Assistant Director, Academic and Career Advising for Professional and Continuing Education

The Evergreen State College Portal•Olympia, WA

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Academic and Career Advising for Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) plays a crucial role in supporting students and alumni. This position involves providing comprehensive academic and career advising services, developing resources, fostering partnerships, and contributing to program assessment and strategic planning. The role is designed to support adult learners, part-time students, and online learners, with a focus on retention, student success, and seamless transitions from admission through graduation and beyond.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, Higher Education, or a related field.
Three years of professional experience working effectively with diverse populations in higher education student services, such as academic advising, career services, adult education, multicultural student support, or related areas.

Responsibilities

Provide academic and career advising to students and alumni through various channels, including appointments, drop-in services, telephone, email, workshops, and classroom presentations.
Offer guidance on curriculum planning, career exploration, graduate school preparation, job search strategies, and related resources.
Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of academic programs, with a specific focus on certificates, degree-completion pathways, and alternative credit opportunities.
Conduct academic needs assessments and utilize career development tools such as interest, skills, and personality assessments.
Serve as an informational resource and academic advisor for degree planning and course-completion tracking for specific programs like the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program, PLE, and Washington State Employment Security Department programs.
Collaboratively maintain and update advising resources, including websites, newsletters, and other student communications.
Develop and deliver advising outreach, coaching communication, and program activities tailored to adult learners, part-time students, and online learners.
Maintain outreach efforts for students who withdraw or take a leave of absence, assisting in addressing barriers to persistence and re-enrollment.
Collaborate with Academic and Career Advising, PaCE staff, faculty, and campus partners to implement holistic advising strategies.
Partner with the Office of Experiential Learning to connect students with internships, employment opportunities, and high-impact learning experiences.
Build and maintain relationships with faculty and campus partners to enhance student support and promote awareness of academic and career resources.
Support program evaluation and assessment activities, including data collection, reporting, annual reviews, and continuous improvement efforts.
Develop and manage proactive advising processes for new students.
Participate in strategic planning initiatives focused on career and academic advising.
Monitor student employment, internship, and workforce trends, as well as relevant institutional, state, and federal policies.
Assist in establishing and achieving student retention and persistence goals through data analysis and application.
Provide training, consultation, and resources to faculty and staff to strengthen career and academic advising practices for adult learners.
Plan and coordinate advising workshops, events, and programs for PaCE students.
Support recruitment efforts through participation in open houses, information sessions, and other admissions-related events.
Represent PaCE and The Evergreen State College at conferences, meetings, and community events as appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned.