Orientation Jobs
Orientation Crew Leader
Volunteer Position
What You’ll Gain from This Role
- Leadership Experience: Guide a small group, help run Orientation activities, and influence the first days of a student’s Gordon journey.
- A Supportive Team Environment: Collaborate with fellow student leaders and build connections through shared training, service, and time together.
- Professional Skill-Building: Strengthen communication, organization, mentoring, and problem-solving skills.
- Resume-Ready Experience: Demonstrates initiative, responsibility, teamwork, and service.
- Personal & Spiritual Growth: Grow through leading others and serving with purpose.
- Early Move-In Perk: Return to campus early to get settled and prepare with your team.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Create a space of welcome, belonging, and excitement for incoming students.
- Organize and directly deliver programs and activities during Orientation Week to aid new students in their transition to Gordon.
- Facilitate relationships and learning by leading a small group of incoming students.
Requirement of O Staff candidates:
- Distinct evidence of Christian character and commitment.
- Must be in good standing with the college (including Chapel requirements).
- Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher.
- Be willing to return to Gordon on August 17 for training.
Required knowledge, skills and abilities:
- Confident oral and written communication skills, including the ability to occasionally speak in public.
- Ability to relate in a courteous and professional manner with students, faculty, and staff at all levels of the college community.
- Ability to work independently or in small teams with a positive spirit.
Position timeline:
- Spring Semester: Attend spring training
- Summer (late July): Reach out to each student in your small group
- August: Arrive to campus on August 17 for pre-season training and fun
Applications will be available in the spring semester.
Orientation Core Staff
Paid Position
What You’ll Gain from This Role
Serving on Orientation Core Staff offers meaningful leadership development and hands-on experience in training, mentoring, and program coordination. Core Staff gain:
- Leadership experience guiding Orientation Crew Leaders
- Mentorship and team development skills
- Event planning and execution experience during Orientation Welcome Week
- Professional communication practice with students, staff, and campus partners
- Organizational and project management skills
- A chance to shape the new-student experience and help incoming students feel welcomed and supported
Essential Responsibilities:
- Partner with Orientation Student Directors and the Director of First Year Experience to implement Orientation Welcome Week
- Recruit, train, and mentor Orientation Crew Leaders
- Develop and support a designated core crew of Crew Leaders throughout the spring and summer
- Manage a specific Orientation program area (assigned in spring)
- Help foster team unity, communication, and mission-minded hospitality
- Support logistics and tasks assigned for Orientation Welcome Week
Requirement of O Staff candidates:
- Distinct evidence of Christian character and commitment
- Must be in good academic and community standing
- Must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher
Required Skills
- General computer proficiency (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Canvas)
- Strong oral and written communication, including public speaking
- Ability to relate professionally with students, faculty, and staff
- Strong organizational skills and reliability
- Able to work independently with minimal supervision
Physical & Work Expectations
- Ability to stand and move around campus for extended periods during Core Staff Training and Orientation Week.
- Ability to lift, carry, or move materials (typically up to 20–25 pounds).
- Flexibility to work long or irregular hours during Orientation Week, including early mornings and evenings.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment during Welcome Week.
Position Timeline
Spring Semester
- Weekly hour-long Core Staff meetings
- Quad 3 focus: team development and healthy working dynamics
- Quad 4 focus: recruit, hire, and train Orientation Crew Leaders
- Lead and mentor your assigned core crew of Crew Leaders
- Receive your assigned Orientation program role
- Attend the Core Staff Retreat (weekend)
Summer
- A few touchpoints with coordinators and director, and reaching out to your core crew
August
- Return to campus in mid-August for Core Staff and full Orientation staff training
- Execute assigned Orientation program roles
- Lead and support Crew Leaders as they care for incoming students
Payment
- Paid hourly for weekly Core Staff meetings during the spring semester
- Not paid for preparation work outside meeting hours
- Receive a $500 leadership grant for August Orientation responsibilities
Applications will be available in the fall semester.
Orientation Student Director
Paid Position
What You’ll Gain from This Role
This role provides meaningful leadership experience and professional development that will strengthen your confidence, communication, and ability to manage complex projects. Students who serve as Orientation Student Directors gain:
- High-level leadership experience coordinating teams and major college-wide programs
- Project management skills across long-term planning, timelines, and event execution
- Staff training and mentorship experience through leading Core Staff and Crew Leaders
- Professional communication practice with students, faculty, and campus departments
Position Overview
The Orientation Student Director is a key student leadership role within the Orientation program. Student Directors work closely with the Director of First Year Experience to plan, organize, and implement Orientation Welcome Week, as well as train and mentor the student leaders who support new students. This role combines project management, team development, hospitality, and behind-the-scenes logistical planning to help create a welcoming, successful start for incoming students.
Essential Responsibilities
- Team Training & Leadership
- Train and develop the Orientation Core Staff throughout the spring semester.
- Equip the Core Staff to recruit, interview, hire, and train Orientation Crew Leaders.
- Facilitate or co-lead weekly Core Staff meetings and the spring Core Staff Retreat.
- Provide leadership and support to Core Staff and Crew Leaders during Orientation Week.
- Planning & Logistics
- Collaborate with the Director of First Year Experience and the additional Orientation Student Director to plan and execute Orientation Welcome Week.
- Assist with scheduling, event logistics, communication timelines, purchasing, speaker coordination and preparation of materials for training and Welcome Week.
- Support coordination across departments that partner in Orientation programming (Residence Life, CTS, Physical Plant, Dining Services, Academics, Presidents Office, Etc.)
- Collaboration & Communication
- Communicate regularly and professionally with the Director of First Year Experience, Core Staff, and campus partners.
- Assist in preparing clear written communications and resources for incoming students and families (emails, social media, videos).
- Attend regular planning meetings and follow through on assigned responsibilities.
- Orientation Week Execution
- Provide on-the-ground leadership throughout Core Staff Training and Orientation Welcome Week.
- Troubleshoot issues, assist with event management, and support team members in real-time.
- Represent the Orientation program with warmth, hospitality, and professionalism.
Required Qualifications
- Distinct evidence of Christian character and commitment.
- Must be in good standing with the college.
- Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Strong general computer proficiency (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Canvas).
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to speak in public.
- Ability to work independently, stay organized, and manage multiple responsibilities.
- Ability to work professionally with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.
- Previous involvement in Orientation (Core Staff or Crew Leader) is preferred but not required.
Physical & Work Expectations
- Ability to stand and move around campus for extended periods during Core Staff Training and Orientation Week.
- Ability to lift, carry, or move materials (typically up to 20–25 pounds).
- Flexibility to work long or irregular hours during Orientation Week, including early mornings and evenings.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment during Welcome Week.
Position Timeline
- Fall Semester
- If hired before winter break, begin supporting recruitment, interviewing, and selection of Orientation Core Staff.
- Meet with the Director of First Year Experience and additional Student Director to begin preliminary planning for the spring semester.
- Spring Semester
- Attend weekly planning meetings with the Director of First Year Experience and the other Student Director.
- Participate in weekly one-hour Core Staff meetings.
- Quad 3: Focus on team culture, understanding team dynamics, and preparing for recruitment.
- Quad 4: Assist in the recruitment, hiring, and training of Orientation Crew Leaders.
- Help plan and attend the weekend Core Staff Retreat.
- Summer (beginning July 1)
- Work regular hours in the Student Life office under the supervision of the Director of First Year Experience.
- Support final planning and preparation for Core Staff Training and Orientation Welcome Week.
- Orientation Week
- Lead daily logistics, schedules, and team coordination during Core Staff Training and Orientation Welcome Week.
- Provide hands-on support and leadership to Core Staff and Crew Leaders throughout the week.
Compensation
- Fall & Spring Semesters
- Paid hourly for all scheduled meetings with the Director of First Year Experience and for all Core Staff meetings.
- Preparation work outside of these scheduled meetings is not paid.
- Summer
- Paid hourly for regular workdays (8:30 AM- 4:30 PM) in the Student Life Office.
- Workdays include a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.
- Student Directors may take a small number of unpaid vacation days during the summer with prior approval from the Director of First Year Experience.
- Staff Training and Orientation Week
- $1,000 leadership grant.
- Student Directors do not submit hours once Core Staff Training begins.
Applications will be available in the fall semester.