Guide Through the Journey of UVA Engineering

What is the Onboarding Navigator program? 

UVA Engineering’s Onboarding Navigator program is designed to facilitate new staff members’ transition into the organization by creating direct connections between them and existing staƯ members who can support their personal and professional acclimation to the school and its culture. 

What does an Onboarding Navigator do?

The Onboarding Navigator is a peer who serves as a resource for the new staff member — officially welcoming them and helping them feel more comfortable during their transition. The Onboarding Navigator is a member of the Engineering Staff Council who volunteers to welcome and support new staff members joining the School of Engineering. 
Hiring Managers should notify the Chair of the Staff Council at least 30 days before a new staff member's start date. This advance notice allows sufficient time to identify and assign an Onboarding Navigator and provides an opportunity for the Navigator to connect with the new employee before their arrival. Whenever possible, the Onboarding Navigator will be selected from a different department and serve in a different staff role than the new employee. This helps broaden the new staff member's network, provides an additional perspective on the school, and fosters connections across the Engineering community. The Navigator identifies and anticipates the new staff members’ needs, answers their questions, and provides them with meaningful opportunities to connect with others in the organization. 
The Navigator’s work contributes to the new staff members’ successful achievement of goals during their first six months at UVA Engineering and contributions to the larger organization by: 

• Making them feel welcome and valued 
  Connecting them to peers within and outside their home department or office
  Sharing information and insights about how to navigate the UVA Engineering organization and culture 
  Helping them understand what resources are available to help them succeed personally and professionally 

How Does the Onboarding Navigator program work? 

A Navigator is assigned for the first six months of a new staff member’s employment. Once paired with a new staff member, the Navigator may take actions such as: 

• Send a welcome email to the new staff member 
• Meet regularly with the new staff member formally or informally via in-office meetings or zoom. 
• One introductory lunch or coffee meeting will be funded by the Staff Council annual operating budget. Monthly meetings are recommended, especially during the new staff members’ first three months. 
• Answer the new staff members’ questions and share insights about why they like working at UVA Engineering, faculty and staff members they should know, team norms and best practices, and helpful tools and resources 
• Direct the new staff member to additional resources, such as UVA Engineering’s HR Business Partners, if needed 
• Introduce the new staff member to colleagues they may collaborate with or who share common interests 
• Connect the new staff member to information and resources about the UVA and Charlottesville community, if needed 

What should the Onboarding Navigator’s relationship with the new staff member look like? 

The Navigator’s relationship with a new staff member should be open, positive and supportive. A Navigator should be seen as a trustworthy resource and a person who can answer questions for the new staff member and direct them to resources. The Navigator should engage UVA Engineering’s HR Business Partners if a question or discussion topic arises that requires their expertise or connection to university resources. 

Onboarding Navigator program contact:

Contact will be the Chair of Staff Council – Membership Page