such as first-year experience (FYE) courses and peer mentoring.
Anticipated Onboarding - April 2025
Note : The For Best Consideration Date has been extended to 3 / 31 / 2025 .
Conditions of Employment Minimum Qualifications
High school diploma or GED; at least 6 years of experience 2 of which are management level experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.
Preferred Qualifications
Additional Requirements CampusMain - Albuquerque, NM DepartmentAssoc VP Stu SvcCollege Enrich Prgm (027A) Employment TypeStaff Staff TypeRegular - Full-Time Term End Date StatusExempt PayMonthly : $5,200 - $6,100 (DOE) Benefits EligibleThis is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the home page for a more information.
