The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.
If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or jobs@unr.edu. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778.
Job Description
Join the New Student Initiatives team as an Orientation Team Leader (OTL) and gain hands-on experience in leadership, program management, and student engagement during the Spring and Summer semesters. You’ll assist with the planning, development, and execution of orientation programs that help incoming students transition to campus life. This includes leading training sessions, mentoring a team of Orientation Leaders, and creating engaging activities to enhance student success and retention. You will also attend leadership training sessions during the Spring semester, are eligible to attend the NODA Region II conference for professional development, and play a key role in planning Welcome Weekend and other student events. This opportunity is perfect for students looking to build leadership skills, collaborate.
Responsibilities
Orientation Interns report to the Assistant Director and Program Coordinator, New Student Initiatives.
Required to attend 7 leadership and training sessions during the Spring Semester.
Required to attend a 2-3-day Orientation Leader Training retreat before the Orientation Leader training program begins.
Invited to attend the NODA conference for professional development from Friday, February 20 – Sunday, February 22 in Irvine, CA.
Assist the Assistant Director and Program Coordinator, New Student Initiatives in the development of one of the following orientation program trainings – social media, logistics, family engagement, and student engagement. (will lead the training on these subjects during the orientation leader training)
Create additional training materials and present them during the Orientation Leader training. These items will focus on the mission and values of UNR’s student services division, as well as additional content to help train and develop orientation leaders. Sessions include but not limited to the Welcome Session, Closing Session, DEI, Leadership Development, Small Group Development, Tours, and Campus Traditions.
Assist with the Orientation Leader interviews during the Spring Semester.
Manage 6 – 7 orientation leaders (team) throughout the summer.
Oversee their teams’ small group sessions and conduct “pop ins” during the summer to assess the development of their sessions.
Conduct 1:1 and team check-ins throughout the summer.
Assist NSI staff with summer staff scheduling as needed.
Will be staffed as floaters/leads during the orientation days and will fill in gaps where necessary.
Assign daily energizers and warm-ups during the summer.
At the direction of NSI Staff, assist with the planning of August Welcome Weekend, Tabling and Welcome Back Events.
Required Qualifications
Must have completed one summer as an orientation leader to be considered.
Students are allowed to enroll in one summer class during first OR second session not both sessions or the mini-session. Asynchronous, on-line courses are also allowed.
2.75 Cumulative GPA
Unable to be a NevadaFit Mentor due to welcome weekend planning and preparation.
Schedule
During the Spring 2026 semester, Orientation Team Leaders could work on campus 5-10 hours per week, depending on specific assignments, between February-May. During this time, OTLs will be:
Required to attend 7 leadership and training sessions during the Spring Semester.
Required to attend a 2–3-day Orientation Team Leader planning retreat before the Orientation Leader training program begins.
Invited to attend the NODA conference for professional development from Friday, February 20 – Sunday, February 22 in Irvine, CA.
Between May 26-August 17, OTLs will be required to work 25-40 hours per week. During this time, OTLs will be required to:
Work 12-14 hour shifts during orientation days (with necessary breaks)
Maintain weekly 1:1 check-ins with individual team meetings
Participate in a required 12-day leadership training for Orientation Leaders
The summer schedule includes a vacation block in July TBD. Weekends are off, with the exception of the scheduled Saturday orientation and Opening Weekend on August 15-16.
Compensation Grade
Student Employee Level 1
$15.50 per hour for spring and summer terms
$400 in Food Bucks for the summer
Meals provided during Orientation days
Access to the Wiegand Fitness Center for the summer
2 polo shirts, a jacket and backpack
Department Contact
Want to learn more before you apply? Contact nnichols@unr.edu
Exempt
NoFull-Time Equivalent
62.5%Required Attachment(s)
Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at jobs@unr.edu.
Attach the following attachment(s) to your application
Resume - (required) List a detailed description of the major duties that you performed as part of each job.
Cover Letter - (required)
Two References - (required) Include name, contact info, and relationship.
Essay - (required) Please attach a Word Document/PDF answering the following: “What does the Wolf Pack Way Mean to Me?”
**Interviews will take place the first few weeks in February 2026. For full consideration applications must be received by 01/21/2026.
Posting Close Time
This posting will close at 12:00 am on 1/21/2026. The posting will no longer be available to apply to after 11:59 pm the day prior.
Posting Close Date
01/22/2026Note to Applicant
A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.
HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.
References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.
Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.
As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.
For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.
Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.
The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes).
About Us
The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.
Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”
Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.
The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.
Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.
Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.
The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.
Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.
For more information, please visit the University’s website.