Associate Director, Center for Advising

Mississippi State University; Starkville (MS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university seeks an Associate Director for its Center for Advising to oversee operations and provide strategic leadership for academic advisors. The role focuses on improving student retention through proactive advising and compliance with academic policies. Candidates must have a Master's degree and significant experience in student success and advising initiatives.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent required.
• 6 years of experience in student success related roles.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Center for Advising.
• Develop and implement strategic advising initiatives.
• Ensure monitoring of students' progression.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Education

Master's degree in Education, Counseling or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Apply now Job no: 509386
Position type: Full-Time 12-Month
Department: 390600 - Center for Advising
Location: Main Campus - Starkville, MS
Categories: Professional
Position Open Date: Jun 18 2025

Position Function:

Under direction of the Executive Director of the Center for Advising, the Associate Director oversees daily operations while providing strategic leadership to advisors within a proactive model that supports student retention and success.

1. Oversees day-to-day operations of the Center for Advising.
2. Provides management and supervision to the Center for Advising in lieu of the Executive Director.
3. Provides leadership in developing and maintaining a learner-centered, proactive advising model for new and continuing students.
4. Develops and implements strategic advising initiatives to improve retention.
5. Conducts evaluations specific to advising performance and student outcomes.
6. Serves on committees and conducts staff meetings when needed.
7. Serves as academic advisor to students as needed.
8. Ensures students' progression toward their educational goals is monitored and that advisors utilize various strategies/tools to address academic persistence, engagement, and completion.
9. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, and other student services units to ensure institutional goals are met and students achieve success.
10. Utilizes student success data and student development research to inform decisions regarding student learning and advising program outcomes, including assessing outcomes toward continuous improvement.
11. Assists with the implementation and maintenance of campus-wide advising software.
12. Assists students with educational, career, personal and social development to support their successful enrollment, engagement, and completion of their educational goal.
13. Stays abreast of campus-wide policies and procedures that impact advising processes and/or student achievement.
14. Participates in professional development appropriate to the functions of the position and professional interests. Promotes and engages staff in relevant professional development activities and training opportunities.
15. Approves portions of payroll and procurement card purchases.
16. Serves on committees as appointed by the Executive Director.

17. All other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:
Full supervisory responsibility for other employees is a responsibility and includes training, evaluating, and making or recommending pay, promotion, or other employment decisions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Master's degree or equivalent in Education, Counseling or related field

Experience (yrs.): 6 years of experience related to student success and/or academic achievement

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with coworkers, students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Knowledge of academic and student development and retention issues and programs.
• Knowledge of advising policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage projects and delegate effectively.
• Ability to independently perform high quality work following well-defined policies and procedures while simultaneously performing in a team environment.
• Ability to draw data-informed conclusions and make strategic recommendations.
• Skilled in the use of personal computers and related software applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task while providing technical leadership and direction to staff members.
• Knowledge of University data systems.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
• No or very limited physical effort required.

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and wouldlike to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi StateUniversity, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: [phone] [e-mail] .

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human ResourcesManagement at [phone] [e-mail] . Upon request, sections of thisjob listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

Advertised: Jun 18 2025 Central Daylight Time
Applications close: