Senior Director of Student Success

Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Director of Student Success provides strategic leadership for the University’s student success ecosystem, with a focus on designing, implementing, and scaling high-impact retention initiatives that promote student progression and persistence.

This role focuses on building an integrated, institution-wide student success infrastructure that leverages data analytics, early alert systems, and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to proactively support student outcomes.

The Senior Director serves as the Student Affairs lead for ADA/504 compliance oversight, ensuring that accessibility processes, training, and practices align with regulatory standards. The role provides leadership for operational implementation, promotes consistency across accommodation practices, supports risk mitigation efforts, and collaborates with institutional compliance leadership on policy alignment and complex cases.

Working collaboratively across Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, the Senior Director ensures that student success strategies are coordinated, scalable, and aligned with institutional priorities for retention, equity, and completion.

Essential Functions

Student Success Strategy & Initiative Development

• Design, implement, and continuously refine a comprehensive student success strategy aligned with institutional retention and completion goals.
• Lead the development of scalable, high-impact initiatives, including:
  • Early alert optimization
  • Academic recovery and probation interventions
  • Peer and cohort-based support models
• Identify opportunities to sunset, consolidate, or redesign underperforming programs using data and impact analysis.
• Ensure alignment of Student Success initiatives with institutional priorities and resource optimization principles.

Technology, AI, and Systems Integration

• Lead the integration and optimization of student success technologies, including early alert platforms and engagement systems.
• Advance the use of AI-enabled solutions (e.g., predictive analytics, chatbot outreach, AI tutoring) to:
  • Identify at-risk students earlier
  • Personalize interventions
  • Scale support without increasing staffing
• Partner with Institutional Research and IT to develop shared dashboards, predictive models, and actionable insights.
• Eliminate manual processes through automation and system integration, improving staff efficiency and student responsiveness.

Retention & Coordinated Care Leadership

• Provide leadership for cross-functional retention strategies, coordinating efforts across:
  • Academic Affairs
  • Counseling & Health
  • Career Services
  • Campus Life
  • TRIO/EOF and other support programs
• Strengthen the institution’s coordinated care model in conjunction with Campus Life (e.g., early alert, behavioral intervention teams, case management).
• Ensure consistent follow-up and accountability for students identified as at risk.
• Use disaggregated data to address equity gaps in persistence and outcomes.

Accessibility Compliance & Oversight

• Serve as the Student Affairs lead for ADA/504 compliance oversight within Student Success operations.
• Ensure consistent, equitable implementation of accommodation processes and documentation standards.
• Supervise accessibility services staff and operational workflows.
• Review complex or high-impact accommodation cases as appropriate.
• Develop and deliver campus-wide training on accessibility policies and practices.
• Monitor trends, documentation, and processes to support compliance, consistency, and risk mitigation.
• Coordinate with institutional leadership designated as the official ADA Officer on policy interpretation, legal matters, and escalated concerns.
• Oversee grievance and appeal processes related to accessibility services within Student Success.

Policy, Process, and Infrastructure Development

• Develop and maintain standardized policies, procedures, and workflows for student success and accessibility services.
• Lead continuous process improvement efforts to increase efficiency, clarity, and scalability.
• Standardize communication, documentation, and intervention protocols across units.
• Ensure alignment with CAS standards and federal compliance expectations.

Assessment, Analytics & Reporting

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to:
  • Retention and persistence
  • Intervention effectiveness
  • Student engagement with support services
• Translate data into actionable strategy and institutional decision-making.
• Provide regular reports and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Foster a culture of evidence-based practice and continuous improvement (Astin: involvement + outcomes alignment).

Supervision & Resource Stewardship

• Provide leadership and supervision for assigned Student Success personnel.
• Align staffing roles to high-impact, forward-facing work (reducing administrative burden).
• Manage budget and resources to maximize return on investment and student impact.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required.
• Minimum five years of progressive experience in student success or related area.
• Demonstrated knowledge of ADA/504 regulations and higher education compliance standards.

• Experience successfully leading retention initiatives and student success strategies.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and policy interpretation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to provide training and leadership within a higher education setting.

**MUST BE US WORK AUTHORIZED**