Graduate Advisor

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT); Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) seeks a Graduate Advisor to support master’s students in Mechanical Engineering. This role involves advising students on degree requirements and maintaining program resources.

The successful candidate will have a master’s degree and advising experience, with strong technological skills. The position is exempt from overtime and offers a salary commensurate with experience, starting at $50,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field or Bachelor's with significant experience.
• Experience in academic program coordination and advising.
• Familiarity with technology tools for document management and communications.

Responsibilities

• Provide advising services for master’s students in Mechanical Engineering.
• Maintain program resource documents and assist in recruitment activities.
• Coordinate special events and manage student data.

Skills

Academic program coordination

Advising experience

Competency with technology tools

Education

Master’s degree in a relevant field

Bachelor’s degree and significant related experience

Tools

Student information systems (Banner)

Customer relationship management systems (Slate, Salesforce)

Learning management systems (Canvas, Blackboard)

Job description

Job Description

The Graduate Advisor is a member of a student support team that works closely with faculty, staff, and students, functioning both independently as the lead for master’s programs and as a team member supporting other priorities. This position will work with master’s level students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with special emphasis on accelerated student advising. The advisor will provide accurate, timely advising services related to degree requirements, satisfactory academic progress, and academic course options for master’s students through individual and group advising sessions offered in-person and online. Duties will include maintaining program resource documents, assisting the Graduate Director with recruitment and retention activities, program assessment, student and program data management, coordination of special events, and other duties as assigned. The Graduate Advisor will also work closely with the Undergraduate Advisors to collaborate and coordinate on aspects of the undergraduate and graduate programs that overlap.

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited college or university or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field and significant related experience. Academic program coordination, advising, and/or student affairs experience in a higher education setting. Competency with technology tools to support word processing, file and database management, basic website maintenance, and visual communications (canva, Sharepoint, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with student information systems (banner, etc) or customer relationship management systems (slate, salesforce, etc). Experience creating and analyzing surveys or qualitative data, and using survey instruments (Qualtrics, etc). Experience administering a learning management system (canvas, blackboard, etc).

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$50,000 - Commensurate with Experience

Hours per week

40

Review Date

May 18, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law, including but not limited to information related to the compensation of any employee or applicant who discusses or discloses compensation to another employee or another applicant.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Amanda Collinsat [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.