Edtech.com's Summary

University of Texas at Austin is hiring a Director for Family Engagement to lead the university's strategy for connecting parents and families from admission through graduation. The role oversees signature programs such as Family Orientation and Family Weekend, directs the Texas Parents Association and its philanthropic initiatives, and guides family communications and issue resolution across campus. A team of professional staff supports the unit's budgets, revenue operations, and partnerships with enrollment management, student life, and development colleagues.

Highlights

Leads Family Orientation, Family Weekend, and year-round engagement programming for parents and families.
Directs the Texas Parents Association's membership, philanthropy, and revenue strategy.
Sets the university-wide vision and multi-year strategy for engaging parents and families across the student lifecycle.
Oversees a comprehensive family communications strategy, including the Texas Parents and Families Portal, newsletters, and email campaigns.
Supervises and develops a team of professional staff while managing unit budgets, staffing plans, and vendor contracts.
Builds partnerships with colleges, Enrollment Management, and other campus stakeholders to advance family engagement goals.
Requires a master's degree in higher education, student affairs, or a related field and six or more years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs, advancement, or communications.
Prefers candidates with experience at a large public research university and knowledge of FERPA, student privacy, and risk management.
Offers a salary starting at $90,000, depending on qualifications.

Director for Family Engagement Full Description

Purpose

The Director for Family Engagement provides leadership and operational oversight for the University's comprehensive engagement of parents and families from admission through graduation. The position leads Family Engagement and Texas Parents as a stand-alone unit within Student Life and ensures that families are informed, connected, and equipped to support student success while respecting student autonomy and privacy.

The Director develops and implements the unit's strategy for family engagement; oversees signature programs including Family Orientation and Family Weekend; directs the Texas Parents Association, membership, and philanthropic initiatives; leads family communications and resource navigation; supervises staff; manages budgets and revenue-generating operations; and builds partnerships across the University.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Family Engagement Strategy

Establish and implement a university-wide vision and multi-year strategy for engaging parents and families across the student lifecycle, aligned with institutional priorities and Student Life goals
Position Family Engagement as the University's primary resource for parents and families
Provide the Assistant Vice President and campus partners with insight on emerging parent and family needs, expectations, concerns, and trends
Ensure engagement strategies are welcoming and accessible to families with varied backgrounds

Signature Programs and Year-Round Engagement

Provide leadership and oversight for Family Orientation, Family Weekend, Mooov-In engagement, regional gatherings, webinars, resource fairs, and receptions
Partner with Longhorn Orientation to align Family Orientation with the new-student transition
Develop a year-round engagement calendar responsive to key moments in the student experience
Oversee Texas Parents awards, scholarships, and recognition programs

Family Communications, Resource Navigation, and Issues Management

Lead a comprehensive communications strategy for parents and families, including the Texas Parents and Families Portal, websites, newsletters, and email campaigns
Ensure communications are accurate, timely, and coordinated with University messaging
Oversee high-quality response and referral services for families, including escalation of sensitive or urgent concerns
Represent Family Engagement as a University spokesperson for family audiences

Texas Parents Association, Revenue, and Philanthropic Engagement

Direct the Texas Parents Association, including membership strategy, benefits, retention, and partner relations
Provide strategic and financial oversight for a largely self-sustaining operation
Collaborate with development and advancement partners to strengthen parent philanthropy and donor stewardship
Ensure accurate gift, membership, and revenue administration and compliance with University requirements

Organizational Leadership and Operational Stewardship

Recruit, supervise, develop, and evaluate professional staff
Oversee unit operations, budgets, staffing plans, contracts, and vendor relationships
Develop sustainable business practices, standard operating procedures, and continuity plans
Exercise sound judgment managing reputational, financial, operational, privacy, and safety risks

Campus Partnerships, Assessment, and Continuous Improvement

Build and sustain partnerships with colleges and schools, Enrollment Management, and other campus stakeholders
Represent Student Life on University committees and in professional networks
Establish learning and program outcomes; use data to assess impact and guide resource allocation
Monitor national research, professional standards, and emerging practices in family engagement

Required Qualifications

Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, communications, business, public administration, or a related field
At least six years of progressively responsible experience in parent and family programs, student affairs, student success, alumni or constituent engagement, advancement, enrollment management, or communications, including program or team leadership responsibility
Demonstrated success developing strategy and leading complex, high-visibility programs within a large organization
Experience supervising and developing professional staff and leading teams through change
Experience managing substantial budgets, revenue-generating activities, contracts, or financial operations
Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, interpersonal, and customer-service skills
Demonstrated ability to build partnerships, influence without direct authority, and navigate sensitive situations
Experience using assessment, engagement, operational, or financial data to inform decisions
Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, peak periods, and University events as required

Preferred Qualifications

Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience, including leadership of parent and family engagement or a comparable constituent-facing portfolio
Experience at a large, complex, public research university
Experience leading family orientation, family weekend, membership, advancement, donor stewardship, or large-scale event portfolios
Experience overseeing a self-sustaining or auxiliary-style operation and developing diversified revenue strategies
Knowledge of FERPA, student privacy, risk management, accessibility, and records management
Experience with constituent relationship management, family engagement, event registration, or digital communication platforms such as CampusESP
Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish

Salary Range

$90,000+ depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

Standard office environment; full-time, in-person

Required Materials

Resume/CV
3 work references with contact information; at least one from a supervisor
Letter of interest

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Director for Family Engagement

Edtech.com's Summary

Director for Family Engagement Full Description

Assistant Director of Student Advocacy and Assistance

Dean, Professional Studies

Executive Vice President and Provost

Dean College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

Dean, School of Education