Covenant College
Join a team of employees who are committed to an exciting mission to offer the world biblically grounded men and women equipped to live out extraordinary callings in ordinary places. Covenant College is a community committed to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, and everything we do is grounded in our Reformed theology and worldview.
Covenant has a beautiful 400-acre campus that stretches atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia on the Georgia/Tennessee border, just outside of Chattanooga. The community is a hub of vibrant cultural, educational, business, high-tech and entertainment activity and is an affordable place to live or raise a family. The campus enjoys incredible vistas of the Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau with views that span across several states. The region is widely known as an outdoor recreational paradise for campers, boaters, cyclists, climbers, cavers and hikers, all this while being conveniently located within two hours of Atlanta, Nashville and Knoxville.
Job Description
Summary:
The Director of First-Year Experience & Integration provides leadership and oversight for the transition, development, and flourishing of first-year students at Covenant College. This role leads New Student Orientation, year-long first-year programming, and targeted academic support coordination, with particular attention to international student integration and support. Working collaboratively across Student Development, the Center for Student Success, and the Center for Calling and Career, this position advances initiatives that promote belonging, spiritual formation, vocational readiness, retention, and student success
Responsibilities:
New Student Orientation & Transition
- Lead the design, implementation, and assessment of comprehensive Orientation programs for all new students, including international students and special populations.
- Coordinate pre-arrival communication, logistics, staffing, training of orientation leaders, family engagement, and program evaluation.
- Ensure orientation effectively introduces academic expectations, campus resources, community values, and mission-centered student life.
International Student Care & Integration
- Develop and oversee programming and support structures that promote the academic success, cultural adjustment, spiritual formation, and belonging of international students.
- Provide ongoing care, advocacy, and connection for international students beyond orientation.
- Partner with academic and student life offices to address transition challenges and foster intercultural engagement across campus.
First-Year Experience (FYE) Programming
- Develop and manage a cohesive, mission-aligned first-year experience strategy that supports academic adjustment, community connection, and holistic development.
- Collaborate with campus partners to integrate co-curricular and academic resources into the first-year student experience.
- Assess program effectiveness and contribute to retention and engagement outcomes.
Academic Support & Program Coordination
- Provide oversight and strategic partnership for first-year students participating in the Highland Academic Program or other academic support initiatives.
- Collaborate with academic support staff and faculty to strengthen student skill development, accountability, and persistence.
Vocational Readiness & Calling
- Partner with the Center for Calling and Career to integrate vocational exploration and calling formation into first-year programming.
- Facilitate initiatives that help students begin discerning their gifts, interests, and vocational pathways.
Retention, Formation & Leadership
- Contribute to institutional retention strategies, including early alert collaboration and data-informed interventions for at-risk students.
- Supervise student leaders (e.g., orientation leaders, peer mentors) and support their development.
- Lead assessment and reporting efforts related to Orientation and First-Year Experience programs.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Student Development to support the mission and operational needs of Covenant College.
Core Competencies
- Mission Alignment - Demonstrates commitment to Covenant's Christ-centered mission and Reformed identity.
- Student Development Expertise - Strong understanding of first-year transition, retention, and student success strategies.
- Program Development & Assessment - Ability to design, implement, and evaluate student programs.
- Intercultural Competence - Experience supporting diverse student populations, including international students.
- Collaboration - Works effectively across departments and with faculty, staff, and student leaders.
- Communication - Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Organization & Project Management - Ability to manage complex programs and timelines
Qualifications:
Required
- Bachelor's degree.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in orientation, first-year experience, student development, or student retention initiatives.
- Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
Preferred
- Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Development, Counseling, or related field.
- Experience working with international students or intercultural programming.
Additional Eligibility Requirements:
- Acceptance of and commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
- Commitment to the mission and purpose of Covenant College.
- Ability to integrate faith with student development and support the spiritual formation of students.
- Must be able to assent to Covenant College's Staff Commitments
Physical Work Environment:
Work is performed primarily on campus with regular interaction with students, faculty, and staff. Standard business hours apply, with frequent evening and weekend responsibilities during orientation periods, events, and key points in the academic calendar.
Position Classification:
Department/Unit: Student Development
Job Title: Director of First-Year Experience & Integration
Job Status: Regular full-time, 11 months (July- May) FLSA Exempt
Reports to: Vice President Student Development
Job Class: Professional
Job Type: Permanent
Benefit Eligible: Yes
To Apply:
Interested applicants should apply at https://www.covenant.edu/about/employment. Please attach all required supporting documents to your application. Applications submitted without these documents will not be considered.
Required documents for this position include:
- Letter of interest
- Résumé - including contact information for three references
- A statement or expression of your personal faith or Christian experience.
- A short essay describing how you understand and would integrate discipleship into first-year programming in a Christian higher education context.