Director of Pre-Orientation

The Director of Pre-Orientation & Student Success Programs provides visionary leadership for all university-sponsored pre-orientation and student success initiatives that support the holistic transition of new undergraduate students. Grounded in the Jesuit tradition and commitment to cura personalis—care for the whole person—this role designs and oversees programs that foster intellectual curiosity, personal reflection, community engagement, and a sense of belonging prior to the start of the academic year and throughout students’ first year experience with the institution.The Director advances the University’s mission by creating inclusive, values-centered pre-orientation experiences that encourage learning and engagement, while also leading strategic outreach efforts to ensure strong student awareness, participation, and outcomes.Position Specific Responsibilities/AccountabilitiesMission-Centered Leadership, Program Development & OutreachProvide strategic leadership and vision for all pre-orientation programs, ensuring alignment with Jesuit values, institutional mission, and student learning goals.Design and oversee programs that support students’ intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, and ethical development.Integrate reflection, meaning-making, and community-building into pre-orientation experiences.Promote inclusive excellence by developing programs that support students from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences.Establish clear participation goals for each pre-orientation program and lead strategies to meet or exceed student enrollment targets.Lead long-range planning to ensure program innovation, sustainability, and responsiveness to emerging student needs. Scale programs as directed by senior leadership.Student Outreach & Enrollment StrategyDevelop and implement comprehensive outreach plans to promote pre-orientation programs to incoming students and families.Create, oversee, and approve content, including website copy, portal content, email campaigns, social media messaging, and print materials.Collaborate with Marketing and Communications, Admissions, and all other stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging, branding, and timing of outreach.Utilize data to segment audiences and tailor communications to reach diverse student populations effectively.Monitor registration trends and engagement metrics; adjust outreach strategies in real time to achieve participation targets.Ensure marketing practices reflect accessibility standards, inclusive language, and Jesuit values.Administrative & Operational ManagementOversee all operational aspects of pre-orientation programs, including planning timelines, logistics, contracts, registration systems, housing, dining, transportation, and risk management.Develop, manage, and steward program budgets with a commitment to responsible resource use.Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and assessment practices that support student learning, safety, and operational effectiveness.Ensure compliance with university policies, accessibility standards, and applicable regulations.Supervision, Training & Leadership FormationRecruit, hire, supervise, and evaluate professional and student staff supporting pre-orientation initiatives. Coordinate student leader scheduling in a manner that accommodates other departmental responsibilities.Mentor student leaders, emphasizing leadership development, reflection, skill building, and professional competencies.Develop and deliver nuanced training programs for any students, staff, or faculty involved with pre-orientation and student success programs, identifying training topics most appropriate for individual pre-orientation programs.Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and engaged team culture.Collaboration & Community EngagementPartner with campus colleagues across Academic Affairs, Campus Ministry, Student Affairs, Admissions, Campus Safety Services, and Enrollment Management to support a seamless new student transition.Collaborate with faculty and staff to incorporate academic engagement and faculty expertise into pre-orientation programs.Serve on institutional committees and working groups focused on student transition, engagement, and retention.Represent the University in regional and national professional associations related to orientation, transition, and retention programming.Programming & Strategic InitiativesSupervise assigned new student orientation and welcome weekend programming.Provide leadership to all institutional yield, registration, orientation, and first-year retention initiatives.Collaborate with the Assistant Vice Provost of Orientation, Transition, and New Student Success to guide assigned year-round, strategic enrollment initiatives that contribute to academic progression, retention, and graduation.Innovate departmental programming to reflect best practices and meet the evolving needs of new students.Assessment, Learning & Continuous ImprovementDesign and implement assessment strategies that evaluate student learning outcomes, engagement, sense of belonging, and participation trends.Analyze participation data, marketing effectiveness, and student feedback to inform program and outreach improvements.Prepare reports and presentations for senior leadership demonstrating program impact, enrollment outcomes, and alignment with institutional goals.Develop expertise on best practices in pre-orientation and transition programming and incorporate mission-aligned, innovative practices into pre-orientation curriculum.Loyola Marymount University ExpectationsExhibit behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the university. Communicate and employ interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct. Demonstrate a commitment to outstanding customer service.Requisite QualificationsTypically a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Counseling, Psychology, Project Management, Marketing, or a related field or equivalent experience. Incumbent will be expected to continue upgrading knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to keep abreast of regulation/policy changes.Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in higher education, orientation, enrollment management, event planning, operations, transition programs, admissions, student affairs, or related functional areas.Demonstrated success managing complex programs, logistics, contracts, staff, and large-scale outreach efforts.Strong initiative and attention to detail with a track record of successful project management and completion.Experience developing outreach plans and using data to drive strategic program enrollment and growth.Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.Preferred QualificationsDirect experience leading pre-orientation or extended orientation programs.Experience with assessment, data-informed decision-making, and analytics.Working Conditions & ExpectationsEvening and weekend work required during peak summer and pre-orientation periods.Availability for overnight travel required for pre-orientation program supervision.This role is a campus-based position that works on the Loyola Marymount University Westchester campus in Los Angeles, California.The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of this position.#HERC# #HEJ#Staff RegularSalary range$78,600.00 - $102,200.00 Salary commensurate with education and experience.Please note that this position may not be eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future.Loyola Marymount University, a Carnegie classified R2 institution in the mainstream of American Catholic higher education, seeks outstanding applicants who value its mission and share its commitment to inclusive excellence, the education of the whole person, and the building of a just society. LMU is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment as defined by federal, state and local law. We invite all persons in the full diversity of their being, life experience, and beliefs to apply. (Visit www.lmu.edu for more information.)