"Student Services Specialist (Enrollment and Retention Specialist)"

Job Description

Salary
See Position Description

Location
Honolulu, HI

Job Type
Full-Time Permanent

Job Number
2026-00503

Department
Kapi'olani Community College - Office for Student Affairs

Opening Date
03/18/2026

Closing Date
4/8/2026 11:59 PM Hawaii

Position Number:
0096596

University of Hawai‘i, Kapi‘olani Community College, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs is seeking applications for a Student Services Specialist (Enrollment and Retention Specialist) position. Please see the information about the position, the duties and responsibilities, the minimum and desirable qualifications, and the job application attachments below:

Position Title:Student Services Specialist (Enrollment and Retention Specialist)

Position Number:0096596

Hiring Unit:Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Location:Kapi‘olani Community College

Date Posted:March 18, 2026

Closing Date:April 8,2026, 11:59 PM HST

Band:B

Salary:Salary schedules and placement information

Temporary/Permanent:Permanent

Funding:General

Other Conditions:General funded position, to begin approximately June 2026, pending position clearance, availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and program needs.

Introduction:

Under the direction of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Enrollment Manager/Retention Specialist provides leadership and coordination for student recruitment, admissions, onboarding, and retention initiatives at the College. This position plays a key role in developing and implementing a collaborative, student-centered, and streamlined process that connects recruitment to onboarding and supports students through their first year and beyond. Working across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and other student support programs, the Enrollment Manager/Retention Specialist ensures alignment of policies, practices, and communication to create a seamless student experience. The position also serves as the primary point of contact for the Colleges participation in the university system–wide enrollment management and student success initiatives, ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability. In addition, the position is expected to lead and coordinate special projects on behalf of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, often involving cross-departmental collaboration, planning, and implementation of initiatives that advance collegewide priorities in enrollment, student success, and service excellence.

Duties and Responsibilities:
(Note: ** denotes essential functions)

• **Coordinates and implements outreach and recruitment strategies to increase enrollment of new, transfer, and returning students in alignment with the colleges strategic initiatives.
• **Supports communication campaigns targeting prospective and admitted students, including email, text, and social media outreach.
• **Partners with Academic Affairs, University of Hawai‘i System Offices, and community organizations to promote academic programs and pathways.
• **Facilitate the planning, coordination, implementation and ongoing utilization of student success and customer relationship management platforms, including Navigate 360 and/or Salesforce, by working collaboratively with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Information Technology, Institutional Research, and University System partners to support enrollment, onboarding, retention, and student success initiatives
• Assists in the development of enrollment projections and contributes to annual enrollment management plans.
• **Ensures recruitment practices and messaging align with institutional mission and systemwide enrollment goals and access goals.
• **Collaborates with Student Affairs programs and other campus departments to assist in the design and coordination of a comprehensive, student-centered process that connects recruitment, application, admission, financial aid, registration, advising, orientation, and early engagement.
• **Facilitates cross-program communication and coordination to ensure each programs role in the enrollment and onboarding process is clearly defined, integrated, and aligned with shared goals and imperatives for student success.
• Develops communication flows, checklists, and student onboarding campaigns to ensure clarity and consistency at each step of the enrollment journey.
• Monitors and reports key performance indicators related to student onboarding and initial retention.
• **Develops and coordinates retention strategies that promote persistence and completion, including proactive outreach, early alert systems, and targeted interventions.
• **Works collaboratively with Academic Affairs, instructional faculty, and instructional support programs to align academic support, advising, and course scheduling with student success goals.
• Coordinates early alert and student follow-up systems to identify and assist at-risk students.
• **Partners with student support programs within and outside of Student Affairs—such as counseling, tutoring, financial aid, student life, and community-based support initiatives—to address academic and non-academic barriers to persistence.
• **Facilitates regular communication and coordinates case management among academic and student support teams to ensure timely, holistic support for students.
• **Monitors and analyzes data related to student engagement, persistence, and success to inform programming.
• **Uses data to identify at-risk populations, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and inform continuous improvement.
• **Serves as the primary point of contact between the College and the University Systems enrollment management and student success initiatives, ensuring consistency, collaboration, and data sharing across campuses.
• **Represents the College on systemwide committees, task forces, and working groups related to recruitment, onboarding, retention, and data reporting.
• Assists with the coordination and implementation of systemwide policies, technology solutions, and communication tools at the campus level.
• Facilitates information exchange and best practices between the College and other campuses in the system.
• **Works with institutional research and system offices to align key performance indicators and reporting expectations.
• **Leads collaborative efforts and consensus-building across Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and other college units to align workflows, improve services, and achieve institutional goals.
• **Chairs or participates in college committees focused on enrollment management, onboarding, and student success.
• **Provides professional development for staff on best practices in recruitment, onboarding, and retention.
• **Analyzes enrollment, onboarding, and retention data in collaboration with Institutional Research at both the System and campus levels; prepare reports and use findings to develop recommendations for improving processes, policies, and outcomes for college and system leadership.
• **Leads and manages special projects assigned by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, often involving strategic planning, process redesign, or cross-unit initiatives that advance college and system priorities.
• Participates in institutional planning and contributes to long-range strategies for enrollment, retention, and student experience improvement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Counseling/Guidance, College Student Personnel, Counseling Psychology, Human Resources, Communications, Education, Higher Education,, Social Work,, or related field and three (3) year(s) of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for providing student services, enrollment management, academic advising, admissions, or a related area in a postsecondary educational setting; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
• Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques in the area of student services, enrollment management, academic advising, admissions, recruitment, onboarding, and retention of students in higher education or a related area in a postsecondary educational setting as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies.
• Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with student activities/affairs.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer and apply word processing software.
• For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
• Demonstrated experience of coordinating complex projects or processes involving multiple departments or stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and apply findings to improve services and outcomes.

Desirable Qualifications

• Masters degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, or related field.
• At least one (1) year of professional experience working in a community college setting or within a multi-campus university system, such as the University of Hawai‘i System.
• At least one (1) year of professional experience in developing and implementing student onboarding or retention initiatives that improved enrollment, persistence, or completion outcomes.
• At least one (1) year of professional experience using CRM systems (e.g., Slate, Ellucian Recruit, Salesforce) and student success technologies (e.g., Starfish, MySuccess, Navigate 360).
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate collaboration among Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and other campus programs to improve the student experience.
• At least one (1) year of professional experience in a community college setting with an understanding of the unique needs of the student populations they serve.
• At least one (1) year of professional experience in program development, assessment, and data-driven decision-making.
• At least one (1) year of professional experience leading or managing special projects or institutional initiatives at the division or campus level.
• Evidence of commitment to Kapi‘olani Community Colleges vision of positioning itself as a model indigenous serving institution whose graduates strengthen the social, economic, and sustainable advancement of Hawai‘i and the world

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED(Read the "To Apply" section carefully)

To Apply:

Click on the "Apply" button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach the required documents. In addition to the Application, applicants must attach the following:

1. Cover letter;
2. Resume;
3. The names and contact information (telephone number and email addresses) of at least three professional references; and
4. Official graduate and undergraduate transcript(s) showing degree and coursework to date appropriate to the position (copies of official transcripts are acceptable;however, original official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.) Transcripts issued outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an agency having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc., verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. The expense of the evaluation shall be borne by the applicant.

• Academic record/grade summaries will NOT be accepted
• Diplomas and copies will NOT be accepted

Incomplete applications will NOTbe considered.

NOTE:

• The application will be incomplete if materials are unreadable, illegible, password protected, missing, or corrupted; therefore, late or incomplete applications will not be considered. All requested documents/information become the property of Kapi‘olani Community College and will not be returned.
• Please do not include any self-identifying photos and redact any references to confidential information on submitted documents (social security number, date of birth, etc.).
• Applications lacking copies of transcripts will be reviewed based on work experience equivalency to meet minimum qualifications (MQs). All minimum qualifications must be met by the closing date.
• If you have not applied for a position before using NEOGOV, you will need to create an account.

Inquiries:Kapi'olani Community College HR Department, kapcchr@hawaii.edu