Director of Graduate Student Success and Engagement

Lehigh University; Bethlehem (Northampton County); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh University seeks a Director of Graduate Student Success and Engagement to shape systems and culture that help graduate students thrive from the first semester through conferral. You will report to the Deputy Provost for Graduate Education and translate university goals into operational reality across student advocacy and academic administration.

Responsibilities include operationalizing strategic goals, designing scalable programs, mediating crises, and building cross-department

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field; Master’s Degree preferred.
• Three to five years of experience in higher education administration related to graduate studies, graduate student affairs, or a specialized program area.
• A track record of designing programs that improve graduate student retention, belonging, or professional development.
• Proven ability to mediate complex interpersonal or academic conflicts with professionalism and cultural competency.
• Experience managing staff and operational budgets within a higher education environment.
• Familiarity with pressures facing graduate students—particularly those from historically underrepresented groups.

Responsibilities

• Operationalize Lehigh's strategic goals for graduate student excellence and inclusion across all disciplines.
• Design and scale student success initiatives that address the full arc of the graduate journey.
• Serve as a primary navigator for graduate student crises, connecting students with appropriate institutional support.
• Mediate faculty-student conflicts with discretion, equity, and sound professional judgment.
• Build and sustain partnerships across Academic Affairs, student services, and college-level graduate programs.
• Lead day-to-day office operations including staff supervision and program coordination.
• Develop assessment frameworks to measure the effectiveness of student success programming.
• Advise the Deputy Provost on emerging trends, systemic barriers, and opportunities within graduate education.
• Champion belonging and equity initiatives for graduate students from historically underrepresented groups.
• Represent the graduate student success function in university-wide planning and policy discussions.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Cultural competency

Staff supervision

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Lehigh University

Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Lehigh University provides comprehensive benefits including partner benefits.

Lehigh University's graduate community is intellectually ambitious, deeply diverse, and growing. As Director of Graduate Student Success and Engagement, you will shape the systems, relationships, and culture that allow graduate students to thrive from their first semester through to conferral and beyond. Reporting to the Deputy Provost for Graduate Education, you will translate university-wide goals for an excellent, inclusive graduate experience into operational reality. This is a role that sits at the intersection of student advocacy, institutional strategy, and academic administration.

Position Number:S87810

This position is a Grade: 11 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $83,910-$102,080and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Your Scope and Impact

• Operationalize Lehigh's strategic goals for graduate student excellence and inclusion across all disciplines


• Design and scale student success initiatives that address the full arc of the graduate journey


• Serve as a primary navigator for graduate student crises, connecting students with appropriate institutional support


• Mediate faculty-student conflicts with discretion, equity, and sound professional judgment


• Build and sustain partnerships across Academic Affairs, student services, and college-level graduate programs


• Lead day-to-day office operations including staff supervision and program coordination


• Develop assessment frameworks to measure the effectiveness of student success programming


• Advise the Deputy Provost on emerging trends, systemic barriers, and opportunities within graduate education


• Champion belonging and equity initiatives for graduate students from historically underrepresented groups


• Represent the graduate student success function in university-wide planning and policy discussions

What You Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field; Master's Degree preferred


• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration related to graduate studies, graduate student affairs, or a specialized program area related to graduate studies


• A track record of designing programs that improve graduate student retention, belonging, or professional development


• Proven ability to mediate complex interpersonal or academic conflicts with professionalism and cultural competency


• Experience managing staff and operational budgets within a higher education environment


• Familiarity with the distinct pressures facing graduate students — particularly those from historically underrepresented groups — at an institution like Lehigh

Why Lehigh

Lehigh's identity as a research university with a genuine commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration means this role carries real institutional weight. You'll work within an Academic Affairs division that values both evidence-based practice and human-centered leadership. Lehigh offers a competitive benefits package including generous retirement contributions, tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents, comprehensive health coverage, and a campus environment that takes professional development seriously. Bethlehem itself offers an accessible, affordable quality of life with proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia. Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Special Considerations

• This position has direct contact with minors, therefore a background check is required.


• The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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