Advising Center Director

Summary

Responsible for providing oversight and direction for all aspects of the WNMU Advising Center, including ensuring that academic advisors deliver exceptional service.

Duties

1. Supervises day-to-day operations and management of advising center and advising team. Conducts regular advising team meetings.
2. Creates academic advising strategies by contributing information, analysis, and recommendations to strategic thinking and direction. Establishes functional objectives in line with organizational objectives.
3. Assigns advising caseloads based on the identified strengths and capacities of advising team members. Ensures that advisors respond to students and other stakeholders within 24 business hours.
4. Establishes and enforces accountability metrics and performance goals for the Advising Center and Advising Center staff, including determining productivity, quality, and customer service strategies, including scheduling and availability. Communicates and enforces values, policies, and procedures.
5. Plans and submits annual operational budget for review to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.
6. Ensures that there are articulation plans for transfer students for all community colleges with whom we have agreements.
7. Attends institutional meetings with content that may impact advising and reports this information to advisors and other stakeholders. Participates in a variety of committees to discuss issues, concerns, problems, and plans to ensure area operations remain consistent and supportive of overall strategies/goals. Serves as liaison among internal and external departments, divisions, and stakeholders.
8. Collects, monitors, and disseminates assessment data for annual reporting including number, type, and quality of student interactions, training, and other data pertinent to accountability. Compiles and prepares a variety of required and ad-hoc descriptive statistical reports for internal and external use.
9. Provides a broad range of administrative and supervisory functions. Supervises assigned staff in accordance with WNMU personnel practices including recruitment, training, performance evaluation, guidance, etc. Participates in the process of ongoing personal and professional development. Maintains comprehensive communication among all contacts (internal and external). Models professional standards and ethics in accordance with WNMU philosophy.
10. Performs other duties as assigned.

Education/Background

Master’s degree with 5 years of experience in Higher Education required. Management and/or leadership experience required. Academic advising experience strongly preferred. Bilingual (Spanish) preferred.

Job Knowledge

Knowledge of office management and administrative support practices and procedures. Knowledge of advance word-processing, spreadsheet, and database software applications. Knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures. Ability to monitor and/or maintain quality control standards. Ability to resolve customer complaints and concerns. Ability to work both independently and in a team environment. Ability to understand and follow safety procedures. Ability to perform complex tasks and prioritize multiple projects. Skill in organizing and coordinating. Must be sensitive to cultural differences within the University and community. Fluent in Microsoft Office Applications.

Working Conditions/ Physical Demands (With or Without Accommodations)

Normal office environment. May travel some within the community when needed. May be required to lift normal office equipment and materials. Visual acuity to read information from computer screens, forms and other printed materials and information. Able to speak (enunciate) clearly in conversation and general communication. Hearing ability for verbal communication/ conversation/responses via telephone, telephone systems, and face-to-face interactions. Manual dexterity for typing, writing, standing, reaching, flexibility, body movement for bending, crouching, walking, kneeling, and prolonged sitting. May be required to work additional hours or days depending on circumstances.