Learning Specialist

San Jose State University; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

San José State University is seeking a Learning Specialist to provide targeted academic support to student athletes with documented needs. You will design individualized strategies, monitor NCAA eligibility benchmarks, and coordinate with athletics, compliance, faculty, advising, and disability resources to promote student success.

The role requires professional judgment with limited supervision while maintaining FERPA compliance and accurate documentation.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a related field (or substituted experience).
• Three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience.
• Equivalent to four-year college graduation with relevant counseling coursework; doctorate substitutions may apply.
• Experience with PeopleSoft is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized and small group academic support focused on executive functioning, study strategies, time management, and self advocacy.
• Design and implement customized learning plans based on academic history, learning assessments, and eligibility requirements.
• Monitor academic progress, attendance, performance indicators, and progress toward NCAA initial and continuing eligibility standards.
• Maintain accurate academic documentation and session records using PeopleSoft or comparable student success systems.
• Communicate academic progress and concerns to appropriate athletics staff while maintaining FERPA compliance and confidentiality.
• Collaborate with compliance staff and campus partners to coordinate academic interventions, referrals, and student support plans.
• Prepare and contribute to academic reports related to eligibility certification, retention, and academic performance trends.
• Educate student athletes on NCAA academic expectations and institutional degree requirements, including support during academic transitions.
• Facilitate workshops on study skills, learning strategies, academic technology platforms, and self management skills.
• Serve as an academic resource to student athletes, coaches, support staff, academic units, and external partners to promote student athlete success.

Education

Master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or related field

Three years of professional student services experience

Graduation from a four-year college or university with relevant coursework in counseling/interviewing/ conflict resolution

Tools

PeopleSoft

Job description

Job Summary

Reporting to the Managing Director of the Student-Athlete ResourceCenter (SARC), the Learning Specialist provides comprehensive academic support to student athletes with demonstrated academic need, including those with education impacting disabilities, learning differences, or who are academically at risk. The position independently designs individualized learning strategies, monitors academic progress and NCAA eligibility benchmarks, and supports academic transitions and student success programming. The Learning Specialist collaborates with athletics, compliance, faculty, advising, tutoring, disability resources, and other campus partners to coordinate effective interventions and services. The role exercises professional judgment with limited supervision while maintaining FERPA compliance, accurate academic documentation, and alignment with NCAA, conference, and institutional requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individualized and small group academic support focused on executive functioning, study strategies, time management, and self advocacy.
• Design and implement customized learning plans based on academic history, learning assessments, and eligibility requirements.
• Monitor academic progress, attendance, performance indicators, and progress toward NCAA initial and continuing eligibility standards.
• Maintain accurate academic documentation and session records using PeopleSoft or comparable student success systems.
• Communicate academic progress and concerns to appropriate athletics staff while maintaining FERPA compliance and confidentiality.
• Collaborate with compliance staff and campus partners to coordinate academic interventions, referrals, and student support plans.
• Prepare and contribute to academic reports related to eligibility certification, retention, and academic performance trends.
• Educate student athletes on NCAA academic expectations and institutional degree requirements, including support during academic transitions.
• Facilitate workshops on study skills, learning strategies, academic technology platforms, and self management skills.
• Serve as an academic resource to student athletes, coaches, support staff, academic units, and external partners to promote student athlete success.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of NCAA academic eligibility requirements, conference rules, institutional policies, and FERPA requirements.
• Ability to design and implement effective individualized and group teaching and learning strategies.
• Ability to advise and support students using principles of individual and group behavior and counseling techniques.
• Ability to analyze academic information, evaluate complex situations, exercise professional judgment, and determine effective courses of action.
• Ability to collect, compile, evaluate, and present data related to academic progress and student success.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, organize work independently, and collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Strong professional written and verbal communication skills for working with student-athletes, families, campus colleagues, and educational partners.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive student information and communications.
• Knowledge of student services programs and technology platforms used in university and online learning environments, with awareness of responsible and ethical use of emerging technologies, including AI.
• Ability to develop services and programs responsive to students from a wide range of communities.

Required Qualifications

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper-division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution where such are job-related.
• Three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience.
• A master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience. A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in related field.
• Two years of experience in higher education, athletic academic setting.
• Experience with applicable University policies and procedures.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Experience with PeopleSoft.

Compensation

• Classification: Student Services Professional III
• Anticipated Hiring Salary: $5,667/month
• CSU Salary Range: $5,540/month - $7,893/month

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see EmployeeBenefits Summary.

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in‑person program or activity (on‑ or off‑campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID‑19 vaccination recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to [e-mail] .

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third party vendor, AccurateBackground. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.