Learning Specialist

Sacbar; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 72,240 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Job summary

UCLA is accepting applications for the position of Learning Specialist within the Office of Academic Excellence in collaboration with Athletics. The role focuses on supporting the academic success of student‑athletes through individualized coaching, learning strategy development, and targeted interventions.

The candidate will work with coaches, advisors, and campus partners to ensure compliance with NCAA and university standards, maintain confidentiality under FERPA, and contribute to academic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Master’s Degree in Education or Counseling preferred.
• Experience working with college students in an academic support or advising role.
• Experience supporting at‑risk students and students with learning differences.
• Strong academic coaching and learning strategy development skills.
• Knowledge of ADA regulations and accommodations for students with diagnosed learning disabilities.
• Demonstrate ability to exercise sound judgment and handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and according to FERPA guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized academic support, learning strategy development, and targeted intervention for student‑athletes.
• Collaborate with academic advisors, eligibility staff, coaches, faculty, and campus partners to promote student‑athlete achievement.
• Develop and monitor student‑athletes’ individualized academic support plans and coordinate tutoring support.
• Train academic mentors and peer learning facilitators (tutors) and provide ongoing supervision.
• Contribute to campus programming and assist with reports and progress checks.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Counseling

Collaboration

FERPA knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree in Education or Counseling

Job description

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is accepting applications for the position of Learning Specialist. This is a career, full-time position with a targeted annual salary range of $72,240.00 - $75,000.00, with full health benefits and membership in the UC Retirement Plan. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Office of Academic Excellence, in partnership with the Division of Undergraduate Education - College of Letters & Science, provides support to more than 650 student-athletes in 25 sports throughout the academic year and summer sessions. Our student-centered approach empowers student-athletes to maximize their educational experience while pursuing academic, athletic, and personal goals. Our mission centers on graduating self-sufficient learners who successfully embark on life after college.

The Learning Specialist supports the academic success and retention of student-athletes by providing individualized academic support, learning strategy development, time management skill development and targeted intervention for students with diverse learning needs. Working within the Office of Academic Excellence, this role collaborates closely with academic advisors, eligibility staff, coaches, faculty, and campus partners to promote student-athlete achievement while ensuring compliance with NCAA and University standards.

The Learning Specialist utilize student-athletes’ educational history, placement results, educational interviews, and athletic medicine and coaching input to collaboratively develop, implement and monitor student-athletes’ individualized academic support plans, which may include weekly learning specialist, academic mentor and/or peer learning (tutoring) support for assigned student-athletes.

The Learning Specialist supports a caseload of student-athletes and assigned teams, and serves as a liaison to campus and department resources. Working jointly with the College academic counselors, other learning specialists, peer learning and eligibility staff, as well as campus resources, the Learning Specialist provides initial and ongoing training for academic mentors and peer learning facilitators (tutors).

The Learning Specialist will also collaborate with multiple support service providers on campus and within athletics, making referral as needed to provide enriched student-athlete academic support. The Learning Specialist develops proactive and responsive programming founded on campus academic integrity policies that also honor FERPA confidentiality safeguards. The Learning Specialist will also have knowledge of NCAA, Conference, UCLA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and University policies, rules and regulations.

Finally, the Learning Specialist fulfills several administrative roles, including grade and progress checks and reports, communicating with coaches regarding academic progress, contributing to unit-wide programming including eligibility meetings, Bruin Bridge (summer orientation program), orientation sessions, as well as special events like the Student-Athlete Graduation Celebration.

*Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background check performed by Universal Background Screening and UCLA Athletics.

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.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.

All applicants should demonstrate the following abilities and requirements: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience required; Master’s Degree in Education or Counseling is preferred; Experience working with college students in an academic support or advising role; Experience supporting at-risk students and students with learning differences; Strong academic coaching and learning strategy development skills; Knowledge of regulations and laws associated with ADA and accommodations for students with diagnosed learning disabilities; Demonstrate ability to exercise sound judgment and handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and according to FERPA guidelines; Skill in working independently and following through on duties with minimal direction; Ability to effectively counsel and refer students to campus resources for assistance with professional, academic, and/or personal matters; Ability to interact diplomatically with individuals of diverse social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds; Outstanding communication skills both oral and written, including skill in writing memos/reports and using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation; Ability to establish and interact collaboratively and effectively with other staff, student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and the UCLA community; Working knowledge of collegiate athletics and student-athlete demands; Ability to work collaboratively in situations that may be time sensitive or otherwise highly pressured, with a variety of individuals including students, coaches, academic personnel, faculty and staff; Working knowledge of NCAA, conference, UCLA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and University policies, rules, and regulations and the ability to adhere to and comply with those rules and regulations; Ability to travel occasionally to support student-athletes at away competitions as needed; Ability to work in-person, on the UCLA campus during regular work hours M-F.