Assistant Director, Sallyport Fellows Program

Rice University; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Rice University is seeking an Assistant Director for the Sallyport Fellows Program to provide hands‑on advising, coaching, and support to first‑generation/limited income undergraduates. You will guide students through the transition to college, helping them achieve goals at and beyond Rice using proactive, relationship‑centered advising.

The role emphasizes tracking progress, designing interventions to support retention, and collaborating with campus resources.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2 years of related professional experience in a four‑year college or university setting with advising or coaching experience.
• Strong communication and rapport-building skills; ability to build relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and administration.
• Experience working with diverse student populations, including first‑generation and low‑income students.

Responsibilities

• Identify and advise FGLI students needing additional support with individualized coaching.
• Develop roadmaps and interventions to support student goals and success.
• Monitor academic progress and maintain detailed student files in Navigate.
• Implement proactive advising practices and student success coaching.
• Teach a section of University 110 and support related programs.
• Perform additional duties as assigned; occasional evenings and weekends.

Skills

Coaching skills

Organizational ability

Attention to detail

Intervention assessment

Student development theory

Problem solving

Communication & rapport

Collaboration with faculty

Diversity and inclusion

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Director of Sallyport Fellows Program (SFP) provides hands‑on advising, coaching, and other support to Rice first generation/limited income (FGLI) undergraduate students. Using a relationship‑centered, proactive advising model, this position will work closely with FGLI students, guiding them in making the transition to college and achieving student‑determined goals at and beyond Rice. Through holistic, student‑centered advising approaches, the Assistant Director will be expected to employ various proactive advising, innovative learning strategies, and coaching techniques to engage students, connect them with critical university resources, and facilitate their successful retention at the University. The Assistant Director will also be responsible for tracking student progress and designing interventions to proactively support student success.

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Sallyport Fellows Program (SFP) provides hands‑on advising, coaching, and other support to Rice first generation/limited income (FGLI) undergraduate students. Using a relationship‑centered, proactive advising model, this position will work closely with FGLI students, guiding them in making the transition to college and achieving student‑determined goals at and beyond Rice. Through holistic, student‑centered advising approaches, the Assistant Director will be expected to employ various proactive advising, innovative learning strategies, and coaching techniques to engage students, connect them with critical university resources, and facilitate their successful retention at the University. The Assistant Director will also be responsible for tracking student progress and designing interventions to proactively support student success.

Ideal Candidate Statement

An ideal candidate has a proven track record of success in advising high‑need undergraduate students during their transition to college. Successful candidates possess strong communication skills, the ability to build and sustain rapport with students, and an understanding of the unique stressors for FGLI students in a competitive academic environment. Attention to detail, strong problem‑solving capabilities, and the desire to be an individual contributor within a cohort of advisors are among the optimal skill sets for this position.

Workplace Requirements

The role is largely M‑F, 9:00 am‑5:00 pm however, occasional limited nights and weekends may be required during busy periods.

Workplace Location

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in‑office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. This role requires working 4 days on campus and the option of one remote day per week. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

This is a full‑time, benefits‑eligible position with a hiring range of $60,000 – $65,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree


• 2 years of related professional experience in a four‑year college or university setting with previous advising or coaching experience


• Skills:
  
  
  
  • Coaching and instructional skills, organizational abilities, attention to detail, and the ability to quickly assess the effectiveness of an intervention
  
  
  • Knowledge of theories, including student development, learning, and identity development, and experience applying those frameworks professionally
  
  
  • Able to problem‑solve and support/advise students in personal and/or academic crisis;
  
  
  • Strong communication and rapport‑building skills and experience collaborating with faculty, staff, students, alumni, families, and administration
  
  
  • Experience and comfort working with diverse student populations, including but not limited to first‑generation college students, limited‑income students, first and second year students, and underrepresented student populations
  
  
  
  

Preferences

• Master’s degree (preferably in college student personnel, counseling, student affairs, or a related field)


• Experience employing holistic proactive/intrusive advising strategies


• Experience providing academic support, leadership development, and program development


• Experience supporting student success/undergraduate retention initiatives


• Experience collaborating with faculty


• Experience working at a highly selective college or university


• Familiarity with working in a fast‑paced, results‑oriented environment


• Ability to work in a collaborative, team‑oriented environment

Essential Functions

• Identifies and advises FGLI students needing additional support and provides sustained, individualized, developmentally appropriate coaching to assist in their academic, social, leadership, and interpersonal development


• Assists students in developing roadmaps for their success at the university, using varied strategies to facilitate the identification and implementation of their goals


• Monitors student academic performance and their persistence towards graduation, updating notes in our advising platform (Navigate) in a timely manner, preparing reports, and maintaining detailed student files as necessary


• Implements best practices in proactive advising, student success coaching, and the higher education/student affairs landscape, integrating these ideas into his/her advising practices


• Assists in developing student success interventions, workshops, and other programs aimed at facilitating the transition to college


• Teaches a section of University 110, a first‑year student transition course


• Performs all other duties as assigned


• Occasional weekend and evening work is required

Additional Functions

• Communicates and collaborates with residential college Magisters, Wellbeing, faculty and academic departments, Campus Life entities, and other campus resources as necessary to ensure students receive comprehensive support.


• Provides support as needed to other initiatives related to FGLI student support which could include, but are not limited to, Orientation Week (O‑Week), office‑wide marketing initiatives (social media, website) and programming support for First Generation and/or limited‑income students

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at [e-mail] for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at [e-mail] . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.