Sr Manager, Orientation

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Management

• Directly manages and supports Orientation Advisors, including scheduling, timekeeping, performance development, and ongoing training.
• Fosters a positive, student-centered team culture aligned with institutional values and goals.

Student Experience & Support

• Oversees the delivery of the current orientation experience, ensuring high-quality, consistent support for incoming students.
• Monitors student progress through orientation and coordinate timely outreach and interventions.

Next-Generation Orientation Development

• Leads efforts to evolve the orientation model to a scalable, insight-driven experience that equips students with just-in-time information and resources.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to design, test, and implement improvements to the orientation journey.

Technology & Systems Oversight

• Manages orientation workflows and student records within Salesforce, ensuring accurate tracking and effective use of data for student outreach.
• Coordinates with technology teams to align platform functionality with evolving orientation needs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serves as a liaison between the orientation team and departments across the university to ensure alignment and coordination of student onboarding efforts.
• Advocates for orientation needs and student insights in institutional planning and decision-making.

Training & Communication

• Facilitates training and knowledge-sharing across the university regarding the orientation process and its evolution.
• Communicates changes, updates, and progress on orientation initiatives to internal stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Analyzes orientation performance metrics and feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Introduces and implements innovative practices that enhance the student onboarding experience and supports long-term student success.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Broad knowledge to lead the department.
• Advanced level knowledge and skills within a specific technical or professional discipline with understanding of the impact of work on other areas of the University
• Understanding student development, onboarding, and retention strategies in higher education.
• Familiarity with orientation best practices and student success frameworks.
• Working knowledge of CRM systems (preferably Salesforce) and data-informed outreach strategies.
• Knowledge of change management principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Awareness of trends in digital learning, student engagement, and scalable support models.
• Leadership & Supervision: Ability to effectively lead, coach, and develop a team toward high performance and student-centered service.
• Strategic Thinking: Skill in balancing current operations with forward-looking planning and transformation.
• Project Management: Proficiency in organizing and executing complex initiatives across teams and timelines.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and training delivery across audiences.
• Technology Utilization: Ability to manage and optimize workflows in CRM and student information systems.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to use data to evaluate effectiveness, identify opportunities, and make evidence-based decisions.
• Collaboration: Skill in working across departments and building consensus to drive student success outcomes.
• Ability to lead change and guide teams through transitions with clarity and empathy.
• Ability to design and implement student-centered solutions at scale.
• Ability to craft business strategy and execution plans.
• Ability to prioritize competing demands in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to advocate for students while balancing institutional goals and resource constraints.
• Ability to cultivate a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning within the team.

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field (educational technology, education, educational psychology, curriculum design),
• 5 years related leadership experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in educational technology or instructional design preferred.
• Experience working in a student success or university orientation function.

Physical Requirements:

* Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

* Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.