DIRECTOR OF ADVISING & STUDENT SUCCESS

Job Description

Job Description

PROFESSIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

DIRECTOR OF ADVISING & STUDENT SUCCESS

Number of Openings: 1

Institution: Cleveland State Community College

Department: Student Success

Reports to: Dean of Enrollment Management

Campus Location: Cleveland, Tennessee

Salary Range: $70,958-$88,698

Position Status: Exempt / Full-Time

Moving Allowance: N/A

Cleveland State Community College is a comprehensive, two-year post-secondary institution, located in Cleveland, Tennessee. Cleveland State is committed to providing open access and quality education to all students. A Tennessee Board of Regents institution, Cleveland State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). At Cleveland State, our mission is to build strong minds, careers and communities through exceptional teaching and learning, workforce development and service. We wish to hire individuals with similar values who can help us accomplish those goals.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To be considered for a position at Cleveland State, you must complete an online application. Your skills, abilities, qualifications, and years of experience will be evaluated solely based on the information provided in your application. Any work experience not included will not be considered for meeting the minimum requirements or determining compensation for the position.

Please note the following: 

• Attaching a resume does not substitute for completion of the application form.
• Part-time work experience is calculated at 50% of full-time experience. 

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Advising & Student Success provides strategic leadership for the College's advising, student success, retention, persistence, early alert, and student intervention efforts. The position directs advising services, supervises Student Success Advisors, and develops strategic advising standards, policies, and procedures that support student success, academic achievement, and completion. The Director works closely with Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, Student Support Services, Information Technology, Institutional Research, and other campus departments to establish advising standards, use student data to support decision-making, and advance the College's enrollment, retention, and student success goals.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of six (6) years of experience in any combination of:

• At least three (3) years of direct supervision of staff, defined as assigning work, evaluating performance, and providing guidance.
• AND
• At least three (3) years of:
• Financial aid experience (e.g., processing applications, counseling, awarding/adjusting FA packages, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, etc.).
• Academic advising (e.g., counseling, registration, academic planning, monitoring academic progress, reviewing degree audits, etc.).
• Enrollment management (e.g., admissions processing, enrollment reporting, course scheduling, evaluating enrollment outcomes, etc.).
• Student success initiatives (e.g., implementing retention initiatives, monitoring progress/outcomes, early alert processing, facilitate workshops/programs, evaluate program practices, etc.).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Advising Leadership (30%)

• Supervise, train, evaluate, and provide leadership to Student Success Advisors.
• Develop and maintain advising policies, procedures, and service standards.
• Develop advisor training and onboarding processes.
• Oversee advising services, including academic planning, degree planning, registration assistance, and student success planning.
• Manage complex advising issues and interpret institutional academic policies and procedures.
• Evaluate advising services and recommend improvements to support student success.
• Assign and monitor advisor caseloads to ensure equitable student support

Retention, Persistence & Completion (25%)

• Develop and implement strategies to improve student retention, persistence, and completion.
• Analyze student success data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
• Work with academic and student support departments to address barriers to student success.
• Monitor student success initiatives and recommend policy or process improvements.
• Develop reports and recommendations to support College decision-making.

Early Alert & Student Intervention (20%)

• Establish and lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the College's early alert and student intervention processes.
• Establish and coordinate referrals and interventions for students needing academic or support services.
• Work with faculty and campus departments to identify and coordinate timely intervention for at-risk students.
• Monitor the effectiveness of early alert and intervention efforts using student success data.
• Develop initiatives that promote student engagement, academic success, and persistence.

Advising Systems & Technology (15%)

• Oversee advising technologies, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and student success systems.
• Maintain standards for advising documentation, data integrity, and operational procedures.
• Evaluate advising processes and recommend improvements to services and operations.
• Work with Information Technology and other departments to support advising systems.
• Provide training and support related to advising systems and processes.

Assessment, Reporting & Institutional Effectiveness (5%)

• Prepare reports and dashboards that measure advising and student success outcomes.
• Assess advising services and recommend improvements based on data.
• Work with Institutional Research to monitor student success and institutional effectiveness.

Non-Essential Functions (5%)

• The Director of Advising & Student Success will be required to meet standards now required or which may be required by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC).
• May be required to achieve additional skill, knowledge, or credential levels.
• Must attend all college functions as required.
• Serve on institutional committees as approved by the supervisor.
• Pursue ongoing professional development.
• Ability to work extended hours during peak periods as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Effective interpersonal skills. 
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including public speaking (when/if applicable).
• Demonstrated proficiency with various software packages including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy, flexibility, and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of professional staff supervision practices, including establishing expectations, conducting evaluations, coaching employees, and promoting accountability and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of academic advising, student development, retention strategies, early alert systems, case management, and practices that support student success.
• Knowledge of student information systems, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms, data dashboards, and reporting tools used to analyze outcomes and support decision-making.
• Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, workflows, and initiatives that improve student progression, retention, completion, and operational effectiveness.
• Ability to provide student-centered services, and maintain confidentiality while exercising sound professional judgment.

• Preferred experience:
• Experience using Banner software
• Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or financial management
• Experience with federal & state financial aid programs

WORK ACTIVITIES & EQUIPMENT

Work activities regularly involve the use of standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, scanners, telephones, and related devices to perform tasks including data entry, document preparation, email communication, and report generation.

JOB LOCATION

This is an on-site position based in the Student Services Building on the main campus of Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee. The role involves travel within the college’s five-county service area and occasional travel throughout the state and nationally for meetings, conferences, and professional events. Travel across the service region for meetings and other activities is also expected.

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Applicants may be subject to a background check and credit check.

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Cleveland State offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to the following:

• Insurance: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability (long and short term), FSA/H.S.A.
• Wellness Incentive Program (if enrolled in health)
• Educational Assistance: Fee Waiver, Spouse/Dependent Discounts, Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Longevity Pay
• Retirement Options: State of TN Pension (TCRS), 401a, 401k with $50 match, 403b, and 457
• Fourteen (14) Paid Holidays/Year
• Sick and Annual Leave
• Sick Leave Bank
• State Employee Discount Program with over 900 merchants

If you are interested, click on the link to apply. 

Applications can be assured full consideration if submitted by September 14, 2026

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Human Resources Office
Telephone: View phone number on us.fitly.work; FAX: View phone number on us.fitly.work
Email: View email address on us.fitly.work

Website: 

The following link will direct you to a reporting section of the college’s website: How Do I Report