Assistant Director of Orientation and Events

NAU is a community devoted to student success and sustained by an unshakable commitment to our shared mission, vision, and values. We—faculty, staff, and administrators—thrive by combining our efforts and working side by side to further NAU’s culture of excellence.

A resume, cover letter, and three professional references are required in addition to the application.

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Northern Arizona University has implemented a salary reduction with personal flex time program in fiscal year 2021, as a result of COVID-19. It is possible for this position to be subject to this program. Details can be found on the HR website.

The Assistant Director of Orientation and Events is an integral position within the University Admissions office and is responsible for planning, oversight, and execution of all aspects of Orientation and event programming for prospective and incoming students. This position has oversight responsibilities for on-campus and off-campus recruitment events, as well as, effectively transitioning more than 7,000 students to campus each recruitment cycle.

Position responsibilities include:

• Serve as a member of the department’s leadership team by participating in strategic planning, staffing decisions and other key areas.


• Responsible for the oversight and direction of the Coordinators for Events, Coordinator for the Welcome Center and two Graduate Assistants, with ultimate responsibility for the evaluation of recruitment and orientation event programming and planning. Between all event and orientation programs, this position is charged with the successful execution of programming for nearly 50,000 prospective students and guests across 120+ events yearly.


• Supervises the Coordinator for Events and consults on the development, logistics, facilitation, execution, and evaluation of major, high profile recruitment programs and projects such as Discover NAU and Special Visit Days.


• Supervises a large team of student True Blue Ambassadors whom are responsible for the execution of Daily Campus Visits, Discover NAU, special visit days, spring and summer orientation programs.


• Directs the development, facilitation, training, hiring and supervision of the True Blue Ambassador Program within the office. This includes leadership initiatives and mentoring programs.


• Creates curriculum, enrolls students and facilitates trainings.


• Creates and facilitates programming related to First Year, Transfer, Veteran, and International Student Orientations.


• A member of the Leadership Team within University Admissions office and works collaboratively with the Director to facilitate strategic vision for events and orientation.


• Works collaboratively with the Enrollment Management Communications and University Marketing areas of the University in the development of promotional event and orientation materials.


• Conduct research as appropriate to projects or initiatives within the department, such as all assessment of freshman and transfer orientations of students and families/guests.


• Stays abreast of regional and national orientation trends and reports back to University leadership on best practices for orientation programming to allow the University to stay current in its orientation programming.


• Provide guidance and consistency in policy and procedure decisions within work unit.


• Represent the department on various committees, work groups and employee forums.


• Other duties as assigned.