Senior Adviser

Vanderbilt University; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt University in Nashville seeks an academic advisor for the Immersion Vanderbilt program to guide undergraduate students and coordinate campus partnerships. The role includes advising sessions and supporting experiential learning across six pathways.

This position requires collaboration with faculty, staff, and external partners to ensure resources and opportunities are available, while contributing to events and communications that advance the Immersion Vanderbilt mission.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience advising undergraduate students.
• Experience working with faculty and staff.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic advising to undergraduate students participating in Immersion Vanderbilt.
• Serve as a primary contact for campus partners and coordinate cross‑unit collaboration.
• Develop expertise in Immersion Vanderbilt Pathways and support pathway planning.
• Host group and individual advising sessions and assist with administrative tasks.
• Support outreach and content development for print, digital, and social media with the team.
• Assist in planning events and contributing to institutional goals.

Skills

Excellent communication

Undergrad advising

Collaboration

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree required

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Summary

Immersion Vanderbilt seeks dedicated, creative, intellectually curious, and team-oriented candidates to provide academic advising to undergraduate students and deliver programmatic support for the Immersion Vanderbilt office. Immersion Vanderbilt requires each undergraduate student to participate in an immersive experience that occurs in and beyond the classroom and culminates in a final project. The program involves campus-wide collaboration across all schools and colleges. The Immersion Vanderbilt office coordinates efforts across campus, providing centralized support and communication to ensure students and faculty have the resources they need.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing guidance to students and serving as a point of contact for campus partners; developing expertise in a few of the six Immersion Vanderbilt Pathways (Civic and Community Engagement; Innovation, Arts, and Design; Internships; Leadership and Professional Development; Research; and Study Abroad); hosting group and individual advising sessions; and supporting students, faculty, and staff with the administrative components of experiential learning. The position will collaborate with faculty, staff, colleges and schools, campus partner offices, and external partners in support of experiential learning and the Immersion Vanderbilt mission.

About The Work Unit

Immersion Vanderbilt provides a unique opportunity for Vanderbilt students to pursue their interests through a hands-on, mentored experience inside and outside the classroom. Immersion Vanderbilt culminates with a tangible final project, such as a work of art, an op-ed piece in a newspaper, a thesis, a web app, a musical performance, or a prototype, among many other products. This work unit facilitates these transformative student experiences, supporting learners as they engage with mentors, apply classroom knowledge, and create novel products that demonstrate their learning and contributions. This office plays a vital role in providing Vanderbilt students with unparalleled opportunities for experiential learning, personal growth, and real-world impact.

Through Immersion Vanderbilt, students can explore diverse experiential learning pathways such as study abroad; internships; civic and community engagement; research; innovation, arts and design; and leadership and professional development.

About The Provost’s Office Of Undergraduate Education

The Provost’s Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) advances Vanderbilt’s academic mission by supporting more than 7,200 undergraduate students in pursuing rigorous and inquiry-driven learning experiences. OUE collaborates closely with faculty and academic units to develop and sustain programs that promote undergraduate research, scholarly engagement, global learning, and other high impact academic practices that extend beyond the classroom. Through strategic coordination of curricular and co-curricular academic initiatives, including Immersion Vanderbilt, study abroad, and faculty driven academic programming, OUE ensures that students have access to meaningful opportunities for intellectual growth and discovery. By aligning resources, services, and academic support structures, OUE strengthens the undergraduate academic experience and fosters a community committed to learning, curiosity, and academic excellence.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

• Collaborate with Immersion staff, Immersion faculty fellows, and campus partners to deliver comprehensive, effective advising on all aspects of the experiential pathways and Immersion Vanderbilt requirements.
• Develop first-year student advising plan, including the timeline for completing their Immersion Vanderbilt experiences and culminating project.
• Coordinate upper-division student advising, guiding the selection, development, and declaration of qualifying immersive experiences.
• Coordinate upper-division student advising, guiding the requirements for selection, development, and completion of Immersion culminating projects.
• Collaborate with Immersion staff to track students’ Immersion progress through completion of the degree requirement.
• Build expertise of the Immersion Vanderbilt Pathways by developing knowledge of related programs, departments, centers, faculty, staff, and student projects.
• Research and benchmark trends in designated pathway(s), including experiential learning, undergraduate advising models, and experiential funding opportunities.
• Assist in the planning, development, and facilitation of signature Immersion Vanderbilt events and culminating project showcases. Host and attend events on occasional evenings and weekends.
• Support outreach efforts by contributing to content development for print, digital, and social media in collaboration with the outreach team.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the university to advance institutional goals and strategic priorities.
• Other duties as assigned.

OUE Divisional and Institutional Responsibilities

• Demonstrate initiative by proactively identifying opportunities to improve processes, solve problems, and advance divisional and institutional priorities.
• Stay informed about and effectively utilize emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance academic and administrative processes where appropriate.
• Actively participate in divisional initiatives, professional development opportunities, and OUE meetings and events that strengthen collaboration and shared purpose.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment by supporting colleagues and contributing to shared goals across the division.
• Contribute to the mission of OUE and Vanderbilt University through participation on divisional and institutional committees, task forces, and working groups, as appropriate.
• Maintain a working knowledge of relevant university policies, procedures, and systems to support effective, responsible, and compliant operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and strategic priorities of OUE and Vanderbilt University.

Supervisory Relationships

This position has no supervisory responsibilities and reports both administratively and functionally to the Senior Director of Immersion Vanderbilt.

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in a related field is required.
• Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is strongly preferred.

Experience And Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
• Experience advising or teaching undergraduate students is required.
• Experience working with faculty is required.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage effectively with students are required.
• Self-motivation and a positive, professional approach are required.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team is required.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet strategic and business needs is required.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Knowledge of experiential learning pedagogy is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and tact in handling sensitive matters.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and collaboration platforms such as Zoom and Teams.