Graduate Affairs Advisor (Hybrid)

University of California, Irvine; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Irvine (UCI) invites applications for a Graduate Affairs Advisor. This senior graduate affairs professional provides the full range of graduate student services and program administration to support recruitment, academic progress, funding, employment administration, and student success.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Graduate Affairs, you will interpret policies, oversee program operations, advise students, and collaborate with faculty, Graduate Program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in graduate affairs, student services, academic administration, or higher education administration.
• Direct UCPath and/or payroll experience.
• Knowledge of graduate student funding models, fellowships, traineeships, and academic student employee appointments.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; intercultural competencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide full range of graduate student services and program administration.
• Interpret policies, provide program administration, student advising, and strategic operational support.
• Collaborate with faculty, Graduate Program Directors, and campus partners to address complex student and programmatic issues and recommend improvements.
• Serve as the functional resource for graduate student employment administration and UCPath/payroll processing.

Skills

Graduate advising

Counseling techniques

Communication skills

Data analysis

Policy interpretation

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Intercultural competencies

Education

Bachelor's degree in related area

Master's degree in higher education or related field

Tools

UCPath

Payroll processing

University databases

Job description

Who We Are

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The Graduate Studies & Support Office provides oversight, guidance, advisement, and administrative support for graduate education programs within the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences. The office serves more than 350 graduate students and 90 postdoctoral fellows and collaborates with faculty, department chairs, and campus partners to support recruitment, admissions, academic progress, student funding, employment administration, professional development, and student success.

Your Role on the Team

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Graduate Affairs, the Graduate Affairs Advisor serves as a senior graduate affairs professional responsible for providing the full range of graduate student services and program administration. The position plays a key role in supporting the School's graduate education mission through policy interpretation, program administration, student advising, and strategic operational support. The incumbent regularly collaborates with faculty, Graduate Program Directors, and campus partners to address complex student and programmatic issues and recommend improvements to services, processes, and operational practices. The position serves as the Graduate Studies & Support team's functional resource for graduate student employment administration and UCPath and/or payroll processing.

What It Takes to be Successful

Required:

• Working knowledge of advising and counseling techniques applicable to graduate student populations.
• Knowledge of graduate student funding models, fellowships, traineeships, and academic student employee appointments.
• Solid verbal and written communication skills; strong interpersonal and multicultural competencies.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and resolve complex issues and develop original solutions.
• Skills in judgment, decision‑making, problem solving, and recommending process improvements.
• Ability to analyze data, prepare reports, and develop recommendations supporting student success and program effectiveness.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex policies, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to provide functional guidance, consultation, training, and procedural support.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• 3-5 yearsProgressively responsible experience in graduate affairs, student services, academic administration, or higher education administration. Direct UCPath and/or payroll experience

Preferred:

• Knowledge of University-specific computer application programs and databases; UCPath experience highly preferred.
• Knowledge of University policies and procedures related to graduate education, student services, graduate student employment, and student support programs.
• Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, public administration, business administration, or related field

Total Rewards

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions of Employment

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship

Must be able to provide proof of work authorization