Program Coordinator, Office of Student Engagement

Student Engagement

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Reed College’s Student and Campus Life cluster is looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of Reed College and who demonstrate an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. We support academic belonging, diversity and respect for human dignity, and student success. We embody the values of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in programming, practice and culture as we work collaboratively to become an Anti-Racist organization.  

The Program Coordinator is responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating New Student Orientation, the Orientation and Wayfinding Leader program, and transition and retention programs of incoming students. The coordinator is an active, visible, and deeply-engaged presence on campus who also provides specific support for identity based student groups. This role reports to the Director of Student Engagement in the Student Life division. 

Reed College offers an exceptional benefits package, including comprehensive medical and dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with 10% employer contribution (after one year of service), educational assistance for employees and their children, 22 days of paid vacation, paid holidays, half-day Fridays in the summer, and many other campus amenities. 

This is a full-time, exempt role with work hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a one hour unpaid lunch. There is some evening and weekend work based upon Orientation programming and event schedules. Please note this is not a remote position. 

The starting pay for this position is $49,000/year.

Who You Are

• You are an experienced and organized event planner with strong program management skills. You always have a plan, and you can determine what is urgent versus important.

• You are highly focused on the details. You know how to go with the flow, and you are resourceful.

• You have experience holding an orientation leadership role and two years of content experience with orientation, transition, and retention programs.

• You enjoy working with students and other groups of people. You prefer a team environment at work, rather than working alone; but you are also very adept at working independently. You don’t hesitate to roll up your sleeves and pitch in.

• You always have empathy for your co-collaborators. People like working with you because you’re organized, yet flexible.

• You have a professional, adaptable communication style coupled with active listening skills.

• You are skilled in public speaking, with experience presenting to audiences of varying sizes and contexts.

• You are creative and demonstrate initiative.

• You are self-aware and understand the concerns, pressures, and inequities that first-generation students and other marginalized communities face in higher education.

• You have a demonstrated commitment to advancing equity. You are comfortable working on teams with varying gender, racial, socio-economic, ability, sexual orientation, and cultural identities.

• You are an advocate. You focus on the advancement of available services and programs to underrepresented populations.

What You’ll Do

New Student Orientation Programming 

• Design, implement, and assess August and January Orientation programs for new incoming and transfer students. Examples of key elements include designing an intentional program, coordinating the program schedule, collaborating with presenters, working with vendors, organizing social events, managing the online pre-Orientation modules, and maintaining the website

• Lead and coordinate the campus-wide Orientation Implementation Group, which is composed of many cross-functional departments on campus

• Partner with the Admission department on communications strategy, timeline, and content development

• Work and stay within the program budget and operating plan

Transition & Retention Programming 

• Design, implement, and assess transition and retention programs overseen by the Office for Student Engagement to ensure integration of first- and second-year students in the Reed community

• Create social and cultural programs that foster belonging, community, and connection for all students, with a particular focus on first-year, transfer, and non-traditional students and identity affinity groups

• Collaborate with campus stakeholders to support cultural and affinity groups

Special Populations Transition Programming 

• Design and implement cultural events during Orientation week and throughout the academic year that facilitate the transition and support students of marginalized communities, first-generation students, and transfer and non-traditional students

Supervision 

• Hire, train, and supervise approximately 20-25 student Orientation and Wayfinding Leaders, one Transfer and Non-Traditional Student Coordinator, and other student staff as needed

• Design and implement an intensive training program to equip student staff for their leadership roles during Orientation week

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelors degree or equivalent relevant work experience in lieu of degree 
• 2 years of experience in program development or project management in higher education or similar field. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Masters degree, preferably in Student Affairs, Education, Student Development Theory
• Expereince in orientation programming and event management 

Apply for this job

Reed College is committed to building a culturally inclusive community and a work environment that respects and inspires every person. Your unique skills, work history, cultural contributions, and lived experiences are essential to building this community. Members of historically marginalized groups including women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), those with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, those who have served in the military, and members of other underrepresented communities are invited to apply.