Student Success Coach

Job Description: Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School is recruiting a Student Success Coach for their Pacific Oaks College campus in Pasadena, California.

About Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School

Pacific Oaks College and Children's School, located in Pasadena, California, is a nonprofit institution rooted in Quaker values and a strong social justice heritage. The College offers bachelor’s, master’s, a doctorate, and certificate programs in education, human development, counseling, and related fields, while the Children’s School is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in anti-bias education, emergent curriculum, and peaceful conflict resolution. Together, they foster inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments that honor the unique potential of every individual. Employees join a mission-driven community committed to respect, diversity, social justice, and lifelong learning.

The Department of Student Success

The Department of Student Success provides proactive academic advising, success coaching, and case management services that support student engagement, persistence, and degree completion. Student Success Coaches serve as the primary point of contact for students, assisting with academic planning, course registration, degree progression, and navigation of institutional processes while helping students overcome barriers to success. Through individualized Student Success Plans, degree progress reviews, targeted outreach, and coordinated referrals to campus resources, the department promotes student achievement and a positive student experience. In partnership with faculty and campus departments, the Department of Student Success advances institutional goals related to retention, persistence, graduation, and overall student success.

About the Position

The Student Success Coach serves as the primary point of contact for an assigned caseload of students, providing comprehensive academic advising, success coaching, and case management to promote engagement, persistence, and timely degree completion. Through proactive outreach, individualized Student Success Plans, degree progress reviews, and course registration support, the Coach helps students navigate academic, financial, and personal barriers while connecting them to campus resources and opportunities. Working collaboratively with faculty and campus partners, the Student Success Coach delivers a personalized, student-centered experience that supports academic achievement and overall student success.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for an assigned caseload of up to 200 students, providing comprehensive academic advising, success coaching, and case management to promote student engagement, persistence, and degree completion.
• Develop and maintain individualized Student Success Plans, conduct degree progress reviews, provide academic and educational planning, and manage course registration to support students' successful progression toward graduation.
• Conduct proactive outreach to monitor student engagement, academic progress, registration, and financial barriers; identify at-risk students; and implement timely interventions, referrals, and support strategies.
• Guide students to navigate institutional processes and connect them with academic, financial, career, wellness, and co-curricular resources while fostering skills that support academic and personal success.
• Collaborate with Faculty Advisors, Academic Affairs, Registrar, Admissions, Student Finance, Student Accounts, and other university stakeholders to coordinate student support, resolve barriers, and enhance the student experience.
• Maintain accurate student records and coaching documentation, utilize student success data to monitor outcomes and identify trends, and contribute to retention initiatives and continuous improvement efforts that support institutional goals.

Student Success Coach I Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, psychology, or related field from an accredited institution.
• A combination of education and/or related technical or professional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.
• Minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in academic advising, student coaching, case management, counseling, or related higher education field.
• Experience providing student-centered advising and coaching that includes proactive outreach, relationship building, holistic student support, and individualized academic plans.
• Experience utilizing student information systems and technology to manage student caseloads and documentation.
• Experience in performing basic functions within student information systems (e.g., Banner, PeopleSoft), including data entry, record retrieval, and transaction processing.

Student Success Coach II Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, business, or related field from an accredited institution.
• A combination of education and/or related technical or professional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in college student success, academic advising, coaching, or other student-facing roles.
• Experience collaborating with faculty, academic departments, and cross-functional student service offices to resolve complex student concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex student cases and interpret academic policies.
• Demonstrated skill in making decisions while considering implications for other programs or departments.
• Experience using student information systems for reporting and workflow optimization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, Education, or a related field.
• Experience supporting at‑risk student populations through proactive outreach, coaching, and retention-focused initiatives.
• Familiarity with caseload management approaches to identify and respond to student challenges.
• Experience navigating, interpreting, or applying academic policies, financial aid processes, and institutional procedures in a student support or advising/coaching context.

Location

This position requires the employee to work at the designated campus location.

Compliance with Federal Antidiscrimination Guidance

Pacific Oaks College is committed to providing equal employment and educational opportunity to all people and strictly adheres to federal anti-discrimination laws. In accordance with DOJ guidance, the College affirms that no programs, hiring practices, promotions, admissions, or other decisions shall provide preferential treatment based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected characteristics without appropriate lawful rationale. The College will also ensure compliance of its third-party contractors or program partners in this regard.

Disclaimer

The duties listed above describe the general nature and level of work expected of faculty in this position and are not an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The College reserves the right to amend or modify the job description as institutional needs evolve.

Pacific Oaks College provides equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or any other protected status under applicable law. Pacific Oaks offers a generous compensation and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work for a leader in the field of education. Some of our key benefits include:

• generous paid time-off
• medical and dental coverage
• company-paid life and disability insurance
• retirement plan with employer contribution
• multiple flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• tuition reimbursement
• professional development
• regular employee appreciation events

Pacific Oaks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.