Lead Academic Advisor

About the Role

The Lead Academic Advisor provides leadership and oversight for the campus academic advising function while maintaining a high-touch connection with students and the advising process. This position directly supervises Academic Advisors, leads advising operations and initiatives, and supports team development, coaching, and performance. As a collaborative campus leader, the Lead Academic Advisor partners across Enrollment, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, and other teams to identify barriers, coordinate targeted outreach, and deliver data-informed strategies that strengthen student persistence, retention, and completion.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for the campus academic advising function, including advisor assignments, advising processes, caseloads, case management, outreach tactics, and advising initiatives.
• Directly supervise Academic Advisors, providing coaching, professional development, performance support, and day-to-day leadership while maintaining an active connection to students and advising practices.
• Provide high-touch academic advising and student support, helping students navigate academic planning, program requirements, registration, academic progress, and barriers to persistence.
• Use institutional data and student information to monitor advising outcomes, identify students who may need additional support, and coordinate targeted outreach and interventions.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Enrollment, Financial Aid, teaching faculty, and other campus partners to address barriers and strengthen advising practices that support persistence, retention, and completion.
• Support the campus retention and student success strategy by translating broader retention priorities into effective advising practices, student outreach, and interventions.
• Develop and maintain effective systems for documenting advising activity, student outreach, interventions, referrals, and outcomes.
• Serve as a resource for students experiencing academic difficulty, including academic warning or Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) concerns, in collaboration with other advisors, Financial Aid, faculty, and other appropriate campus personnel.
• Connect students with appropriate campus and community resources, including support related to financial hardship and other barriers that may impact persistence.
• Participate in campus and Systems Office committees, workgroups, and initiatives related to academic advising, retention, student success, and the student experience.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of academic advising, retention, student success, and broader Student Affairs priorities, including leading or contributing to special projects and campus initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in academic advising, student success, higher education, education, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to effectively manage advising operations and priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and develop staff while fostering a collaborative, student-centered advising environment.
• Strong academic advising and student support skills, with the ability to build relationships, advocate for students, and navigate complex academic and personal barriers.
• Ability to use student and institutional data to identify trends, inform advising practices, prioritize outreach, and assess outcomes.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and self-directed, with the ability to build effective partnerships across departments while working independently and making sound decisions.
• Higher education experience in academic advising, student affairs, retention, or student success preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and student information or customer relationship management systems preferred.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution; dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia; vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses; Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources; wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards; Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care.
• Retirement & Financial Security: 10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years; basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage; short-term and long-term disability benefits.
• Educational Benefits: Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children; tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs; paid professional development opportunities.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess; flexible work arrangements where available; paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks); paid parental leave (4 weeks).
• Additional Perks: Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness; additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services.