Community College Student Success Coordinator (Bilingual Mandarin)

NOVEL PREP; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

NOVEL PREP in Costa Mesa, CA, seeks an Academic Support Advisor to oversee student class schedules and provide guidance on various academic needs.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for supporting students with course registration, monitoring attendance, and acting as a liaison with faculty. A Bachelor’s degree and bilingual proficiency in English and Mandarin Chinese are required for this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in academic advising or student support.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage a group of 20+ students.

Responsibilities

• Track student schedules and deadlines.
• Serve as the main liaison between students and faculty.
• Monitor academic progress and report concerns.

Skills

Bilingual proficiency in English and Mandarin Chinese

Organizational skills

Experience in academic advising

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counseling, Psychology, or related field

Job description

• Track student class schedules, course requirements, assignment deadlines, and the SMC academic calendar.
• Create and share weekly study plans based on upcoming deadlines, exams, and academic needs.
• Support students with course registration, add/drop requests, and enrollment-related issues in coordination with SMC offices.
• Serve as the main liaison between students, SMC faculty, advisors, and administrative departments.
• Monitor academic progress, attendance, and at-risk situations for the cohort, and report concerns to the China program team.
• Help students understand and use SMC academic resources, including tutoring, writing support, library services, and counseling.

Student Affairs & Wellbeing

• Serve as the primary daily support contact for students’ academic, personal, social, and logistical needs.
• Provide cultural orientation and ongoing guidance to help students adjust to studying and living in the U.S.
• Monitor student wellbeing and identify concerns such as academic stress, homesickness, health issues, or interpersonal conflicts.
• Assist students with daily life needs, including transportation, medical appointments, banking, local services, and emergency procedures.
• Support student conduct expectations and elevate serious concerns to the Program Director when needed.
• Act as the designated emergency contact during program hours and follow the established escalation process for urgent issues.

Daily Reporting & China Team Communication

• Prepare a structured daily summary report for the China program team, including attendance, academic updates, student concerns, and parent follow-up items.
• Participate in regular briefing calls with the China team.
• Provide clear, accurate, and well-organized updates so the China team can communicate effectively with families.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; background in Education, Counseling, Psychology, Student Affairs, or a related field preferred.
• Professional bilingual proficiency in English and Mandarin Chinese, both written and spoken.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in academic advising, student support, student affairs, or a similar student-facing role.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage and monitor a group of 20+ students.
• Authorized to work in the U.S., or eligible and willing to be sponsored for a work visa.

Strongly Preferred

• Experience supporting Chinese international students in the U.S.
• Familiarity with the U.S. community college system, course registration, and transfer pathways.
• Experience as an academic mentor, student life coordinator, or student support staff in a bilingual or international education setting.