Assistant Director

Pittsburg State University is accepting applications for an Assistant Director in the department of First Year Programs that is responsible for providing leadership, coordination, and assessment of initiatives designed to support the successful transition, engagement, and retention of first-year students. This position develops and implements programs such as orientation, first-year experience curriculum, and student success initiatives; delivers proactive advising and intervention for at-risk students; and utilizes data-informed practices to improve outcomes. The Assistant Director collaborates with campus partners to advance institutional retention goals and enhance the overall first-year student experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Leadership & First-Year Experience Initiatives - 25%

• Provides leadership for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of first-year experience programs, including New Student Orientation, Gorilla Gateway, transition programs, and extended orientation initiatives (e.g., Gorillas Pursuing Success/GPS)
• Develops curriculum, learning outcomes, and program materials that support student transition, engagement, and academic success
• Oversees the selection, training, scheduling, and supervision of student leaders, including development of training programs and/or credit-bearing coursework
• Coordinates logistics and delivery of orientation sessions and transitions programming, ensuring a high-quality and consistent student experience

Student Success, Advising & Intervention - 20%

• Advises a caseload of exploratory/undeclared students, assisting with goal setting, academic planning, and timely progression toward degree completion
• Provides proactive outreach, support, and intervention for students experiencing academic or personal barriers, including referrals to campus resources
• Supports and/or coordinates early alert and student success initiatives, including outreach, follow-up, and case management for at-risk students
• Maintains accurate advising and student interaction records and utilizes advising data to inform student support strategies

Assessment, Data Analysis & Strategic Initiatives - 15%

• Leads assessment efforts for First Year Programs, including development of student learning outcomes, data collection, analysis, and reporting of program effectiveness
• Utilizes institutional data (retention, persistence, engagement metrics) and student feedback to inform program improvements and decision-making
• Collaborates with campus partners to align first-year initiatives with institutional strategic goals related to retention and student success
• Assists in preparing reports and presentations that communicate program outcomes and impact to stakeholders

Outreach, Communication & Enrollment Engagement - 10%

• Develops and implements strategic communication plans to engage prospective, incoming, and current first-year students using CRM systems, texting platforms, email campaigns, and other communication tools
• Coordinates targeted outreach initiatives to increase student participation in programs and services
• Supports communication and engagement efforts with families of first-year students during orientation and transition periods
• Leads or supports student outreach teams, including hiring, training, and supervision of student staff involved in communication initiatives

Collaboration & Campus Partnerships - 10%

• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with academic departments, student services offices, and campus stakeholders to enhance student support and streamline referrals
• Partners with faculty to support first-year curriculum initiatives, including first-year seminars, academic success programming, and classroom-based interventions
• Represents First Year Programs on campus committees and initiatives related to student success and retention

Supervision & Staff Development - 10%

• Supervises, trains, schedules, and evaluates student employees and orientation leaders
• Provides ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional development opportunities to student staff
• Assists with onboarding and development of new staff within First Year Programs as needed

Administrative & Operational Responsibilities - 5%

• Assists with management of program budgets, including planning and tracking of expenditures
• Coordinates academic success programming such as workshops, seminars, and skill-building sessions
• Maintains knowledge of university policies, resources, and best practices in student success and first-year experience
• Participates in professional development opportunities to remain current in the field

Other Duties - 5%

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of First Year Programs to support departmental and institutional priorities

Education and Experience

Required Education and Experience - Time of Hire

• Master's degree
• Minimum of 1 year of full-time experience in a related field (2 years as a graduate assistant in a similar university program may be substituted for experience)

Candidates must hold a master's degree. This degree requirement ensures candidates possess the advanced theoretical knowledge, highly specialized methodologies, and critical problem-solving skills fundamental to this work. These competencies are typically developed and rigorously validated only through the comprehensive curriculum and intensive experiential experience inherent in a formal degree program.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master's degree in college student personnel, educational leadership, higher education or related field
• Experience with retention and student success initiatives

Screening Services (Background Checks): Your employment with Pittsburg State University is contingent on a satisfactory criminal background and sex offender check.

Salary Range: $44,000.00 - $50,000.00 annually

Job Type: Unclassified

Appointment Duration: 12 months

Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, weekends as needed, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, evenings as needed

Application Documents Required*:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Names and Contact Details for three (3) Professional References
• Transcripts
• Consolidate into two documents to upload.

Open Until Filled with a first consideration date of July 21st, 2026.

Search Committee Chair: Kim Hull, khull@pittstate.edu

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

PSU will only accept applications submitted through this process.

Pittsburg State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing a respectful and supportive environment for all employees.

About Pittsburg State University

Founded in 1903, Pittsburg State's 373-acre campus is a beautiful blend of historic buildings and modern facilities, including state-of-the-art athletics, arts, and research facilities.

Its residential and online undergraduate and graduate student population of nearly 6,000 is guided by an exceptionally talented and dedicated faculty, staff, and administrative team.

Pitt State's hands-on learning environment and engagement by alumni working in a variety of professional sectors creates incredible academic, internship, and employment opportunities for students. Academic programs often bring home national honors.

The university enjoys a close relationship with Pittsburg residents as well as city and business leaders. Throughout town, you'll see gorilla statues in front lawns and red and gold Gorilla spirit at local businesses. Students, faculty, and staff are highly engaged in the local school district and with service projects, and in turn the community is highly supportive of and engaged in university activities.

Faculty, staff, and students have access to many amenities, including discounts and free access to concerts, plays, athletic events on campus as well as discounts on meals and services off campus.

Pitt State has developed unique partnerships in downtown Pittsburg, 1.4 miles north of the main campus. There, Block22 and the historic Hotel Besse offer innovative student housing options and the new Kelce College of Business building, scheduled to open in July 2026, will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, collaboration spaces, and space for professional development and public events.

The university has earned institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and two elite classifications from the Carnegie Foundation.