Program Specialist, Advising, Recruitment, & Training Initatives

Texas State University; San Marcos, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas State University in San Marcos seeks a Program Specialist, Advising, Recruitment and Training Initiatives to lead onboarding, professional development, and staffing efforts for academic advising staff.

The role coordinates recruitment, onboarding, training programs, and competency development, collaborating with leadership and center staff to advance advising excellence and student success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum four years of professional experience in academic advising or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and operational support for the development, coordination, and evaluation of programs within the assigned department.
• Coordinate recruitment and hiring processes for academic advising positions.
• Develop onboarding plans, training schedules, and advisor development resources.
• Lead design, coordination, and implementation of professional development opportunities for academic advisors.
• Collaborate with advising leadership and campus partners to improve advising effectiveness and student success.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, Psychology, Communication Studies, or related field

Job description

Job Opportunities at Texas State University

Program Specialist, Advising, Recruitment, & Training Initatives

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Posting Information

Posting Number

Posting Number 2027022

Posting/Functional Title

Posting/Functional Title Program Specialist, Advising, Recruitment, & Training Initatives

University Pay Plan Title

University Pay Plan Title Program Specialist

Location

Location San Marcos

Department

Department Academic Advising & Transitions

Recruitment Type

Job Type

Job Type Full-Time

Funding Source

Funding Source Permanent

Monthly Salary

Monthly Salary $4,002 + commensurate with experience

Job Category

Job Category Exempt

Required Qualifications: Applicants must specifically address how they meet these required qualifications to meet the requirements of the position.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, Psychology, Communication Studies, or a related field
• Four (4) years of professional experience in academic advising, student success, student affairs, employee development, training, organizational development, higher education administration, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, Educational Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Human Resource Development, Business Administration, or related field and two (2) years of professional experience in a related field.
• Doctoral degree in any field and one (1) year of professional experience in a related field.
• Experience coordinating recruitment and hiring processes.
• Experience designing and facilitating professional development or training programs.
• Experience onboarding and developing professional staff.
• Experience in academic advising, student success, or higher education administration.
• Experience leading projects, initiatives, or organizational improvement efforts.
• Experience utilizing assessment and data to evaluate program effectiveness.

Job Description

Responsible for providing administrative and operational support for the development, coordination, and evaluation of programs within assigned department.

Job Duties

Position Description

The Program Specialist for Advising Recruitment and Training Initiatives provides strategic leadership and coordination for the recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and continuous growth of all professional academic advising staff. Reporting to the Program Manager of Strategic Advising Initiatives & Operations (PM – SAIO ), this position oversees strategic advisor talent development initiatives that strengthen advising practice, enhance advisor effectiveness, and promote a culture of learning, collaboration, and excellence.

Guided by the philosophy that academic advising is more than choosing classes, the Program Specialist, Advising Recruitment and Training Initiatives develops and implements strategic programs, resources, and experiences that equip advisors to engage students in meaningful conversations about their path, goals, interests, progress, and future. The position serves as a key resource for strategic advisor development in collaboration with the center’s Assistant Directors, by coordinating hiring processes, supporting advisor onboarding, facilitating training programs, and leading professional development initiatives that advance advisor competencies and student success outcomes.

In addition to advisor development responsibilities, the Program Specialist, Advising Recruitment and Training Initiatives supports and participates in strategic academic advising initiatives, assessment efforts, special projects, and continuous improvement activities that advance advising effectiveness, operational excellence, and student success. Through collaboration with advising leadership, academic advisors, faculty, and campus partners, the Program Specialist, Advising Recruitment and Training Initiatives contributes to the development of a highly skilled advising workforce committed to providing holistic, proactive, and student-centered support.

Academic Advisor Recruitment and Hiring

• Coordinate and manage recruitment and hiring processes for academic advising positions.
• Collaborate with advising leadership to develop recruitment strategies that attract highly qualified and varied candidates.
• Coordinate position postings, candidate communications, interview scheduling, and hiring logistics.
• Assist search committees and hiring managers throughout the recruitment and selection process.
• Develop and maintain hiring resources, interview guides, evaluation tools, and onboarding materials.
• Support workforce planning efforts and talent pipeline development initiatives.
• Monitor recruitment outcomes and recommend strategies to improve hiring effectiveness.

Advisor Onboarding and Training

• Coordinate the onboarding experience for new academic advisors.
• Partner with Assistant Directors and advising leadership to develop and deliver advisor training programs.
• Develop onboarding plans, training schedules, and advisor development resources.
• Ensure advisors receive foundational knowledge related to advising philosophy, student success practices, university policies, technologies, and advising procedures.
• Maintain advisor training documentation, learning resources, and competency development materials.
• Assess onboarding effectiveness and implement improvements based on participant feedback and organizational needs.

Advisor Professional Development and Competency Development

• Lead the design, coordination, and implementation of professional development opportunities for academic advisors through the coordination of workshops, communities of practice, mentoring opportunities, learning cohorts, and professional development events.
• Develop programs that support advisor competency development, career progression, leadership growth, and professional excellence.
• Identify emerging trends, best practices, and research in academic advising and student success to inform development initiatives.
• Support advisors in pursuing professional certifications, conference participation, scholarly engagement, and leadership opportunities.
• Maintain advisor development plans and competency frameworks aligned with departmental expectations.

Advisor Mentorship and Leadership Development

• Coordinate peer mentoring and advisor support initiatives.
• Facilitate opportunities for experienced advisors to share knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned.
• Support leadership development pathways for advisors interested in advanced roles and responsibilities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and professional growth across advising teams.

Strategic Advising Initiatives and Special Projects

• Support the planning, implementation, and assessment of strategic advising initiatives.
• Participate in projects related to student success, retention, persistence, advising effectiveness, and operational improvement.
• Assist with the implementation of advising technologies, processes, and service enhancements.
• Collaborate with advising leadership on organizational development and continuous improvement efforts.
• Support university, division, college, and advising center initiatives as assigned.
• Serve on committees, task forces, and working groups related to advising and student success.

Assessment, Data, and Continuous Improvement

• Collect and analyze data related to advisor onboarding, training, professional development, and workforce effectiveness.
• Develop reports and recommendations to support advisor development and organizational improvement.
• Assess advisor learning outcomes, training effectiveness, and professional development participation.
• Utilize assessment findings to inform future training and development efforts.
• Support accreditation, assessment, and reporting efforts related to advising effectiveness and advisor development.

Additional Information:

• This position requires occasional work outside of normal business days, including occasional evenings and weekends, to attend University functions.

Job Open Date 09/22/2026

Job Close Date (posting closes at midnight) 09/30/2026

Open Until Filled No

Normal Work Days

Normal Work Hours Start 8:00AM

Normal Work Hours End 5:00PM

Posting Notices

Texas State University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal or state law in employment, educational programs, and activities and admissions.

Employment with Texas State University is contingent upon the outcome of record checks and verifications including, but not limited to, criminal history, driving records, education records, employment verifications, reference checks, and employment eligibility verifications.

In accordance with federal law, all new employees must complete the Form I-9 and provide acceptable documentation verifying their identity and authorization to work in the United States. Texas State University participates in E-Verify, and employment is contingent upon the successful verification of work authorization. Employees are required to maintain valid work authorization to satisfy the conditions of Form I9 at all times during their employment and the university makes no implicit or explicit promises to financially support visa or permanent residency applications.

Why Choose Texas State University?

Join the Texas State Bobcat team and experience a career that offers more than just a job—it’s a path to a brighter future. As a Texas State employee, you’ll enjoy:

Exceptional Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance with 100% premium coverage for employees and 50% for dependents, starting on your first day.
Generous Time Off: Enjoy vacation, holidays, sick leave, and more to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Wellness and Balance: Access a FREE wellness program, plus mother and family-friendly resources to support your personal well-being.
Professional Growth: Explore a wide range of training, development courses, certifications, and educational support programs.
Welcoming Campus: Become part of a vibrant Bobcat community with numerous social and professional networks.

At Texas State University, you’re not just an employee—you’re a valued member of a thriving and beautiful campus community. Start your journey with us today. https://www.hr.txst.edu/benefits.html

Office of Human Resources