Learning Specialist

University of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a Learning Specialist to support MD and MPH students. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Student Success, you will provide individualized academic advising and monitor progress to address learning needs.

You will collaborate with program directors, faculty, and staff to promote student success, maintain curriculum understanding, and support licensure exam preparation.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years full-time professional experience in academic support, learning assistance, student success, academic advising, or related educational work
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Education background aligning with learning sciences or education preferred

Responsibilities

• Serves as main point of contact for students, advising on educational options and curriculum requirements
• Responds to academic inquiries per policies and FERPA guidelines
• Participates in campus advising community and contributes to program development
• Develops and implements academic advising events and workshops
• Maintains confidentiality and accurate student records in line with FERPA

Skills

Academic advising

Student success

Education work

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Academic Advising Manager

Job Summary:

Academic Affairs within the UW School of Medicine and Public Health invites applications for a Learning Specialist position supporting students in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) programs. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Student Success, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with program directors, faculty, and academic staff to promote student learning, academic achievement, and overall success. Key responsibilities include providing individualized academic advising, maintaining a strong understanding of program curricula and licensure/board examinations, and monitoring student academic progress to identify and address learning needs. The Learning Specialist will serve as one of four specialists supporting MD students and as the primary Learning Specialist for MPH students. Given the collaborative structure of the MD program, the Learning Specialist team works closely together to coordinate support, share best practices, and ensure consistent, high-quality services for students across the curriculum.

The ideal candidate will possess expertise in evidence-based learning strategies and academic coaching, demonstrate a strong commitment to student success, and excel at building collaborative relationships with students, faculty, and staff. Experience supporting learners in medical, public health, or other health professions programs and familiarity with professional licensure examinations are highly desirable.

• This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.


• The work schedule is flexible and will be determined at the time of hire

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Serves as a main point of contact for students and provides information about educational options and academic requirements; assists with identifying and assessing interests, skills, and values to match appropriate field of study/career options, and refers students to appropriate institutional resources

• Receives, processes, and responds to academic inquiries according to established policies and procedures

• Participates in the campus-wide advising community providing input to leadership regarding the development of advising, recruitment, and co/curricular programs offered by the school/college

• Proactively engages students as needed

• Maintains expertise with advised curriculum and may assist in developing and recommending exceptions for policy and curriculum

• Supervises unit staff and/or plans, organizes, allocates resources, assesses performance, and leads the operational activities of a function within the advising or academic services portfolio, such as program management and/or curriculum management

• Maintains confidentiality and accurate student records and processes and responds to academic inquiries according to established institutional and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policies

• Develops and implements academic advising events such as workshops, panel discussions, and guest speakers

Department:

School of Medicine and Public Health, Student Services, Student Academic Success Services

Student Academic Success Services falls under the broader umbrella of Student Services, which is dedicated to supporting the success and professional development of all SMPH learners. Serving as a central hub for student support, the department partners closely with faculty and academic affairs, and as well as UW-Madison campus units to create a student-centered environment that empowers learners to thrive in and beyond their health professions education.

Compensation:

The starting salary for the position is $70,221 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage.

SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of two years full-time professional experience in academic support, learning assistance, student success, academic advising, or related educational work


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in health professions education, graduate education, or other highly competitive academic programs


• Experience using assessment data for continuous improvement

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree required; masters degree preferred, particularly in education, educational psychology, learning sciences, or related field

Contact Information:

Beth Miller, [e-mail]. 608-265-8696

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.