Explore Program Academic Advisor – Network Student Support

Northeastern Company; Boston, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision and dental benefits

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Commuting & transportation benefits

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston seeks an Explore Program Academic Advisor to guide undeclared first‑year students through exploration, major decisions, and smoother transitions across Northeastern’s network campuses. You will design exploratory programs and coordinate with faculty, students, and advising teams to support first‑year success.

Your role involves advising, curricular interpretation, schedule construction, and collaboration across campuses to ensure consistent student experiences

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred, preferably in counseling, human services, or higher education.
• At least two years of work or educational experience, preferably in higher education.
• Must enjoy working with first‑year students and helping them adjust to college life.
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated counseling ability utilizing development theory to create a student‑centered environment.
• Value confidentiality around sensitive issues and appropriate communication levels.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, plus strong knowledge of Excel and Word.
• Be detail‑oriented and able to work with precision.
• Possess strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Demonstrate collaboration in a team‑oriented environment.
• Effectively set goals, multi‑task and manage time.
• Work in person at Northeastern’s Boston campus five days per week.

Responsibilities

• Academic Advising: guide undeclared students to support exploration and path clarification.
• Interpret policies and advise on curricular matters across majors and NUpath requirements.
• Build first‑semester schedules for incoming undeclared students.
• Provide scheduling advice based on first‑year curricula to support timely graduation.
• Identify at‑risk students and help navigate academic and personal issues.
• Ensure Explore students on all network campuses receive robust support.
• Design and implement events to help students identify the best major.
• Deliver sections of the first‑year seminar, FSEM1000, and related workshops.
• Staff Orientation and Admissions events; occasional outside‑hours work.
• Collaborate with campus partners to inform undeclared students about resources.
• Coordinate with partners across campuses for transition to Boston.

Skills

Counseling ability

Public speaking

Written & verbal communication

Team collaboration

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Excel

Word

Attention to detail

Education

Master’s degree preferred (counseling/human services/higher education)

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

About the Opportunity

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Job Summary

The Explore Program Academic Advisor will work with undeclared first‑year students to provide them with holistic guidance and support as they explore their academic interests and make the transition to their majors. The Academic Advisor will design and implement exploratory programs and events which allow students to connect with faculty, students, and resources from various majors across the University. This position will also work closely with campus partners and advising teams on Northeastern’s undergraduate network campuses (London, New York, and Oakland) to serve as a resource for first‑year students as they prepare for their transition to Northeastern’s Boston campus.

About the Explore Program

The Explore Program provides personalized and holistic support to first‑year students who have not yet declared a major as they engage in academic exploration and self‑discovery. The program achieves this through individual advising, exploratory events and workshops, and a first‑year seminar course.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred, preferably in counseling, human services, or higher education.
• At least two years of work or educational experience, preferably in higher education.
• Must enjoy working with first‑year students and helping them adjust to college life.
• Be able to communicate and interact effectively with diverse populations.
• Have demonstrated counseling ability utilizing development theory to create a student‑centered academic environment.
• Value and provide confidentiality around sensitive issues and have the ability to determine appropriate levels of communication around sensitive information.
• Possess excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as strong knowledge of Excel and Word.
• Be detail‑oriented and have the ability to work with precision.
• Possess strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Demonstrate qualities that facilitate collaboration in a team‑oriented environment.
• Effectively set goals, multi‑task and manage time.
• Work in person at Northeastern’s Boston campus five days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Academic Advising: Provide guidance to undeclared students to support their first‑year exploration and assist with academic and career path clarification.
• Through in‑person, virtual and email communication, the advisor will interpret and explain academic policies and procedures and advise on curricular matters concerning major and NUpath requirements.
• Build first‑semester schedules for incoming undeclared students.
• Provide course scheduling advice based on knowledge of first‑year curriculum across the University to support students’ timely paths to graduation.
• Identify students at risk of not staying on track for graduation and help students navigate academic and personal issues as they arise.
• Ensure Explore students on all network campuses receive robust support throughout their first year and can fully engage in the major exploration process, regardless of their campus.
• Advising‑Related Projects and Programs: Design and implement events that help students identify the best major for them.
• Responsible for one or more sections of the first‑year seminar: FSEM1000, Connections and Decisions in the fall and spring semesters, which includes delivering educational workshops to guide students through Northeastern processes.
• Support the staffing of Orientation and Admissions events, which may occasionally take place outside of typical work hours.
• Support departmental communications and marketing to ensure undeclared students are familiar with all resources to assist them in their path to declaring a major.
• Collaborate with campus partners to deliver resources, communication, and programming to new students from all academic programs who are transitioning to Boston after completing a year on a network campus.

Position Type

Academic Administration

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation.

Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

Equal‑Opportunity Employment

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation

Grade/Pay Type: 107S

Expected Hiring Range: $53,615.00 - $75,728.75

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly‑situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

About Northeastern University

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real‑world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—including14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.