Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Manager of New Student Engagement

Class: Management | Exempt status: Exempt | Grade: L

The Manager of New Student Engagement serves as the College’s leader for early engagement and onboarding support of new and re-engaging College students. This position oversees College-wide onboarding and orientation programming, including new student advising and registration support, course placement guidance, college readiness assessment, connections to support programs, and resource referrals. The Manager of New Student Engagement is responsible for meeting the needs of a diverse community of learners through the development and delivery of a highly accessible new student experience that fosters a sense of belonging, provides critical information, aids in decision-making, and makes connections to resources and support. The incumbent works closely with Admissions & Recruitment and Academic & Career Pathway Guidance teams to ensure a seamless, coordinated, and supportive onboarding experience from point of entry, to coordinated transition, to pathway academic advising, and to goal completion.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides strategic and operational leadership and accountability for administrative policies, procedures, systems and practices related to the onboarding of new and re-engaging students, course placement guidance, college readiness assessment, first term advising and registration, new student programming, and supporting early connections to support and resources.
2. Oversees the planning, design, coordination and implementation of College-wide new student preparation and engagement initiatives; sets expectations with staff and ensures consistency of practice and quality of service.
3. Ensures culturally responsive and inclusive new student programming and service delivery that centers historically underserved and marginalized communities; accountable for flexible service delivery modalities that support access and equitable student outcomes.
4. Responsible for implementation of multiple measures system of course placement advising; coordinates with faculty and managers in Academic & Career Pathways to evaluate and continuously improve placement measures and guidance tools/process for accurate course placement.
5. Partners closely with Advising & Career Services and Academic & Career Pathways to integrate program information/requirements and orientation programming that supports early connections to career exploration and enables early identification of program/pathway intent.
6. Oversees the development and implementation of peer advising/guidance programming.
7. Conducts ongoing needs assessment and gap analysis related to assessment of readiness, new student onboarding, course placement, first term advising and registration needs. Recommends and implements modification of programming and services for continuous process and outcomes improvement.
8. Builds and maintains collaborative and productive partnerships across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, administrative/systems services, and shared governance bodies in order to integrate institutional effectiveness and planning efforts for holistic and seamless experience for new students from onboarding to assigned advising; provides leadership and facilitation of cross-functional work related to admissions, onboarding, student belonging/wellbeing, and new student advising and programming.
9. Ensures staff knowledge of, and institutional compliance with, federal/state/College regulations, policies, and guidance related to new student enrollment, course placement, orientation, and program/pathway advising.
10. Oversees, analyzes, and makes budget decisions in alignment with College strategic plan, values and priorities. Forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies for new student programming. Approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate.
11. Supervises academic professionals, classified staff, technical/support staff, interns and/or student staff. Reinforces staff’s development of PCC’s leadership competencies. Evaluates, supports, and provides guidance on professional development plans and goals for assigned areas of responsibility in accordance with practices, policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Hires, evaluates, trains, disciplines and recommends dismissal of staff as necessary.
12. Implements and promotes advancement of the district’s equity goals and assists in the hiring of a staff that reflects the diversity of the district. Enhances equity-minded talent management, including recruiting, hiring, and employee retention practices.
13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work environment includes frequent disruptions and changes in priorities. Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Working hours may vary and occasional evening or weekend work is required. Frequent travel to other locations is required. No special coordination beyond that used for normal mobility and handling of everyday objects and materials is needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s Degree in a student services related field, Education, Business, or other related field. Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience working in higher education student activities providing program/project management or coordination. Two (2) years of management/supervisory experience.

OR Bachelor’s Degree in a student services related field, Education, Business, or other related field AND five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience working in higher education student activities providing program/project management or coordination. Two (2) or more years of management/supervisory experience.

OR Bachelor’s Degree in any field AND seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience working in higher education student activities providing program/project management or coordination. Two (2) or more years of management/supervisory experience.

OR nine (9) years of progressively responsible professional experience working in higher education student activities providing program/project management or coordination. Two (2) years of management/supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Supervisory principles;
• Program development, budgeting, and management;
• Policy and procedure development and administration;
• Public administration and higher education principles and practices;
• Applicable local, state and federal laws, codes, rules, and regulations;
• Health, safety and emergency preparation, business and operational continuity, and response.

Skills in:

• Strategic leadership and management;
• Planning, implementing, improving, and evaluating operations, programs, policies, procedures, financials;
• Evaluating research to identify potential solutions, resolve problems, and provide information;
• Utilizing data and assessment outcomes for communication and making continuous improvements for programs and services;
• Working with diverse academic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and staff.

Ability to:

• Communicate and execute a vision for student-centered (flexible, multimodal) delivery of services through oral and written mediums;
• Drive systemic change for racial and social equity and justice;
• Manage and mediate conflict and sensitive topics;
• Counsel, direct, and facilitate professional development of employees while motivating them toward goal achievement;
• Apply independent judgment to interpretation and application of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

New: 5/2021

Portland Community College is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.