Senior Program Director for Student and Academic Success (INTERNAL)

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Houston is seeking a senior executive to oversee the Deans Office - Arts, directing academic advising and student-success operations across undergraduate and graduate programs, minors, and certificates. The role drives enrollment optimization, supports college-wide pathways, and collaborates to strengthen student outcomes.

Responsibilities include leading staff, budgeting, policy development, and ongoing improvements to advising practices and course offerings, with a focus on

Qualifications

• Requires a formal 4 year degree from a college or university or equivalent training.
• Preferred: Master degree in education, higher education administration, or academic advising.
• Minimum seven (7) years of direct job-related experience.
• Experience in student success and academic advising preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides executive leadership and oversight for the college’s academic advising and student-success operations for undergraduate and graduate programs, minors, certificates, and other pathways.
• Advises students on requirements, degree planning, policies, progress, and completion, including complex cases.
• Directs professional advising staff; sets service standards, evaluates performance, and aids hiring decisions.
• Develops college-wide strategies to improve retention, progression, and degree completion.
• Monitors enrollment, course demand, progress, retention, and completion data to identify trends and barriers.
• Reviews schedules to optimize access, sequencing, capacity, and enrollment.
• Advises college leadership and staff on enrollment optimization and advising practices.
• Leads policy/program development for advising and student success; represents the college on committees.
• Engages in professional development with professional organizations to apply best practices.
• Performs other job-related duties.

Skills

Executive leadership

Staff management

Budget oversight

Strategic planning

Enrollment analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Master's degree (preferred) in education or higher education administration

Job description

Department: Deans Office - Arts Salary: Commensurate with Experience/Education

Description

Responsible for the operations of a complex center or multiple departments at the university. Oversees staff and budgets, and projects.

• Administers a complex center or multiple departments.
• Manages budget and engages in strategic planning to ensure all goals are met.
• Hires and directs the activities of staff.
• Resolves personnel issues as they arise.
• Engages in budget-planning, grant oversight, and policy development.
• Implements new programs and projects and monitors ongoing activities of department or center.
• Reviews department policies and processes and implements improvements as needed.
• Represents department or center to internal and external constituents.
• Performs other job-related duties as required.

Additional Posting Information

Provides senior leadership and administrative oversight for the college’s academic advising and student-success operations across undergraduate and graduate degree programs, minors, certificates, and other academic pathways. Leads college-wide efforts related to enrollment monitoring and optimization, student retention and progression, degree completion, academic policy implementation, and the evaluation of course offerings and schedules in relation to student and program needs.

Uses enrollment, advising, and academic-progress data to identify trends, barriers, and opportunities for improvement. Collaborates with college leadership, academic units, faculty, and university offices to strengthen academic pathways, improve the student experience, and ensure students have access to the courses, advising, and support necessary to complete their academic goals.

Job Duties

• Provides executive leadership and oversight for the college’s academic advising and student-success operations supporting undergraduate and graduate degree programs, minors, certificates, and other academic pathways.
• Advises undergraduate and graduate students regarding academic requirements, degree planning, policies, progress, and completion, with particular responsibility for complex, sensitive, or escalated student cases.
• Directs professional advising staff; establishes service standards and priorities; evaluates performance; supports professional development; and provides input regarding hiring, personnel matters, and organizational structure.
• Develops and implements college-wide strategies to improve student retention, academic progression, degree completion, and the overall student experience.
• Monitors and analyzes enrollment, course demand, academic progress, retention, and completion data to identify trends, barriers, capacity needs, and opportunities for improvement.
• Reviews course schedules and planned offerings to identify access, sequencing, capacity, and enrollment concerns. Collaborates with academic units and scheduling personnel to recommend improvements supporting student progression.
• Advises college leadership, academic administrators, faculty, and staff regarding enrollment optimization, advising practices, student-success strategies, academic policies, curricula, and degree pathways.
• Leads the development and continuous improvement of policies, processes, programs, technologies, and communications supporting advising and student success; represents the college on university committees and collaborates with university offices to advance student outcomes.
• Engages in professional development with established professional organizations and associations to maintain continuous learning of established and emerging best practices to be strategically applied for continued success of the office.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

Education

Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job-related 4 year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed.

Preferred: Master degree in education, higher education administration, or academic advising.

Experience

Requires a minimum of seven (7) years of direct job-related experience.

Preferred: Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience working in student success and academic advising with performing and visual arts students at a large, public 4-year institution.

Experience will be considered in lieu of education.

Education will be considered in lieu of experience.

MQ: Education:

Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job-related 4 year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed.

MQ: Experience:

Requires a minimum of seven (7) years of directly job-related experience.

Certification/Licensing: None.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.