DEAN, STUDENT SUCCESS

Seattle Colleges; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Pay Rates

Promotional Opportunities

Great Medical, Dental, and Retirement

Paid Sick and Vacation Leave

Transportation benefits

Tuition Waivers

PEBB Wellness Plan

EAP

Job summary

Seattle Colleges in Seattle is seeking a Dean of Advising and Student Success to lead the Student Services division. The role includes supervising Advising, Running Start, Testing, Disability Services, and the Welcome Desk, while driving a student-centered experience and continuous improvement.

This exempt, full-time position emphasizes collaboration across campus, strategic enrollment goals, and strong leadership with a focus on inclusion and service excellence for a diverse student population.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education, leadership, or related field, or current grad student.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, student affairs, or equivalent.
• At least 5 years supervisory experience managing multiple teams.
• Ability to work with diverse student populations and provide excellent service.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for assigned Student Affairs departments.
• Directly supervise directors and staff across Advising, Running Start, Testing, and Disability Services.
• Ensure integrated, student-centered services and collaboration across divisions.
• Oversee budgets and operational planning to support student success.
• Lead retention initiatives aligned with SEM goals.

Skills

Leadership

Supervisory experience

Education

Master's degree or graduate study

Job description

Opportunity Description

North Seattle College is looking to hire a Dean of Advising and Student Success in our Student Services division.

Full salary range

Full salary range for this position is $115,000 - $135,000 annually (DOE).

Application deadline

Application and required materials must be submitted no later than the first review date. Opportunity is open until filled; first review of materials will begin September 21, 2026.

Overview

Under the supervision of the Vice President of Student Services, the Dean of Advising and Student Success is a full-time, exempt position that provides leadership, supervision, and budget oversight for Advising, Running Start, Testing, Disability Services, and the Welcome Desk. This position is responsible for providing high-level leadership within the student services division and contributing to an improved student experience through continual improvement and collaborative efforts across the division, campus, and district.

This is an exempt, non-represented civil service position.

This position is typically scheduled to work Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm at the North Seattle College campus. The schedule may vary depending on department needs. May be required to work evenings and weekends as needed to support department needs.

About Us

We are a district of three distinct colleges – North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College – and five specialty training centers. This makes us the largest and most diverse community college district in the state of Washington, and we are leaders in change and innovation.

Seattle Colleges is committed to recruiting dedicated faculty and employees who together create a welcoming academic climate that reflects the diverse backgrounds of our community, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, race, gender, gender identity, age, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, disability, political status, and sexual orientation.

Benefits

• Competitive Pay Rates
• Promotional Opportunities
• Great Medical, Dental, and Retirement plans
• Paid Sick and Vacation Leave
• Transportation benefits
• Tuition Waivers
• PEBB Wellness Plan
• Washington State Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Seattle Colleges staff and faculty also enjoy professional development opportunities and enrichment experiences in areas of their choice, including committee, workgroup, and affinity group opportunities.

Application Procedures

• Attach current Resume
• Attach cover letter addressing how your background intersects with the job

Required application materials must be completed and submitted online.

Notice To Applicants

Please note that Seattle Colleges has moved to holding interviews virtually using video conference options such as Zoom or Teams. As such, if you are selected for an interview, please be prepared to hold your interview virtually.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a regular basis. The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas. Seattle Colleges is unable to extend post‑completion optional practical training (OPT) to F‑1 students who receive STEM degrees.

What You Will Be Working On

Leadership, Management, and Supervision

• Model and promote strong, ethical, compassionate, student‑centered, and equity‑minded leadership while fostering an inclusive culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Directly supervise assigned student affairs leaders and managers, including Assistant Director of Advising, Running Start Manager, Director of Disability Studies, Testing Center, Welcome Desk, professional advising staff, and other assigned personnel.
• Ensure all reporting departments work collaboratively with one another and with campus partners to provide integrated, coordinated, and student‑centered services that support successful student entry, persistence, completion, and achievement.
• Provide strategic leadership for assigned Student Affairs departments by establishing organizational priorities, aligning resources, and promoting operational excellence in support of the college's Strategic Enrollment Management goals and institutional mission.
• Develop leadership capacity through coaching, mentoring, professional development plans, succession planning, annual evaluations, and performance management.
• Foster collaboration among Advising, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, Disability Services, Running Start, Credentials, and instructional partners to ensure seamless student support and coordinated service delivery.
• Coordinate with Credentials Team, Registrar, and Enrollment Services to ensure efficient, accurate, and timely advising, registration, graduation evaluation, and student records processes.
• Participate in the Student Affairs and Instructional leadership teams, contributing to strategic planning, enrollment management, accreditation, institutional effectiveness, and student success initiatives.

Student Retention and Success

• Provide strategic leadership for student retention, persistence, and completion initiatives aligned with the College Strategic Plan and Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) goals.
• Lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of campus‑wide retention strategies that support equitable student achievement and success.
• Serve as primary lead for Registration Day development, management, implementation, and ongoing maintenance, including staffing and coordination with relevant departments (Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, etc.).
• Serve on college, district, and statewide committees representing North Seattle College, and the division on student success, enrollment management, advising, and student success initiatives.
• Establish and strengthen collaborative partnerships across departments to provide integrated, coordinated, and student‑centered services that support successful student entry, persistence, completion, and transfer.
• Support the resolution of student complaints, academic grievances, appeals, and complex student concerns in accordance with college policies, collective bargaining agreements, and state and federal regulations.
• Assist the Vice President for Student Services with strategic initiatives, institutional projects, and other duties as assigned.

Budget and Planning

• Oversee and manage state allocation, tuition, grant, and revenue budgets for supporting assigned Student Success departments.
• Support department leaders in developing, monitoring, and maintaining fiscally responsible budgets that align with institutional priorities and student success goals.
• Lead program review, assessment, strategic planning, and continuous improvement activities across assigned departments to inform resource allocation, operational planning, and student outcomes.
• Develop, monitor, and communicate key performance indicators, operational metrics, and student achievement data to support evidence‑based planning and decision‑making.
• Design, implement, and maintain effective processes, systems, and operational practices that enhance student access, enrollment, persistence, completion, and service excellence.
• Provide leadership for activities and projects across assigned student support departments while ensuring compliance with FERPA, ADA, Title IX, residency regulations, financial aid requirements, and other applicable federal, state, district, and college policies.
• Lead continuous operational improvement initiatives that enhance service delivery, student experience, and organizational effectiveness.
• Provide timely, responsive, and student‑centered solutions to students, staff, faculty, and community partners.
• Exercise sound judgment, initiative, flexibility, humor, and attention to detail while resolving complex operational and student service issues.
• Coordinate and collaborate with Deans across Seattle Colleges, district leadership, and the ctcLink Campus Solutions Project Manager to improve and standardize enrollment and student services processes throughout the district.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with campus and district partners to advance institutional priorities and improve cross‑functional operations.

Other

• Participate in hiring committees and selection processes for faculty, classified, exempt, and administrative positions.
• Represent the Vice President for Student Services on committees, task forces, and institutional initiatives as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Student Success, Strategic Enrollment Management, and institutional priorities.

This description is not intended to cover every aspect of this job; we are a team that works together to meet the needs of those we serve, and every member of the team is expected to contribute, even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this posting.

What you bring as a candidate

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree or currently enrolled in a graduate program in Higher Education, Education, Leadership, Management, Student Development, or equivalent.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, student affairs, or equivalent.
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience managing multiple teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to quality customer service and ability to work in diverse environments with diverse student populations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of and understanding of policies and procedures related to admission and registration, financial aid, advising, Running Start, and/or Disability Services in the community and technical college system.
• Demonstrated experience advancing equitable outcomes in a multicultural setting with diverse populations.
• Working knowledge of FERPA regulations.
• Knowledgeable and comfortable with technology with demonstrated ability managing student information and web‑based systems and maintaining online services and websites.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Knowledge of and understanding of student development, leadership, and/or community‑based learning theories.

Skills And Abilities

• Proven leadership record
• Systems thinker
• Organized
• Ethics and integrity, sound decision‑making and judgment, tact and diplomacy
• Effective project planning and management
• Culturally competent

Physical Demands and Disability Accommodation

Persons with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodation in all aspects of employment with Seattle Colleges. This includes, but is not limited to, recruitment, application, interviewing, hiring, training, termination, conditions of employment, and any other employer‑supported activities. Applicants requesting accommodation should contact Human Resources.

Office Setting

• Ability to operate office equipment, including a computer and telephone as needed to perform duties, receive and interpret data, and prepare various materials.
• Ability to exchange information with supervisor, lead, co‑workers, and students.
• Ability to provide 1:1 support, present to small groups, and work at a computer exercising repetitive hand motion.
• Work is performed primarily in office settings with frequent interruptions and encounters noises typical of these settings.

Notice of Non‑Discrimination Statement

Seattle Colleges is committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity for all its students, employees, and applicants in education, employment, services and contracts, and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, color, age, hair texture or protective hairstyles, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression, status as an honorably discharged veteran or disabled veteran or military status, political affiliation or belief, citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability. In addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations for all otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. Further, Seattle Colleges is committed to ensure that all employees and students work and learn in an environment that fosters mutual respect and professionalism, free from all forms of bullying behaviors, including cyberbullying.

Students, employees, and applicants at Seattle Colleges can reach the Title IX Coordinator or ADA/Section 504 Coordinator for questions about discrimination, harassment or grievance procedures.

Background Check Statement

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. In addition to the background check, candidates will complete Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Form WA HB 2327 as required.