Manager, Academic Advising

Mount Royal University; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 81,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Pension plan

Paid vacation

Job summary

Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta invites applications for the Manager, Academic Advising. This leadership role oversees a team of Academic Advisors, with ~50% direct student advising, and contributes to advising quality, policy alignment, and student success across faculties.

The incumbent maintains NACADA and CACUSS affiliations and adheres to professional advising standards while collaborating with Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs, and campus partners to support student outcomes.

Qualifications

• Completion of a four-year undergraduate degree required.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in academic advising or student support in a post-secondary setting.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff.
• Experience working with Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs, and other faculty members.
• Experience providing advising for students in a variety of programs, including navigating external accreditation requirements.
• Experience supporting students with complex academic or personal needs.
• Familiarity with Student Services, specifically Admissions and Recruitment, Academic Advising, Transfer Credit, Credit Registration and Records.
• Strong consulting and analytical skills to improve advising delivery and student support.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for diverse audiences.
• Advanced problem-solving skills and ability to navigate policy interpretations and institutional processes.
• Proven ability to lead professionally and maintain confidentiality and boundaries.
• Ability to establish cooperative relationships across settings with tact and diplomacy.
• Strong organizational skills to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Technological proficiency including CRM systems; familiarity with Banner is an asset.
• Deep understanding of the Canadian post-secondary environment and advising best practices.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and reconciliation.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing coaching and performance development for a team of Academic Advisors.
• Define and communicate performance expectations, responsibilities, and goals.
• Address challenges with coaching and resource support to foster a proactive team culture.
• Maintain trust-based relationships with team members and leadership.
• Conduct regular check-ins and formal performance appraisals with meaningful goals.
• Lead effective team meetings to improve advising practices and ensure operational consistency across the team.
• Coordinate onboarding and training with the Development & Continuous Improvement Specialist.
• Guide complex student cases and navigate institutional systems, policies, and curriculum.
• Foster a culture of student-centered values, collaboration, equity, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Supervising staff

Advising students

Communication skills

Relationship building

Collaboration with Faculty

Problem-solving

Education

Four-year undergraduate degree

Graduate-level coursework in education or student affairs

Tools

CRM systems

mruGradU8

Banner

Job description

Job Title

Manager, Academic Advising

Job Type

Permanent

Union

Management

Position Classification

MLV5 Management

Salary Grade

FT or PT

Full-time

Hybrid Work

This position is eligible

Position End Date (if applicable)

Location

About this Position

::

About the Department of Academic Advising

Academic Advising is a developmental process assisting students in the clarification of their educational goals and the implementation of an educational plan to realize these goals. Advisors play a key role in student retention, advising new and continuing students throughout their tenure at Mount Royal University.

As front-line representatives of Academic Advising and Mount Royal University, Managers play a visible and influential role in shaping the student and public perception of the institution. They are often called upon to speak about MRU, its programs, and its values in a variety of settings including group advising sessions, orientation events, and Faculty engagements. It is essential that Managers consistently demonstrate professionalism, accuracy, and institutional alignment in these interactions.

Equally important is the Manager's ability to build and maintain trust within their assigned Faculty. Success in this role relies on forming strong, respectful relationships with Faculty members—particularly Deans, Associate Deans, and Chairs—through clear communication, responsiveness, and shared commitment to student success.

Managers are expected to lead with integrity, model personal accountability, and foster a culture of proactive problem-solving, continuous improvement, and respect. They must stay current on academic programs, institutional policies, services, and systems in order to guide both students and their advising teams effectively.

About the Role

Embedded in a Faculty, the Manager, Academic Advising plays a key leadership role in delivering high-quality, student-centred advising services. Reporting to the Associate Director, Academic Advising Services, the Manager provides direct supervision and performance management for a team of Academic Advisors, while also advising students approximately 50% of the time. This dual role ensures the Manager remains connected to the evolving needs of students and advising practices. As part of the advising leadership team, the Manager contributes to institutional consistency, quality assurance, and continuous improvement in advising, while fostering strong relationships with Faculty leadership to support student success. In addition, the incumbent maintains membership in NACADA - the Global Community for Academic Advising and the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) and adheres to those Professional Advising Standards.

While the Manager reports centrally to the Associate Director, Academic Advising, they work in collaboration with their assigned Faculty to ensure advising practices align with both institutional standards and Faculty-specific needs. Advising is delivered in partnership with academic departments, and success in this role requires strong, trust-based relationships with Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs, and other Faculty leaders. The Manager must demonstrate respect for the values, priorities, and academic integrity of the Faculty, and adapt advising practices to support shared goals for student success. This collaborative approach ensures consistency in advising quality while remaining responsive to the unique contexts of each academic area.

Responsibilities

• Manage and support a team of Academic Advisors within the assigned Faculty, providing ongoing coaching, mentorship, and performance development. Regularly assess individual and team performance through informal and formal methods, offering actionable feedback and recognizing accomplishments.
• Clearly define and communicate performance expectations, responsibilities, and goals to Advisors, ensuring shared understanding and alignment.
• Address emerging challenges or gaps through timely coaching and resource support, fostering a proactive and solutions-focused team culture.
• Establish and maintain trust-based relationships with team members by demonstrating professionalism, integrity, consistency, and empathy.
• Conduct regular check-ins and formal performance appraisals, collaborating on meaningful professional goals.
• Facilitate effective team meetings that result in strengthened team culture, improved advising practices, alignment on priorities, clear follow-up actions, and operational consistency across the advising team.
• Coordinate onboarding and training in partnership with the Training, Development & Continuous Improvement Specialist, ensuring advisors are equipped with the tools and knowledge to thrive.
• Provide guidance on complex student cases and support Advisors in navigating institutional systems, curriculum, and policy.
• Foster a team culture grounded in student-centred values, collaboration, equity, and continuous improvement.

Faculty & Campus Collaboration (15%)

• Serve as the primary liaison between the advising team and Faculty leadership (e.g., Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs), building and maintaining collaborative relationships grounded in mutual commitment to student success.
• Represent advising in Faculty-level committees, meetings, and discussions to ensure that student needs and advising perspectives are considered in academic planning and decision-making.
• Work in partnership with the Faculty to identify and address curricular challenges or barriers, share student feedback, and support the development of advising-informed enhancements to programs.
• Proactively engage Faculty members in conversations about student experience, advising patterns, and opportunities for intervention or support, while respecting academic policy and program integrity.
• Collaborate with key campus partners, such as the Office of the Registrar and Admissions & Recruitment, to ensure operational alignment and timely, accurate information-sharing.
• Support faculty in understanding institutional processes and policies related to advising, registration, progression, academic standing, and graduation.
• Coordinate with other Managers, Academic Advising and the Associate Director, Academic Advising to align advising practices across Faculties and promote consistency in student experience.

Advising Operations and Continuous Improvement (10%)

• Monitor advising activity, caseload trends, and student feedback to identify opportunities to improve services, systems, and supports.
• Collaborate with the advising leadership team and the Training, Development & Continuous Improvement Specialist to ensure advising practices evolve in alignment with best practices and student needs, while taking initiative to identify, develop, and refine advising methods, tools, and delivery formats that increase accessibility, efficiency, and impact for diverse student populations.
• Identify gaps in service delivery, training, or resources, and work with relevant partners to develop practical, scalable solutions.
• Ensure accurate documentation of internal procedures and workflows to support consistency, knowledge transfer, and service continuity.
• Participate in advising-related data analysis and apply findings to inform decision-making and service enhancements.
• Contribute to the culture of continuous improvement by promoting a mindset of reflection, innovation, and accountability within the advising team.
• Model and reinforce a strong sense of ownership for advising outcomes, ensuring all team members take full responsibility for the accuracy of information they share, the quality of their work, and the students they support, regardless of a student's program status or stage in their academic journey.
• Test and validate advising-related systems and software following institutional upgrades (e.g., Banner), ensuring updates function as expected and identifying any discrepancies or unintended consequences.

Student Advising (50%)

• Deliver proactive, developmental advising that supports student retention and success.
• Establish rapport and trust through active listening, appropriate questioning, and supportive relationship-building.
• Help students clarify their academic, personal, and career goals and build personalized educational plans.
• Support student decision-making through guided exploration of alternatives, evaluating trade-offs and possible consequences.
• Use developmental advising strategies tailored to the needs of each student, incorporating a holistic and learner-centred approach.
• Assist students in understanding and navigating institutional policies, procedures, and graduation requirements.
• Teach students how to access and interpret key advising tools (e.g., mruGradU8, program planning guides, academic calendar, MRU website).
• Perform degree audits and monitor academic progress with a focus on proactive measures.
• Identify and proactively follow up with students at critical points in their academic journey (e.g., new students, those in difficulty, nearing graduation).
• Problem-solve unique and complex student situations (e.g., curriculum transitions, reinstatement, graduation exceptions) and recommend appropriate actions.
• Refer students to campus supports and services (e.g., Access and Inclusion Services, Student Learning Services, Financial Aid, Wellness) to address barriers to success.
• Maintain a deep and current understanding of academic programs, admission requirements, and curriculum structures.
• Interpret and communicate complex curricular changes, prerequisites, and program pathways.
• Keep current with important dates and deadlines related to registration, fees, academic standing, and progression.
• Maintain accurate advising records in institutional systems, with an understanding of best practices and POPA requirements.
• Support co-curricular and experiential learning by promoting student involvement in research, campus engagement, and career development opportunities.
• Provide accurate and timely information to students, faculty, and staff.
• Guide students in developing help-seeking behaviours, resilience, and self-advocacy.
• Collaborate with faculty and campus partners to coordinate support and promote student success.
• Participate in institutional events (e.g. New Student Orientation), and develop effective tools for outreach (e.g., targeted student communication).

Qualifications

• Completion of a four-year undergraduate degree required.
  • Graduate-level coursework in education, student affairs, or a related field is considered an asset.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in academic advising or student support within a post-secondary setting.
• Demonstrated experience supervising or mentoring staff.
• Experience working with Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs, and other faculty members.
• Experience providing advising for students in a variety of programs, including navigating external accreditation requirements.
• Experience supporting students with complex academic or personal needs.
• Experience and familiarity with Student Services, specifically Admissions and Recruitment, Academic Advising, Transfer Credit, Credit Registration and Records.
• Strong consulting and analytical skills, including the ability to research, assess, and recommend solutions to enhance advising delivery and student support.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including written, verbal, and presentation abilities tailored to diverse audiences such as students, Faculty members, and campus partners.
• Advanced problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to navigate complex academic scenarios, policy interpretations, and institutional processes.
• Proven ability to lead with professionalism and a service-oriented mindset while upholding boundaries, confidentiality, and institutional standards.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships across a variety of settings, exercising tact, diplomacy, patience, and sound judgment under pressure.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Technological proficiency, including advanced use of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; familiarity with advising technologies such as CRM systems, mruGradU8, and Banner is an asset.
• Deep understanding of the Canadian post-secondary environment and academic advising best practices.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and reconciliation; awareness of and sensitivity to issues related to disability, race, ancestry, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, and family status.

Salary: $81,445.00 - $112,393 per annum

Closing Date: September 1, 2026

If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify [e-mail] and we will work together on your accommodation request.

About MRU

Founded in 1910 and located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Mount Royal University grew into a vibrant college in the 1930s and became a mid-sized university in 2009. A student-focused undergraduate university built on teaching excellence, Mount Royal University is known for our top-calibre programs, high-quality teaching and learning experience, robust delivery of liberal education, scholarly teaching, experiential learning and undergraduate research. MRU serves approximately 15,782 students, including 11,752 full-time and 4,030 part-time learners. MRU offers 13 bachelor's degrees encompassing 37 majors across faculties such as Arts, Business, Communications, Health, Community & Education, and Science & Technology. With over 74% of its student body drawn from the local area, Mount Royal University primarily serves Calgary and its surrounding region. MRU is a diverse yet close community with over 1,800 employees. Mount Royal provides employees the support they need to lead and advance institutional goals. Learn more about MRU's Academic Plan and Strategic Plan .

What We Offer

Talented and committed employees are the driving force behind student success. We strive to be an employer of choice among Canadian post-secondary institutions. At MRU, we recognize that people are a combination of many intersecting identities; we work to cultivate an environment that welcomes the whole person, and harnesses the strength that is available in our diversity, creating a rich and inclusive workplace.

Investing in the learning and development of our employees benefits the individual and the University. A variety of services, resources and programs encourage a healthy, productive workplace. MRU offers a competitive total compensation package including learning/training paid by employer, paid vacation, winter holiday closure, personal days and a free membership in our fully equipped recreation centre. Positions over six months may also be eligible for health and dental benefits, pension, health and personal spending accounts, and disability benefits.

Our campus offers the convenience of a full medical clinic, dentist and pharmacy, as well as a variety of wellness services such as physiotherapists and massage therapists. Campus Recreation offers many activities, including personal training, fitness classes, climbing, aquatics, sports, tournaments and certifications for students, employees and the public.