Lead Academic Advisor

ivytech; Richmond (IN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness program

Health Savings Account

Dental plan

Vision plan

Employee Assistance Program

Wellness Rewards

Flexible Spending Accounts

Retirement contribution

Life insurance

Job summary

Ivy Tech Community College is seeking a Lead Academic Advisor to oversee campus academic advising, supervise Advisors, and drive data-informed strategies that improve persistence and completion. You’ll partner with Enrollment, Financial Aid, and Academic Affairs to remove barriers and advance student success.

The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and high-touch student support, with a focus on mentoring staff and coordinating campus initiatives.

Qualifications

• Three years of progressively responsible experience in academic advising or student success.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to supervise staff and manage advising operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for the campus academic advising function, including advisor assignments, advising processes, caseloads, case management, outreach tactics, and advising initiatives.
• Directly supervise Academic Advisors, providing coaching, professional development, performance support, and day-to-day leadership while maintaining an active connection to students and advising practices.
• Provide high-touch academic advising and student support, helping students navigate academic planning, program requirements, registration, academic progress, and barriers to persistence.
• Use institutional data and student information to monitor advising outcomes, identify students who may need additional support, and coordinate targeted outreach and interventions.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Enrollment, Financial Aid, teaching faculty, and other campus partners to address barriers and strengthen advising practices that support persistence, retention, and completion.
• Support the campus retention and student success strategy by translating broader retention priorities into effective advising practices, student outreach, and interventions.
• Develop and maintain effective systems for documenting advising activity, student outreach, interventions, referrals, and outcomes.
• Serve as a resource for students experiencing academic difficulty, including academic warning or SAP concerns, in collaboration with other advisors, Financial Aid, faculty, and other appropriate campus personnel.
• Connect students with appropriate campus and community resources, including support related to financial hardship and other barriers that may impact persistence.
• Participate in campus and Systems Office committees, workgroups, and initiatives related to academic advising, retention, student success, and the student experience.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of academic advising, retention, student success, and broader Student Affairs priorities, including leading or contributing to special projects and campus initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Coaching

Communication

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Data-informed decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Student information systems / CRM

Job description

The Lead Academic Advisor provides leadership and oversight for the campus academic advising function while maintaining a high-touch connection with students and the advising process. This position directly supervises Academic Advisors, leads advising operations and initiatives, and supports team development, coaching, and performance. As a collaborative campus leader, the Lead Academic Advisor partners across Enrollment, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, and other teams to identify barriers, coordinate targeted outreach, and deliver data-informed strategies that strengthen student persistence, retention, and completion.

Role Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for the campus academic advising function, including advisor assignments, advising processes, caseloads, case management, outreach tactics, and advising initiatives.
• Directly supervise Academic Advisors, providing coaching, professional development, performance support, and day-to-day leadership while maintaining an active connection to students and advising practices.
• Provide high-touch academic advising and student support, helping students navigate academic planning, program requirements, registration, academic progress, and barriers to persistence.
• Use institutional data and student information to monitor advising outcomes, identify students who may need additional support, and coordinate targeted outreach and interventions.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Enrollment, Financial Aid, teaching faculty, and other campus partners to address barriers and strengthen advising practices that support persistence, retention, and completion.
• Support the campus retention and student success strategy by translating broader retention priorities into effective advising practices, student outreach, and interventions.
• Develop and maintain effective systems for documenting advising activity, student outreach, interventions, referrals, and outcomes.
• Serve as a resource for students experiencing academic difficulty, including academic warning or Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) concerns, in collaboration with other advisors, Financial Aid, faculty, and other appropriate campus personnel.
• Connect students with appropriate campus and community resources, including support related to financial hardship and other barriers that may impact persistence.
• Participate in campus and Systems Office committees, workgroups, and initiatives related to academic advising, retention, student success, and the student experience.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of academic advising, retention, student success, and broader Student Affairs priorities, including leading or contributing to special projects and campus initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three years of progressively responsible experience in academic advising, student success, higher education, education, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to effectively manage advising operations and priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and develop staff while fostering a collaborative, student-centered advising environment.
• Strong academic advising and student support skills, with the ability to build relationships, advocate for students, and navigate complex academic and personal barriers.
• Ability to use student and institutional data to identify trends, inform advising practices, prioritize outreach, and assess outcomes.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and self-directed, with the ability to build effective partnerships across departments while working independently and making sound decisions.
• Higher education experience in academic advising, student affairs, retention, or student success preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and student information or customer relationship management systems preferred.

Education Requirements

A bachelor's degree is required; an advanced degree or equivalent experience is preferred.

Benefits

Ivy Tech is committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and financial security of our full-time faculty and staff. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Health & Wellness

• Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution
• Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia
• Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses
• Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources
• Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care

Retirement & Financial Security

• 10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years
• Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage
• Short-term and lo