Associate Director, Advising

Description

The Associate Director, Advising works with the Dean of Advising & Career Pathways to provide daily operational direction to Academic Advisors and New Student Advisors. The Associate Director is closely involved in supervising, training, onboarding, and developing advising team members and assists with developing policies and procedures for the Advising department. This position supports advising staff and students in conflict resolution, coordinates career and employer partnerships, and oversees the caseload standards, early alert response, and warm handoff processes connecting New Student Advisor caseloads to ongoing Academic Advisors or Academic/Career Advisors. The Associate Director works collaboratively with academic leadership, faculty, employers, and support staff throughout the College and serves in the Dean's absence.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities (include, but not limited to)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position description should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of the job. The incumbent may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated on this description.

Provide daily operational direction to all advising staff across Academic Advisor and New Student Advisor functions, coordinating workload, resolving process issues, and ensuring consistent practice across the unit

Directly and formally supervise Academic Advisors and New Student Advisors, including hiring, orienting, training, coaching, evaluating, developing, and recommending personnel actions in accordance with College policies, procedures, and other guiding agreements

Collaborate with other administrative and academic departments as needed to improve advising process and services; function as an expert on advising-related inquiries; serve on committees as needed

Advise program students. Serve as back-up for the advising staff as needed

Contribute to the conceptualization, development, and implementation of strategic initiatives to ensure alignment of strategy and operations of advising processes

Participate in the campus-wide advising community, providing input to leadership regarding the development of advising and student success programs

Maintain expertise with advising curriculum and may assist in developing and recommending exceptions for policy and curriculum

Provide clear, consistent communication with colleagues and broader audiences to collaborate and articulate advising goals

Oversee advising communication to students

Identify any technical problems and work toward resolutions

Support the Dean in making budgetary decisions. Serve as a backup for decisions and approvals, as needed

New Student Advising Supervision

Establish and periodically revise the caseload standard for New Student Advisor and Academic Advisors staff based on institutional retention data, new student service volume, and student needs

Design and administer the early alert response protocol and the warm handoff protocol transitioning students from New Student Advisor caseloads to ongoing Academic Advisor or Academic/Career Advisor staff as their first semester concludes

Serve as the escalation point for complex new student cases and cross-departmental coordination issues

Minimum Qualifications

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Competency and experience working in diverse environments, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological, ability, gender, sexuality, and ethnic backgrounds and identities

Demonstrated a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and judgment

Effective verbal, listening, writing, problem-solving, critical thinking, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills, including public speaking

Broad knowledge and understanding of higher education, academic advising theory and assessment, student success, and retention best practices

Strong customer service and leadership skills, working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, connecting and building rapport with students and the community

Working knowledge of career development theory and first-year/first-semester experience and retention theory

Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships and work cooperatively and collaboratively with internal (staff, management, faculty, personnel) and external contacts (students, parents, business/community)

Ability to work independently, as part of a team, and/or with minimal supervision

Ability to manage time and organize work, including the ability to prioritize and work on several projects simultaneously and adapt as necessary

Ability to attend closely to detail, completing and maintaining a high level of accuracy

Proficient with current operating systems and computer software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations

EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's Degree required. Master's degree in Advising, Counseling, Higher Education Administration, or a related field preferred

Minimum of 3 years of professional academic, career, or first-year advising experience in higher education

Knowledge of academic advising principles and practices

Supplemental Information

The Associate Director of Advising supports the Advising & Career Pathways department and is fulltime and benefit eligible.

Hours
Hours are Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Some evenings and weekends will be required. Flexibility may be needed based on department/College needs.

Application Details
All applicants must submit a completed application along with a current resume and cover letter.

Interviews
Candidates who advance in the hiring process will be invited to participate in an initial virtual interview on October 26. Candidates selected to move forward will be invited to an on-campus interview on November 16.

WCTC offers a wide range of outstanding benefits. Benefits include, but not limited to:

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive Benefits Package including health, dental, vision, life, long-term disability, supplemental life, flex spending accounts, and much more

Generous time off and holiday schedule

Eligibility in the Wisconsin Retirement System (ETF)

Opportunities for professional growth and development (including tuition reimbursement, tuition waiver)

Well-being activities to support personal and professional well-being

Collaborative and supportive team environment

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain that authorization through employment. Verification of employment eligibility will be required upon hire. WCTC does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship.