Student Success Specialist, Sr. - High School Equivalency Program (HEP)

The University of New Mexico; Albuquerque, Northern (NM, KY); Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Tuition remission

Job summary

The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM is hiring a Sr. Student Success Specialist for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP).

The role focuses on guiding migrant and seasonal farmworker students toward a high school equivalency diploma, while building partnerships and coordinating placement services. You will work with HEP staff to develop retention and placement strategies, coach adult learners aged 16–65, and ensure accurate recordkeeping for program assessment.

Qualifications

• Fluency in English and Spanish (oral and written).
• Bachelor's degree; at least 2 years of related duties experience.
• Willingness to travel in-state for 1–3 days, including overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic, personal, and career guidance to support HEP student success.
• Coordinate mentoring, tutoring, study skills, and referrals to support student persistence in HEP.
• Monitor student progress to identify needs and provide appropriate support.
• Assist students with placement into higher education, employment, military service, and other career pathways.
• Create individualized academic and career plans and monitor progress toward goals.
• Support outreach and recruitment activities with schools and community organizations.

Skills

Fluency in English and Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Student Success Specialist, Sr. - High School Equivalency Program (HEP)

The High School Equivalency Program (HEP) housed under El Centro de la Raza at the University of New Mexico, is 100% federally funded through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education. The program is designed to identify, recruit, and enroll migrant and seasonal farmworker students and provide academic, social, and financial support to help them attain a high school equivalency diploma.

The HEP Advisor will be responsible for maintaining accurate records, ensuring program services are rendered to students for up to 70 HEP participants from migrant and seasonal farm working communities throughout New Mexico. This role requires a highly motivated, detail-oriented individual who can effectively implement placement plans for students who will receive a High School Equivalency as well as sustain partnerships with community organizations and serve as a representative of the program.

The Advisor will work closely with other HEP staff to administer a variety of programmatic aspects. Creativity and innovation are encouraged in developing and executing retention and placement strategies and activities. A successful candidate must be able to motivate and coach adult learners ages ranging from 16-65.

The target population includes students from rural communities, many of whom may be Spanish speaking. Strong rapport-building skills are essential to establish and maintain relationships with students, educational institutions, and community agencies.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide academic, personal, and career guidance to support HEP student success.
• Coordinate mentoring, tutoring, study skills, and referrals to support student persistence in HEP.
• Monitor student progress to identify needs and provide appropriate support.
• Assist students with placement into higher education, employment, military service, and other career pathways.
• Create individualized academic and career plans and monitor student progress toward goals.
• Support outreach and recruitment activities with schools and community organizations, particularly those serving migrant and seasonal farmworker communities.
• Build community and institutional partnerships to expand student support and placement opportunities.
• Collaborate with the HEP team to facilitate orientations, workshops, and student activities while maintaining accurate records and supporting program assessment.

Funding

Funding: Funding is available through June 30, 2027; continuation is contingent upon program needs and federal funding.

Minimum Qualifications

• Fluency in English and Spanish (oral and written)
• Valid New Mexico driver’s license
• Willingness to travel in-state for 1–3 days, including overnight stays, as needed

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree; at least 2 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with farmworking communities, underrepresented populations, and/or high school students
• Demonstrated success in student retention and engagement for educational programs
• Ability to independently build and sustain professional relationships with community & campus partners

Conditions of Employment

• Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.
• All regular, non-temporary positions assigned to this classification are represented by a labor union and subject to the terms and conditions of the US-UNM Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Employment and Compensation

Campus: Main - Albuquerque, NM. Department: El Centro de la Raza Administrative (942B). Employment Type: Staff. Staff Type: Term - Full-Time. Term End Date: 06/30/2027. Status: Non-Exempt. Pay: Hourly: $26.93 - $35.99. Background Check Required: Yes. For Best Consideration Date: 9/17/2026.

Benefits

This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. Benefits home page for a more information.

ERB Statement: As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.

Veteran Preference Program

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

Background Check

University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.