Associate Director

The University of North Carolina System; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Carolina System Office is seeking an Associate Director to lead statewide alignment of Advise NC within the Outreach and Communications division in Raleigh, NC. This role shapes program strategy, builds cross‑sector partnerships, and oversees adviser training, funding strategies, and data systems to demonstrate impact.

Responsibilities include coordinating with host institutions, funders, and education partners, ensuring program fidelity, and advancing sustainable funding

Qualifications

• Master’s or other advanced degree preferred.
• At least 5 years in college access, including postsecondary advising is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead statewide alignment of Advise NC across partner institutions and education partners.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with program host institutions, education systems, funders.
• Oversee adviser training and onboarding, leveraging cross-sector expertise.

Skills

College access

Diplomacy

Partnership building

Data-driven

Grant writing

Public speaking

Education

Master's degree

Tools

MS Office

CRM

Teams/Zoom

Job description

About the Opportunity

This position provides inaugural leadership for Advise NC. Advise NC is a statewide network with a bold aim: ensuring every student in North Carolina's economically distressed communities has a trained adviser guiding them to a strong postsecondary next step. The right candidate will approach the role with an innovative mindset to shape the systems and trajectory of the program by bringing the latest approaches to the work and continuously improving delivery. Advise NC has grown out of the successful College Advising Corps model that has refined its approach for over 20 years, and now serves more postsecondary pathways in NC through Advise NC.

This position will serve as a member of the Outreach and Communications division, reporting to the Director for Outreach and Communications. The primary purpose of this position is to lead statewide alignment of the Advise NC program, a program that currently places near peer advisers (150) in high schools throughout the state in economically distressed communities. These advisers work 1:1 with high schoolers on completing a career development plan (CDP), exploring their postsecondary options and understanding the steps of their chosen 'E' - enrolling in college, enlisting in the military or other service organization or employment in the workforce.

The position will be responsible for ensuring strong strategic partnerships with program host institutions (currently five universities), program directors, education system partners, postsecondary advising partners and funders. Diplomacy, problem solving, and innovation are key competencies needed for this role.

The associate director will support the annual training of Next Step advisers, leveraging expertise among sectors to bring the latest and most effective postsecondary advising practices to the training while operationalizing a learning roadmap for the onboarding of new advisers. This training will build expertise among advisers in the college-going process, FAFSA completion, and career planning, while also growing advisers professionally as they conduct themselves within a school setting that positions advisers as strong candidates for their next professional assignment.

A key focus area is to bring innovative thinking to sustainable funding for the program, combining state, federal and philanthropic resources that ensure long term fiscal health of postsecondary advising. Innovative thinking is also needed in program design and delivery, leveraging learnings from the larger postsecondary advising field to enhance the program structure and ensure it utilizes the most effective method for guiding students.

Finally, this role will provide accountability that the advising model is delivering successful student outcomes through data systems that track lead and lag measures that will be used in grant reporting, evaluation, partner presentations, and inform further program enhancements.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, consistent with System Office policy. UNC System employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a 2-hour commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

About the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), an agency of the State of North Carolina, is authorized by the General Assembly to plan, finance and administer student financial assistance programs of a statewide or inter-institutional nature. It serves students attending public and private two- and four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina, as well as families of students attending nonpublic K-12 schools.

About the Team

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) is the State agency that has been helping North Carolinians pay for education since 1965. NCSEAA administers financial aid and savings programs, helps students and families understand how to make paying for college more manageable, and provides resources for education professionals about financial aid. The Outreach and Communications Division conducts outreach programs to educate and assist North Carolina students and families to know about their education options beyond high school and provides training programs for school counselors and college access organizations. The Division also oversees outreach campaigns, media relations, website content of the CFNC, NCSEAA and RDS websites as well as organizational communications.

Minimum Education, Experience, and Skills

Master's or other advanced degree preferred. At least 5 years in college access, including postsecondary advising is required.

Required Competencies

• Strong commitment and experience in college access, including postsecondary advising, college admissions, and financial aid.
• Strong diplomacy skills building strategic partnerships with diverse organizations inside and outside education. Expertise in leading networks of cross-sector partners or matrixed structures; skilled at setting shared goals and driving results across organizations, influencing, even in situations with no formal authority.
• Commitment to quality and excellence through a detail-orientation that delivers best in class postsecondary advising and planning.
• Experience with grant writing, reporting and evaluation; knowledge of funding sources and cycles.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presenting to groups that build buy-in, both virtually and in person.
• Comfortable analyzing data, presenting it visually and explaining data nuances to education stakeholders.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills

• Spanish-speaking fluency preferred.
• Fluent use of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Fluent use of Virtual meeting platform (e.g. Teams, Zoom Meeting).
• Familiarity with Webinar platform (e.g. Zoom webinar, GoToWebinar).
• Familiarity with CRM.

• Classification: Associate Director
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Employment Type: EHRA
• EHRA Category: Exempt Professional Staff (EPS)
• Location: Raleigh, NC
• Position Number: 20078861

Equal Employment Opportunity and Other Information

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To claim veteran's preference, all eligible persons must indicate their eligibility as requested on the application. A DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, may be required later in the selection process.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.