Advocacy Specialist

Del Mar College - Corporate Services; Corpus Christi (TX); On-site; USD 47,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Del Mar College - Corporate Services is seeking an Advocacy Specialist to join the Center for Access and Advocacy. The role focuses on researching retention strategies, coordinating services, and advocating for students’ academic and personal success.

Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Student Engagement, you will connect with faculty and community partners to develop interventions, monitor progress, and promote timely and effective outcomes for diverse student populations.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required.
• Three years related experience.

Responsibilities

• Partner with retention colleagues to serve ARP probation and suspension students and CARE Connection students.
• Develop collaborations with faculty, staff, and community partners to address students’ needs.
• Provide case management and referrals through program development, coordination, and assessment.

Skills

Written & verbal communication

MS Word

MS Excel

Outlook

Relationship building

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree

Tools

Civitas

Maxient

Job description

Position Information

Posting Number: S1280. This position is open to All Applicants. Job Title: Advocacy Specialist. Department: Center for Access and Advocacy. Position Type: Exempt. Employment Status: Full-Time-Staff. Salary: $47,476.00 - $60,110.50 per 12 months. Open Date: 10/30/2026. Close Date: 11/13/2026. Open Until Filled: No.

Position Summary Information

This position—housed in the Center for Access & Advocacy—reports to the Assistant Dean of Student Engagement and Retention. The purpose of this position is to engage in a collaborative process that researches student retention issues and strategies, assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet the students’ academic, social, and/or emotional needs. The work is characterized by advocacy, communication, collaboration, and resource management and promotes quality and cost-effective interventions and outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Three (3) years related experience.

Required Job Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Capacity to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, faculty, and staff.
• Able to work as part of a team using a student-centered focus on helping to attain, maintain and retain students and prospective students throughout their higher education experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Student Development/Student Affairs, Social Work or related field.
• Familiar with local social services and community resource agencies.
• Experience working with at-risk student populations.

Special Instructions to Applicants

This is a security-sensitive position. Employment resulting from this advertisement is subject to federal laws requiring verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check and reference checks. The College reserves the right to cancel, extend, or otherwise modify recruitment actions. Del Mar College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application process. Del Mar College supports veteran employment and provides consideration to qualified veterans consistent with Texas law. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Our Culture

Del Mar College is committed to fostering a culture aligned with The Viking Way, which emphasizes respect, integrity, collaboration, accountability, and a commitment to excellence. Employees are expected to contribute to a positive work environment by demonstrating professionalism, supporting colleagues and students, and engaging in continuous learning and development. In support of the College’s Strategic Plan 2024–2029, Guiding Star III: Cultivate, all employees are encouraged to actively participate in opportunities that promote personal and professional growth, advance a culture of belonging, and strengthen the College’s ability to serve its students and community.

Job Duties

• Partner with retention colleagues to primarily serve Academic Recovery Program (ARP) probation and suspension students plus CARE Connection students in need identified via faculty-driven early alerts.
• Develop collaborative relationships and partnerships with faculty and staff throughout the campus community—and community partners—to address students’ personal and academic needs.
• Provide case management, direct and referral service to students through the development, implementation, coordination, and assessment of programs, resources, and services.
• Establish a supportive environment that encourages participation, dissemination of information, networking, coalition building, mentoring, academic achievement, and community service.
• Perform a wide range of activities to support at-risk student populations in conjunction with instructional and student development units.
• Participate in the annual development, planning, coordination, scheduling and implementation of timelines and activities, ensuring that timelines are achieved and assigned tasks are accomplished.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate methods to identify and outreach to target populations, including collaboration with College academic and student services departments.
• Evaluate new approaches to implement and intervention strategies for students during pivotal points of the college experience.
• Participate in, attend, and/or promote College-wide activities supporting student success including but not limited to registration, faculty/staff professional development, etc.
• Establish, nurture, and leverage relationships with faculty and staff.
• Analyze information about individuals through interviews, assessments, and records to appraise their interests, abilities, and potential barriers to academic success and retention.
• Provide direct services or referrals to campus and community resources as appropriate.
• Assist regarding personal and academic concerns by collaborating with students to establish goals and develop an appropriate action plan.
• Educate students about available services for financial aid, disability, counseling, tutoring, and academic advising services.
• Apply an outreach/connection/triage/intervention/follow-up framework with students and coordinate referrals to College and community services as needed.
• Other related duties as assigned.
• Utilize Electronic Records Management Systems (Civitas, Maxient) to document ARP student contact activities as well as retention interventions with students identified via the faculty-driven early warning alert system.
• Connect with ARP and CARE Connection students (cases).