Executive Director for Student Support (req36450)

Position Summary

The University of New Mexico's Division of Student Affairs seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as Executive Director for Student Support. This is an especially exciting time to join the Division as we advance our 2025-2030 strategic plan, Innovating the Student Experience, which positions Student Affairs to be a global leader in providing an innovative, equitable, and culturally responsive student experience grounded in a strong sense of place and tradition.

Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), the Executive Director provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight for multiple student-serving units and advances a coordinated, student-centered approach to support, engagement, and success. The Executive Director is a member of the Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team and serves as a senior divisional leader and advisor to the VPSA. In collaboration with fellow division leaders and campus partners, this position helps shape strategy, policy, organizational planning, and continuous improvement efforts that strengthen student success, belonging, and degree completion.

This position provides direct leadership for a portfolio of student support, cultural, engagement, and enrichment units, including:

• African American Student Services
• American Indian Student Services
• Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center
• College Enrichment and Outreach Programs
• Community Engagement Center
• El Centro de la Raza
• Women's Resource Center

Through partnership with academic and administrative units across the University, the Executive Director advances coordinated support strategies, student belonging initiatives, and institution-wide practices that promote access, persistence, and completion. The role also leads divisional alignment across student-serving operations, including advising-related collaboration, Student Hub CRM strategy, coordinated outreach, and research-informed approaches to strengthening the student experience.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior leader within the Division of Student Affairs and as a member of the Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team, contributing to division-wide planning, governance, and decision-making.
• Advise the Vice President for Student Affairs and represent the VPSA, as appropriate, on University committees, initiatives, and external engagements.
• Direct and oversee multiple student-serving units within the Division of Student Affairs, ensuring effective operations, organizational alignment, assessment, and fiscal sustainability.
• Establish, implement, and assess short- and long-range goals, objectives, strategic plans, policies, reporting processes, and operating procedures for units within the portfolio.
• Design, maintain, and evaluate effective organizational structures and staffing models; oversee recruitment, supervision, performance management, and professional development of staff, including director-level personnel.
• Lead efforts to improve operational effectiveness across units through strong alignment of staffing, processes, communication, and resources.
• Advance student-centered, equity-informed practices that support student engagement, advocacy, belonging, persistence, and success.
• Collaborate across units to strengthen recruitment, retention, and graduation outcomes and enhance the overall student experience.
• Serve as a senior institutional champion for UNM's FirstGen Forward designation, providing strategic leadership for the coordination, alignment, implementation, and assessment of institution-wide first-generation student success initiatives.
• Lead divisional alignment with UNM's CRM, Student Hub, to improve coordinated outreach, communication, and student support across Student Affairs units.
• Collaborate in the development and oversight of unit and divisional budgets, and conduct cost, productivity, and resource analyses as appropriate.
• Promote ethical, data-informed decision-making to strengthen service delivery and student outcomes.
• Provide leadership for the coordination, stewardship, and sustainability of grant-funded and externally supported initiatives within the portfolio, including partnership development, implementation oversight, assessment, reporting, and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Represent Student Affairs and build relationships with campus and external stakeholders, including community organizations and funding partners, to advance strategic initiatives and enhance support for students.

About the Division of Student Affairs

The Division of Student Affairs is comprised of student-centered units and services dedicated to advancing the quality, cohesiveness, and cultural relevancy of the student experience on the Albuquerque campus and beyond. Through a commitment to equity, belonging, and holistic student development, the Division partners across the institution to ensure students are supported academically, socially, and personally.

About The University of New Mexico

UNM is a highly research-intensive, R1 public research university with an enrollment of approximately 24,000 students, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico-a city with over 300 days of sunshine annually. UNM proudly holds Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status and enrolls the highest percentage of American Indian students among its R1 peers. As a vital driver of educational equity in New Mexico, nearly 50% of UNM students are first-generation college students.

Benefits and Work-Life Balance

As an employee of UNM, being a Lobo means access to a robust and comprehensive benefits package, extensive professional resources, and a wide range of perks, from tuition remission and discounted event tickets to comprehensive health coverage. UNM is committed to employee well-being and supports work-life balance through wellness programs, paid parental leave, and generous leave benefits.

See the Position Description for additional information.

Conditions of Employment

• Employees in this job title are subject to the terms and conditions of an employment contract. Employment contracts are typically subject to review and renewal on an annual basis.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree; at least 4 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

• Terminal degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field
• Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including experience overseeing multiple functional areas, leading teams of professional staff, and managing complex organizational initiatives
• Experience overseeing multiple student-serving units in a complex higher education environment
• Demonstrated success advancing student-centered, equity-informed, and inclusive practices that support access, engagement, persistence, and student success
• Experience supporting institutional initiatives focused on first-generation student success
• Experience aligning student services with CRM systems, data-informed outreach strategies, or coordinated care models
• Knowledge of grant development or grant-funded program support within higher education
• Proven ability to lead organizational change, strengthen operational efficacy, and foster cross-unit collaboration
• Demonstrated ability to engage in thoughtful and strategic assessment leading to operational and programmatic improvements

Campus:

Main - Albuquerque, NM

Department:

VP Student Affairs Administration (866B)

Employment Type:

Staff

Staff Type:

Contract

Status:

Exempt

Pay:

Monthly: $8,417.07 - $12,046.67

Benefits Eligible

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. See the 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.

Background Check Required:

Yes

For Best Consideration Date:

5/18/2026

Eligible for Remote Work

No

Application Instructions

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

To apply, please submit the following:
(1) a cover letter addressing your qualifications, relevant experience, and vision for the role,
(2) a current resume or curriculum vitae (CV), and
(3) contact information for at least three professional references.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.