Class Year Experience Specialist – Student Affairs (Fixed – Term for 3 years)

Job Number

2025-15055

Position Summary

Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates. In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Class Year Experience Specialist reporting to the Class Year Experience Manager.

The Class Year Experience Specialist is a member of Student Affairs. The position has important operational support functions, inclusive of delivering Marhaba; the first-year curriculum; Ma’a Salama and Commencement activities; Class-year specific event and programming support. In addition to providing administrative support, the Specialist is responsible for supervising, recruiting, training, and overseeing the Weyak Facilitator student-staff program, inclusive of the ~34 hires. The Specialist also works closely with the Class Year Representative Committees in Student Government, leading meetings, mentoring, and training.

The role has significant administrative responsibilities, including purchasing through internal NYU systems, managing expense tracking, and will also be responsible for gathering data for reporting purposes which will include preparing reports for both internal and external stakeholders. This person will additionally support other divisional functional areas, including student activities under the Student Life department.

Key Responsibilities: 

Weyak Recruitment, Supervision and Administration

• Supervises Weyak Facilitators, including but not limited to: Recruitment, Hiring, Payment, Communications, Administration, Trainings, Early Arrival and ongoing supervisory and departmental support
• Provides Weyak training and student-staff oversight during pre-Marhaba early arrival window and throughout Marhaba and the academic year
• Conducts bi-weekly check-in meetings/trainings with the Weyak Facilitators and Weyak Program staff for pulse check-in and provide administrative support
• Ensures delivery of the fall semester Weyak Curriculum
• Maintains records in Engage for all Weyak Curriculum events, including accuracy checks, approvals, follow-ups, and attendance tracking
• Tracks budget and expenditures, evaluating invoices and resolving discrepancies. Maintains expense and reimbursement records
• Assesses programming, budget expenditures, and data collection related to the Weyak Program
• Enforces accountability measures for Weyak student-staff

 Class Year Experience Portfolio Administration

• Responds to all incoming CYE Alias emails and manages student-facing enquiries
• Liaises and collaborates with multiple stakeholders across the University (e.g. Events, Vice Chancellor's Office, Student Affairs, External Relations and Communications, Office of Undergraduate Education, Arts Center, IT, Library, etc.) to develop and coordinate summer onboarding and orientation week for the incoming class
• Coordinates with the Arts Center for Marhaba sessions with panels and guest speakers as well as student leaders’ performances
• Liaises and collaborates with multiple stakeholders across the University to develop and coordinate the celebration week for the graduating class, ‘Ma’a Salama’
• Creates website and student portal content that will be most relevant to first and senior year students and ensure it is updated regularly in preparation for onboarding
• Maintains the Marhaba and Ma’salama programming information online, both on the internal student portal and external university website
• Tracks expenses and manages payment processes for Class Year programs and other student activities throughout the academic year
• Runs the Senior Guest Flight Assistance application, including the outreach, response evaluation, grant offers, and Nirvana partner coordination
• Coordinates Ma’a Salama and Marhaba procurement processes, management of student sign ups, and ticket distribution
• Administers feedback surveys for Marhaba and Ma’a Salama programming and ensures accurate attendance tracking

 Logistical Support

• Manages and is the contact point for each Class Year Representatives for regular check-in meetings and programming support
• Coordinates logistics for Marhaba, Ma'a Salama, Weyak, and other student initiatives, inclusive of catering coordination, Engage event creation and administration, and ad hoc support
• Serves as the CYE partner outreach coordinator for presenters for Marhaba and CYE newsletters
• Leads the Marhaba Cultural outing in collaboration with internal and external partners
• Plans and executes CYE Milestone programming for each Class cohort as per the CYE Portfolio
• Supports with the delivery of Civic Engagement and Service/SLICECT Kashtah excursions
• Manages the external vendor processes, including outreach, registration, procurement, payment follow-ups, and quality assurance
• Supports Class Representatives in the procurement and distribution of class-specific merchandise
• Coordinates preparation of First-year materials, including student NYU IDs and SIM cards, in collaboration with Campus Safety and IT
• Maintains first-year student records and manages first-year parents and student lists for external mailings via NYU Direct and collaboration with institutional partners

 Domestic Student Support & Student Clubs

• Develops the supporting structures for domestic student outreach, communications, and ongoing support
• Designs and facilitates feedback surveys and focus groups to gather data on domestic student Marhaba, Ma’a Salama, and university integration experiences
• Identifies gaps and provides suggestions across Class Year programming in support of domestic students, who may or may not have a campus housing assignment
• Identifies and establishes connections within the UAE for deeper cultural immersion and intercultural competency-building opportunities for students, and works with internal stakeholders
• Develops connections between domestic students’ NYUAD experiences and the Violet Ready Competencies in order to enrich the Curriculum and learning outcomes
• Serves on the Domestic Student Support Committee
• Serves as the CYE contact point for DSAB and the UAE Majlis, supports Student Engagement team with management
• Supports Student Engagement team on keystone programs (such as National Day, Hag Al Laila, etc.)

 Other Divisional Duties

• Supports institutional activities related to student yield and onboarding, including collaborations with campus partners such as Admissions, Global Education, etc.
• Collaborates with other departments to host programming for first-year and upper-class students. Supports other divisional functional areas including campus pulse, identity interest group support, and student space activation
• Supports cross-departmental committees
• Other duties as assigned

 Required Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Required Experience: 

• 3+ years of experience in planning and organizing events and schedules. Prior experience supervising interns and/or student-staff is a must. History of advising students within an educational institution. Willingness and ability to work evenings/weekends for event support
• Critical thinking & problem-solving skills, planning & organizing, conflict management, exceptional communication skills, knowledge of project management and business analysis techniques & tools, deep cultural understanding of the UAE and ability to strengthen community ties to NYUAD
• Strong knowledge of data development processes including integration design and data modeling
• Proven ability to perform data analysis and synthesis
• Excellent documentation capabilities (effective note taking, detailed requirements documents, articulate process flows, meaningful presentations, etc.)
• Ability to manage and communicate with, a diverse set of stakeholders in both technical and non-technical environments
• Effectively using interpersonal and communications skills including tact and diplomacy
• Effectively using organizational and planning skills with attention to detail and follow through
• Effectively multitask, as well as manage, lead, and delegate tasks and authority where needed
• Maintaining confidentiality of work-related information, materials, and staff/student sensitive data
• Strong leadership capability, executing as appropriate in the areas of responsibility
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technology solutions in business terms, establish rapport and persuade others
• Ability to work autonomously with little supervision
• A demonstrated ability to Influence, provide strategic insight, communicate, lead others
• Knowledge of a variety of current and emerging technologies related to NYU’s global needs