Senior Director of Student Success

Department Student Success Compensation $90,000.00 to $95000.00 Annual General Description / Primary Purpose The Senior Director of Student Success, under the direction of the Associate Vice President or above, provides strategic, university-wide leadership for academic advising and related student success initiatives within the Office of Student Success. The position is responsible for leading the alignment, coordination, and continuous improvement of academic advising across colleges and advising units, with a focus on advancing best practices that support student learning, retention, progression, and timely graduation. The Senior Director provides direct supervision of Academic Advising leadership including First Year Advising and six colleges. Provides strategic leadership, direction, and accountability for academic advising leaders across the university, establishing clear expectations for performance, student-centered service delivery, collaboration, and progress toward institutional student success goals. The Senior Director works collaboratively with academic deans, chairs, faculty, Enrollment Services, Student Academic Success Services, learning centers, and other university partners to strengthen advising practices, streamline student support processes, and promote a consistent, proactive, and student-centered advising experience across the institution. The position plays a central role in connecting academic advising, student success programming, transition support, and institutional retention strategies. Job Function The Senior Director provides strategic leadership for university-wide academic advising and student success initiatives within the Office of Student Success. Responsibilities include the following: Strategic Leadership and Institutional Alignment Provides strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a university-wide academic advising strategy aligned with institutional student success priorities. Leads the coordination of advising efforts across colleges and programs, establishing consistent expectations, standards, and best practices that promote student retention, progression, academic planning, and degree completion. Collaborates with academic and administrative leaders to align advising practices, student support services, and institutional initiatives in support of student success. Organizational Leadership, Talent Development, and Accountability Provides leadership, direction, and accountability for academic advising leaders across the university, establishing clear expectations for performance, service delivery, collaboration, and progress toward institutional student success goals. Builds the leadership capacity of advising directors through coaching, mentorship, performance feedback, professional development, and shared accountability for results. Fosters a high-performing leadership team grounded in trust, collaboration, continuous improvement, innovation, and data-informed decision making. Promotes a culture of leadership accountability and collective ownership of student success outcomes across advising units. Leads a culture in which advising leaders share responsibility for advancing student retention, progression, academic planning, degree completion, and the overall success of the university. Student Success Strategy, Assessment, and Continuous Improvement Leads the development, implementation, assessment, and refinement of student success initiatives designed to improve student learning, persistence, retention, and graduation outcomes. Utilizes institutional data, performance metrics, and assessment results to evaluate advising effectiveness, identify barriers to student progression, and inform strategic decision making. Develops partnerships across academic and student affairs units to integrate advising, academic support, First Year Experience, transfer transition, and related student success initiatives into a coordinated support network. Institutional Partnership, Governance, and Policy Leadership Serves as a key institutional leader and partner in advancing student success initiatives across the university. Collaborates with deans, faculty, department chairs, enrollment leaders, and student affairs professionals to develop and implement strategies that support student achievement. Participates in university committees, councils, task forces, and advisory groups, and contributes to the development, interpretation, and revision of academic policies, procedures, and practices that impact student success. Provides leadership and subject matter expertise related to academic advising, student success, retention, and progression initiatives that influence institutional planning and decision making. Servant Leadership and Student Success Culture Demonstrates servant leadership through visible engagement with students and staff, modeling a commitment to student-centered problem solving, operational excellence, and responsive service. Maintains an active presence during peak advising and registration periods, partnering with advising teams to address emerging student needs, remove barriers to progression, and ensure effective service delivery. Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement that supports the success of both students and staff. Marginal Functions Contribute to communication, marketing, and fundraising efforts that support the Office of Student Success, academic advising, and student success initiatives. Attend and present at regional and national conferences related to academic advising, student success, retention, progression, and degree completion. Participate in professional organizations and benchmarking activities to remain current on emerging practices in academic advising and student success. Required Qualifications Master's and 8+ years of relevant experience or Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of relevant experience. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219. Departmental Requirements Knowledge of academic advising best practices, student success strategies, retention and progression factors, and issues affecting undergraduate degree completion. Experience in academic advising, student success, academic support, or a closely related area. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional partnerships, use data to inform decision-making, assess program effectiveness, and develop strategies that improve student outcomes. Ability to work collaboratively with academic colleges, faculty, administrators, advisors, student support units, and other university stakeholders. Requires a positive, self-motivated leader with excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and communication skills who can lead complex initiatives, build consensus, and advance a coordinated university-wide approach to academic advising and student success. UNF's Student Success team offers a collegial work culture where team members contribute every day to helping students succeed. Your day-to-day efforts will emphasize leading self-directed and autonomous work among your dedicated teams. In addition to being part of a dynamic team, you will also have access to a competitive benefits package including UNF's Employee Education Program, which includes up to 6 hours of tuition-free courses each semester. In addition to professional development opportunities in this role, you will have access to UNF's 75 graduate programs in arts and sciences, business, computing and engineering, education, and health. Apply today to become part of a team that empowers students with knowledge, resources, and opportunities to succeed. Statement(s) of Understanding This position requires a background check. In conjunction with the University's policy, this position may also require a credit check. The holder of this position is designated as a “Responsible Employee” pursuant to their role under Title IX. Therefore, the incumbent must promptly report allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual violence, and child sexual abuse by or against any student, employee, contractor, or visitor to the University’s Title IX Administrator or any divisional Title IX Coordinator Equal Opportunity The University of North Florida (UNF) is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our community. In building this environment, we strive to attract students, faculty and staff from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. The University of North Florida does not commit or permit discrimination or harassment on the basis of genetic information, race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, marital status, national origin, or veteran status in any educational, employment, social, recreational program or activity that it offers. In addition, UNF will not commit or permit retaliation against an individual who reports discrimination or harassment or an individual who cooperates in an investigation of an alleged violation of university regulation. Carnegie UNF is a Carnegie Community Engaged Institution. This designation celebrates the University’s collaboration with community partners from the local to the global level. It reflects UNF’s mission to contribute to the public good and prepare educated, engaged citizens.