Director, Student Academic Success

to providing a gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality -- one that prepares them for leadership in an increasingly complex, interdependent and pluralistic world. What makes Occidental special? An intellectually rigorous academic environment. Small classroom settings where students collaborate with professors and their peers while pursuing or discovering their passion. A beautiful residential campus that offers students hands-on engagement with the cultural and intellectual resources of Los Angeles. A community open to stimulating conversation and divergent points of view. Some 2,100 students from 46 states and 28 countries choose from 41 majors and minors and participate in one the country’s top undergraduate research programs. Oxy students routinely win top awards and fellowships; its first Rhodes Scholar was named in 1907. Dedicated to excellence and equity, Occidental also is one of the country’s most economically diverse campuses, according to the New York Times. Some 71 percent of Oxy students receive some form of financial aid; 20 percent are Pell Grant recipients; and 19 percent are the first in their family to attend college Title: Director, Student Academic Success Department: Academic Support Duration: Indefinite Employment Status: Exempt, Full-Time Job Summary Reporting to the Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives and Operations, the Director, Student Academic Success provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for campus-wide academic advising, transfer pathways, and student retention initiatives. The Director leads the implementation of the mentorship and advising components of the College’s four-year Signature Program, integrating core coursework with career-connected, community-engaged, and experiential learning opportunities. Application Deadline: 11/30/2026 Job Duties 20% - Signature Program Implementation & Experiential Learning: Lead the strategic development and implementation of the College’s four-year Signature Program, creating structured pathways that integrate coursework with career-connected, community-engaged, and experiential learning. Streamline administrative processes across campus to improve student access to and participation in these high-impact opportunities. - (Essential) 20% - Student Retention Initiatives: Co-lead the Enrollment Advisory/Retention Group and participate in the Retention and Belonging Group. Evaluate student retention and satisfaction data to develop, implement, and assess data-informed initiatives that improve student persistence and graduation rates. - (Essential) 15% - Integrated Advising & Mentorship Framework: Provide strategic oversight of campus-wide academic advising and lead the development and implementation of the faculty-staff-peer mentorship model. Partner with senior leadership in Academic Affairs, directors, academic departments, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and Student Affairs to advance comprehensive training on inclusive advising, academic policies, and degree requirements. - (Essential) 15% - Transfer Pathways & Community College Partnerships: Direct academic success initiatives for transfer students by establishing community college partnerships and developing clear articulation pathways. Collaborate with the Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs, Registrar’s Office, and academic departments to maintain course equivalencies, ensure transparent transfer credit policies, and advance transfer student retention and academic success. - (Essential) 10% - Advising Center Operations & Staff Supervision: Provide strategic and operational oversight of the Advising Center, including daily service delivery, departmental budgets, staff performance, and direct supervision and professional development of advising staff. - (Essential) 10% - Advising Technology & Intervention Systems: Provide strategic oversight of advising technology platforms (e.g., DegreeWorks, SEAN, PAL, Banner), including implementation, maintenance, and campus training. Collaborate with the Registrar’s Office on shared systems and processes. Analyze student data to develop and lead early intervention strategies for at-risk, undeclared, first-generation, and transfer student populations. - (Essential) 5% - Institutional Governance & Collaboration: Serve as the Academic Affairs lead on key student success committees (e.g., Care Team, Student Academic Success Committee, Student Progress Committee, Academic Concern Support Team, and Student Early Alert Notification (SEAN) Support Team). Contribute to institutional initiatives and accreditation efforts (e.g., WSCUC), connecting student support and enrichment services with faculty and the Signature Program curriculum. - (Essential) 5% - Case Management: Provide leadership and guidance in resolving complex student academic matters involving advising, academic placement, transfer credit evaluations, and degree progress. Partner with appropriate campus offices to ensure coordinated support and resolution of student concerns. - (Essential) Minimum Qualifications Master’s degree in Higher Education, Educational Leadership, or in related field to position duties or equivalent combination of education and experience. Five years of progressively responsible administrative, management, and advising experience in a higher education setting (e.g., academic advising, student success, counseling, or retention). Three years of direct supervisory experience, including professional staff supervision and team development. Experience in fiscal planning, departmental budget management, and operating within financial constraints. Preferred Qualifications Terminal degree in Higher Education, Educational Leadership, or in a related field. Seven years of experience in a higher education setting (e.g., academic advising, student success, counseling, or retention). Direct counseling experience or training/experience in student counseling or mediation. Experience establishing or managing community college articulation maps, regional partnerships, and transfer pathways. EXPECTED HIRING RANGE: $85,000/yr – $100,000/yr If you are offered this position at Occidental College, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, experience, and/or geographic location. In addition to those factors, Occidental complies with applicable pay equity laws and considers internal equity among current employees when developing the final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical in order to allow for future and continued salary growth. We also offer a generous compensation and benefits package.